According to Greg Oden, Barrack Obama gave him a phone call.

The conversation was quick - like two minutes but I got to talk to him like a real person. What I got from talking to him is that he is a real sports fan and he knew about the Blazers. He said that when I come back Brandon, LaMarcus and I will be a force next year. He also asked me about my knee, and he said he wasn’t feeling my mohawk.

Does your child need a mentor? Are you still looking for that right guy? If so, look no further, the Trailblazers rookie MONSTER, Greg Oden, is just the man for your son/daughter. During the offseason, Greg Oden has been hanging out with children. The Oregon mentors, a non profit organization has created “Team Oden”, that is directed to reach 40,000 youth.

“Every kid should have someone in their life that can support and encourage them,” Oden said in a statement. “Without strong mentors, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Nice job Greg! Keep it up!

Not us, but our friend at BoomShakalaka.com is having a nickname contest for our boy Greg Oden. Check it out over there, and post what you think would be a great nickname for our boy. We love the idea:

http://www.boomshakalaka.org/2008/03/11/the-official-greg-oden-nickname-contest/

The Portland Trailblazers star Center, and our favorite NBA basketball player- Greg Oden has teamed up with the Oregon Mentors, a non profit organization to unify youth mentoring programs throughout the state or Oregon. The organizing of “Team Oden” is planning to assist the Oregon Mentors to reach their goal of connecting to 40,000 youth with a caring adult mentor by the year 2010.
Greg has this to say about the program: “Every kid should have someone in their life that can support and encourage them,” Oden said. “Without strong mentors, I wouldn’t be here today.”

As part of his partnership with Oregon Mentors, Oden has purchased a block of 30 tickets to each Trail Blazers home game for mentors and mentees. Throughout the year, Oden will also host events that will allow him to spend time with Team ODEN mentors and the youth they support.

“We are excited to be working with the Trail Blazers, and with Greg Oden in particular,” said Carolyn Becic, executive director for Oregon Mentors. “Greg personally knows the impact a mentor can have on a young man’s life. Having Greg be part of our organization will not only raise awareness about the need for mentors in our state, but will also reward those who have shown their dedication to mentoring youth.”

Anyone interested in becoming a mentor can sign up for Team ODEN at www.oregonmentors.org, or learn about more than 100 affiliated mentoring programs throughout the state of Oregon.

Check out what Greg Oden is up to, while not playing Basketball..

http://www.boomshakalaka.org/2008/03/01/a-day-in-the-life-of-greg-oden/

Now that SHAQ is back in the West, can you imagine the matchup? Big Shaq, v. the kid wonder, Mr. Greg Oden. Shaq may be big enough to bang Greg around, but good luck to the Kazaam trying to chase Big O around!

Check this out. Too funny. Greg seems to be a smart man!

Here is an article by the AP bout how frustrated our guy Mr. Oden is becoming:

Greg Oden is glad the Portland Trail Blazers are winning - he just wishes he was part of the fun. Oden, the No. 1 draft pick who had knee surgery in September and is out for the season, has watched from the sideline as his Portland teammates have won 17 of their past 18 games.”I would just like to be out there to be able to say ‘You know what, I’m out here, I’m working hard and I’m helping these guys win,’” Oden said before Sunday’s game at Toronto. “I’ve got to keep in mind that I can’t do anything but help myself and get myself ready for next year.”

His recovery is expected to take six to 12 months. So far, Oden said everything is progressing well.

“The knee’s going good,” Oden said. “The rehab is going great. I feel great.”

Oden had an MRI after his knee became swollen during preseason workouts. Team physician Dr. Don Roberts performed the surgery. Other high-profile players who have undergone the procedure include Jason Kidd, Amare Stoudamire and former Blazer Zach Randolph.

Despite not playing a single game as a pro, Oden has been learning a lot about life in the NBA as he watches from the bench.

“It’s really helping me with my confidence,” Oden said. “Just being able to watch these guys play, see them play and see them miss shots. When you watch them on TV, you’d think they never miss. Just being around the guys night in and night out, you just feel more comfortable that when I come in next year, I’m going to be ready to play against them.”

Oden averaged 15.7 points and 9.6 rebounds last season as a freshman at Ohio State. Two of his Buckeye teammates, guards Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Cook, were also first-round draft picks last June.

Conley was the fourth pick by the Memphis Grizzlies, and Cook was the 21st selection by the Miami Heat.

Oden’s been keeping tabs on both.

“One of the main reasons I’m on this road trip is because I go to Miami to see Daequan,” Oden said. “They’re both starting and they’re both doing really well. Last time I talked to Mike was right before his first start, when he was at Indiana. Those guys are doing good.”