"Shows uncharacteristic class and humility" by deferring to Magic, Bird, Russell, etc.

No, not to fill the void as our backup banger, the man is 45. Although, maybe...
From a very nice interview with Nick Rattner of SLAM Online.

SLAM: Are you happy doing what you’re doing?
CO: I’m happy. I’m thinking trying to get involved in doing a big man camp next summer. Might land a job with one of these teams. Hopefully, New York or somewhere I’ve really been around. I’ve had some talks with the Bulls, Portland.

SLAM: You talked to Paxson?
CO: I talked to Jerry Reinsdorf, I talked to Larry Miller in Portland about working with some guys. The opportunity is there. I think it’s going to happen soon.

Other topics include "his past, his business endeavors (including a cooking show), what’s wrong with the NBA, and what measures will bring it back to health. "

Joe Freeman just mentioned that the locker room is referring to LMA as "The King Cobra" (in the second installment of FreeMail).

What do you guys think? Apt? Can you think of a better nickname?

Please take these with a grain of salt. They are Formulas, and Stats. But not the be all end all.

- Oden has highest Block %
- Oden has highest total # of blocks
- Rudy has highest Steal %
- Oden is #1 in TOTAL REBOUNDING %

Top 5 Defensive Rating Players:
1. Oden
2. Przy
3. Garnett
4. Rudy
5. Dampier

Oden is #4 in defensive Win shares (aldridge is #7)
Roy is #6 in Win shares

Aldridge is #2 in Turnover Percentage (!!)

INSIDER LINK but here is Rudy and Oden blurb:

5. Greg Oden, Trail Blazers
This big guy's confidence is coming on strong. He's averaging 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocks a game in November, while hitting almost 62 percent of his shots. All in just 24 minutes a game. (It's not his fault the Blazers have the best rebounding center in the league playing behind him.)

He's often been dominant on the defensive end and on the backboards. If he begins to assert himself more on offense, we'll be talking about All-Star Game appearances soon.

and Rudy

9. Rudy Fernandez, Trail Blazers
Some guys take major and obvious steps forward in their second season. Others, such as Fernandez, take incremental but pivotal steps that significantly impact their team. Fernandez is still shooting and making a lot of 3s this season (19-for-47 -- 40 percent), but it's his defense that has people taking notice. Fernandez may well be the Blazers' best perimeter team defender. In other words, their defense may be at its best when he's in the game compared to any other guard or wing.

"No other play in the N.B.A. creates such havoc, no other play is used as often." A few surprises regarding which teams use it the most and the least, and what statistically is the best way to defend it. Great article. Via Kevin Pelton.

(I originally posted this in the "Rebecca Haarlow" thread, but I had some typos to correct and, well, after reading it I'm sure most will agree that it "should've been a fanshot")

Hey, if the Blazers really want to save some money, they should rotate Batum, Outlaw, Pendergraph and Mills as color commentators alongside Barrett and Wheeler. Those injured players are just sitting there doing nothing during the games, anyway--so put 'em to work...on the air!

Just in case you were wondering...there is a precedent for this from Blazer history. Back in ‘74-'75 when Walton was often hurt and always annoying, Lenny Wilkens told him to "leave the bench area!" and go sit next to the Schonz. Dollar Bill put a radio headset on and started commenting on the game action—and a broadcasting career was born! Now, are you going to tell me that Travis Outlaw can’t do a less "horrrible" job behind the mic than Bill Walton? Nico Suave already has some parlez vous francais TV experience from the all-star game weekend, and Patty Mills has that Aussie accent and a face made for radio. By all accounts Jeff Pendergraph is well-spoken, and the Blazers could even do a "sounds of the game" segment with Dante Cunningham wearing the hidden mic on the bench and inside the huddle! (C'mon now, who doesn't want to "accidentally" overhear what Brandon and LMA are grumbling about, as they're watching the lead slip away?)

I firmly believe that a huge opportunity is being wasted, here—and I thought that those wise guys over at Blazer broadcasting were innovators? All that’s standing in the way of this new-wave in cutting-edge NBA commentary is a senile TV color guy and a blockhead ex-jock radio analyst—both of whom are just hanging on and contributing so little to the overall fan experience!

So, cut out the deadwood! Downsize. Show 'em the door! Don't we all want to hear more of Travis screaming "Oh my, ’dere go da game!!!" when Rudy drops in a last-second, game-winning bucket? And, who knows? Perhaps #25's exclamation of unbridled joy could eventually become the new signature "happy ending" slogan for Portland victories, replacing Wheeler’s "...it’s a great day to be a Blazer" and the Schonz’ "Rrrrip city baby, all right!" We're talking T-shirts. Bumper stickers. Toy basketballs. The marketing possibilities are endless!

So now, it's time to kick those old dogs over to the curb...and release the hounds!