All true, but not what I was refering to. There is the widespread expectation that Oden will be in better physical shape next season. If he isn't, people will wonder if staying in Portland and working with the Blazer staff would have made a difference. By leaving town, Oden is taking 100% responsibility for what happens.
If he's not in excellent shape, he'll bear 100% responsibility for that either way. I really don't think his returning to Ohio State changes that. Ultimately, he bears full responsibility for what he becomes professionally, whether he stays in Portland or not.
There are about six people here who do it, at least a dozen if not more on BE, there's some on realgm. And they've been doing it consistently all year since game one. Rocketeer is correct.
I've never really cared about whether an athlete's image is that of a team-player or not. All I really care about is production and how much he helps the team win. If he plays selfishly, that's relevant. How many team suggestions he takes or rejects really isn't relevant to me. I leave it up to him what the best course of action is to improve himself as a player. If he makes the wrong choice and fails to become a good player, ultimately that will be his responsibility. I assume it matters more to him than to me.
i wasn't bringing it up as a way to call out specific people here. there are people here that what i said applies to. there are people in the national media who what i said applies to. look at the post i was responding to and what my post said. oden isn't taking a pr risk by going to summer school at ohio state. were aldridge and durant taking pr risks by going back to texas for summer school? the people who already have a double standard and attack oden for things they won't attack other players for are going to find something to feel that way about regardless of what oden does. reasonable people will realize that going to summer school at ohio state isn't going to hinder oden's working out and preparation for next season at all. that is my whole point. i don't have to name names to get it across.
Yes. True. There are lots of great explanations in this thread for why him going to Ohio is no big thing, excuse, explain, etc. But, his immediate boss, Coach McMillian, was not happy with his decision. That to me is the big issue right now. Sure, nobody yet knows if going to Ohio will affect his conditioning and development. What we do know, is that he has disappointed his boss, his team. And that counts as a failure in my book.
Do any of you think it would be hard for GO to pick up the phone and call Hakeem, Bill Russell, Pat Ewing, Dave Robinson or even Shaq and have them help him over the summer? If I'm a once in a decade center, who's lack of NBA skill, and my youth, is causing me to play under 20 minutes a game, I'm working on my shit!!!! It's that simple!!!!!! If GO seeks to improve this way than I'm fine with him going anywhere...... but if he sits around and gets drunk and laid all summer, than we don't need to have anymore GO discussions. He simply doesn't have the drive to be great and we can move on to focusing on the real hubs of this team Roy, LA and ????? Great players want it. The summer will be telling!
