I know this has been debated way too much, but let me beat this should be dead horse, just one more time because it seems it’s spreading.

Did I miss something? I’ve read Quicks article several times and I don’t perceive Odens comments as whining. I don’t perceive his reaction as weak. He never say’s he want’s or expects the expectations to ease off, he simply say’s he recognizes that they exist, from fans, from media, from coaches, teamates and himself. He then goes on to say he is trying his best to be serious and focused and work towards reaching those expectations. What’s wrong with that?

In reaction to Jason’s Underwhelmed comment this is what Oden say’s:

“It’s understandable,” Oden said after I was done. “And I know it’s out there. That’s the big thing with me. That’s why I’m out here working and trying to get better. Trying to understand this, and doing what I need to do so people don’t think that way.” -Greg Oden as quoted in Jason Quicks article.

Gee, Oden cares about his perception, he cares about the expectations and he is working and trying to get better….that’s horrible…what a whiner? Has a huge portion of the world failed reading comprehension? Or have I?

Anyone, absolutely anyone that would be in Odens position would feel the pressure. How could you not? But this contention that he is whining about it I think is entirely unfair. He evidently got annoyed or midly upset at a reporter that confronted him with an opinion that his performance thus far had been “underwhelming”. So what? That’s NOT whining, that’s just caring about where he is at, and wanting to be better. Criticism can be helpful, expectations can become goals, and I think Oden understands this.

So either I’m misreading Oden in Quicks article, or I missed the part where Oden is whining because I just don’t read it that way. Oden say’s he’s trying to understand. Well can’t we let a 20 year old, starting his first active year in the N.B.A. have some time to get a grasp on what it is like to play, be reported on, and exist as Greg Oden N.B.A. basketball player? I don’t hear whining, I hear a desire to improve and actually a pretty mature reaction to what must a difficult enviroment to deal with constantly. Odens looking for understanding and self improvement, I think he get’s it. I’m afraid from the reaction of a lot of fans that we don’t get it.

lol…but you’re a smart elbow.

I’m getting tired of coming here to self referential pieces in the media about the media echo chamber. I come to the edge for clear and level headed analysis not Ad Hominem garbage whether an original piece or a self-aggrandizing link to a piece that found inspiration here with the original Op-ed. I’m still waiting on your retraction Ben. Unless of course you stand by your statement that Oden is a whiner. Which leads me to then ask why are you writing about the Blazers and not say the fine gentlemen in Boston or LA?

“He was just wetting our pallets. I can’t wait.”

I think he meant "whetting our palates.

But I can see why the rest of the league would be wetting their pallets.

No more “previews.” 95% of the folks here at BE could write a better preview than 99% of the previews that are currently available online. Previews are for the birds.

Says Joel is hurt? What’s that about?

You are one tenacious S.O.B.

You’re another reason why I come to Blazers Edge. I love, love, love Dave, but he is consistently even handed and somewhat fatherly. You’re the brash young guy trying to stake your claim.

I could come up with an analogy or compare it to a movie, only for someone would argue with it. So I’ll just finish by saying, that I enjoy that you bring another voice to this blog and you are willing to have people disagree with you.

Actually, I’m not finished. I hate Canzano and I think you are nothing like him. He tries to create issues or controversy, you report and have evidence for your opinions. Just had to throw that in there, because you don’t seem like you have a vendetta.

Seriously, if I would write a preview of the Mavs or Celtics, I probably wouldn’t mention Keith McLeod or Gabe Pruitt either.

But its not Greg Oden that is whining. Its the other way around. Its fans and media thats whining. They expect something they don’t get, so they whine, that Oden needs this and that.

Did Ben just write a post and NOT dis the spanish coco?

What’s next? President Dave!?

Sergio will make the naysayers eat their crow.

Are you saying that he is underrated then?

Nor over rated. I think he needs more playing time & more opportunity’s to prove himself. He should get it this last preseason game.

Lovin’ to see the envy, fear and trepidation that is sinking into the rest of the league / fanbases. It is fun to be a Trail Blazer fan again.

I really didn’t want my post to be taken as an attack against Ben. I think we both read the same article and came to very different conclusions about what it represented. Personally I think that’s great. Yes, I think I disagree with Ben as far as how he is taking Quicks article but that’s cool. I respect both Dave and Ben, that’s why I’m here. All though it seems lately that Dave and Ben are playing a subconcious game of Good Cop, Bad Cop with us. Anyway, maybe I was a little thin skinned earlier, a little defensive but just wanted to go on record as saying a divergent opinion is fine with me. I respect Ben, it’s much easier to come as an anonymous, occasional poster and write something defending Oden unequivocably, it takes a lot of guts to write in Blazers Edge a piece such as Ben’s “Quick on Oden”. Anyway, as long as I feel someone is being sincere in their opinions I don’t care if they disagree with me, or I with them, infact it’s something I enjoy about Blazers Edge and following basketball in general.