Greg Oden: Why Does ESPN Hate Him?

Why does ESPN hate Greg Oden?

Maybe I'm a little too sensitive here. After all, I'm a huge Portland Trail Blazers fan and Oden is one of my favorite players. But I get the impression from watching ESPN, and from perusing their website, that the Bristol-based sports conglomerate hates the 7-foot center out of Ohio State.

You probably think I'm just a paranoid small market fan or that I've been abusing Oregon's medical marijuana laws, but I'm just being honest here. I really think ESPN wants Greg Oden to fail.

For instance check out this recent headline from an ESPN.com story: "Oden squanders Blazers' chance to top Nuggets."

Is it me or is that really harsh especially considering it wasn't solely his fault the Blazers lost. It's true that Oden missed two free throws with 4.9 seconds left in the game. Had Oden made just one of those foul shots the Blazers would have tied the game. Instead he did his best Shaq impersonation and the Blazers fell to the Denver Nuggets, 97-94.

Yes, Oden should have made his free throws, but he didn't squander the Blazers' chances to defeat the Nuggets. Other Blazers missed foul shots down the stretch, including LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy.

Oh yeah, and the team shot 34 percent from the field. Clearly, Oden was far from being the only culprit in the Blazers' heart wrenching loss to their hated division foe.

When SportsCenter actually gets around to showing Blazers highlights (usually in the show's last segment) they always cite Oden's point total with disdain and incredulity.

It's like his seven or eight point is an affront to basketball. They seldom mention his rebounding totals or his block shots. They just seem angry that he didn't score 30 points.

Those familiar with the Blazers know Oden isn't even the team's third scoring option. The franchise doesn't need him put up points they need him to rebound and play defense.

I'm not saying the big guy is beyond reproach nor do I believe he's beyond criticism. It's just for a guy that's not had a run in with the law, and for someone extremely likable, ESPN seems to have a vested interest in seeing him fail.

Tony Kornheiser, host of ESPN's Pardon The Interruption, is fixated with Oden's injuries. He's so obsessed with Greg's boo-boos that he's oblivious to anything positive the former Buckeye does on the court.

In a five minute interview with Oden earlier this year, neither Kornheiser, nor his PTI partner Mike Wilbon, mentioned the Portland Trail Blazers. How can you interview an NBA player for five minutes and not mention the team he plays for?

It's obvious why he's treated the way he's treated. Not only does he play for a city most people at ESPN couldn't find on a map, but his selection as the number one overall draft pick in the 2007 NBA Draft did not go according to "The Plan."

The Portland Trail Blazers weren't supposed to win the NBA lottery that year. The Boston Celtics or the New York Knicks were (although the Blazers had better odds than the Knickerbockers).

Even though the C's went on to win the NBA Championship that year (and acquired a very productive Glenn Davis in that '07 draft)) the powers-that-be at ESPN still haven't been able to get over a marquee big man from a marquee school going to lowly old Portland.

At least that's how I see it. Maybe I'm crazy. Maybe I'm blinded by loyalty to my team. Just do me one favor, the next time you see the Blazers on SportsCenter pay close attention to how they talk about Greg Oden. If you do, I'm sure you realize I'm not as crazy as I sound.