Injury Struggles Are Just One Part of Greg Oden’s Fight
Portland Trailblazers troubled big man Greg Oden has struggled in recent years with constant, and damaging injuries, but it appears alcohol has played just as much a negative role in his life.
In a recent interview on a sports site, Oden outlined his trouble with alcohol and getting overly involved in the party scene which so often sucks in newcomers to the NBA.
During his interview with this major media site, Oden explained how he lived with a cousin in Portland during his extensive rehabilitation periods over the past few years– when he played sparingly– and often turned to partying and the bottle as a way to cope with the highs and lows:
If you know anything about guys in the Air Force, it’s that they drink a ton. My cousin got wrapped up in the NBA lifestyle and threw parties at my house all the time.
So I got wrapped up in it too.
When I played well, I’d drink to celebrate. And when I played poorly, I’d drink to forget.
That second year in Portland I pretty much became an alcoholic.
This is quite a revelation from Oden, as all we knew prior to now was that he had dealt with psychological as well as physiological issues, but alcohol was never suggested as an additional issue.
At this point in his career, whether or not Greg Oden will return to the court is a 50/50 proposition.
Assuming his rehabilitation process stays on schedule, and he can fight the battles in his own mind with efficiency and effectiveness, it’s possible the Blazers could give him one last chance to make it in the NBA.
We all know how much they have invested, and as callous as it may sound, one has to figure they are still looking for some sort of tangible return on that investment.
Pro sports is a brutal business, and the Blazers don’t have many more chances to give Greg Oden.
It’s just the simple facts.
How these chances present themselves are up to fate, and whatever hope Greg Oden has left to reach the promise which once seemed inevitable.
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Kris Hughes is the College Football Network Manager for Rant Sports. If you enjoy his takes, you can follow Kris on Twitter, check out his personal Facebook page, or stop by his personal Tumblr page.
