Greg Oden

A great article about the guy. Why Simmons thinks we need him:

And not just because Oden pushes a fun Blazers team to another level. The league needs him. He could be a wonderful, thoughtful personality along the lines of Bill Bradley, Kevin McHale, Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson and Bill Walton—an original, someone who defies every unfair stereotype of NBA players.

Oden told Portland GM Kevin Pritchard, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," after finding out he needed knee surgery. He played piano for JT at the ESPYs. He messes with reporters during interviews by seeing how many questions he can answer in a monotone. He's such a nice person, I guarantee he will never throw a punch in a game. He never takes himself seriously. He's legitimately funny and self-aware, wise beyond his years, intuitive almost to a fault.

Too bad the world doesn't work that way. As Marlo says in season 4 when the security guard confronts about stealing a lollipop and the guard makes a passionate plea about being a man:

"You want it one way."
"Why you keep saying that?"
"You want it one way. But it's the other."