freethrow
09-15-2007, 10:23 AM
Sam Bowie has never met Greg Oden.
"But there's not a bigger Greg Oden fan in the world than Sam Bowie," Bowie said by phone Friday.
Bowie was already rooting for Oden as "a fellow big man" drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers, but the link between them became permanent this week when Oden was unexpectedly forced to undergo microfracture surgery on his right knee, meaning that the No. 1 overall pick in the June draft likely will miss his entire rookie season.
Sam Bowie
Blazers center Sam Bowie had an injury-filled NBA career.
It's a fate Bowie knows painfully well. Portland infamously took Bowie with the No. 2 pick in the 1984 draft -- one spot ahead of Michael Jordan. But Bowie's leg problems, which first surfaced at Kentucky, limited the 7-footer to an average of 28 games over the next five seasons. Bowie also was forced to undergo five leg surgeries in that span, all while Air Jordan was beginning his ascent to legendary status.
"I feel terrible for Greg," Bowie said. "I've never talked to the young man, but he's always come across as very professional, very mature. Obviously, with the past history of the team and my situation, he's walked into some quicksand, shall we say. I just hope this kid gets a chance to prove all of the doubters wrong. ,,,more
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3019727&type=story
"But there's not a bigger Greg Oden fan in the world than Sam Bowie," Bowie said by phone Friday.
Bowie was already rooting for Oden as "a fellow big man" drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers, but the link between them became permanent this week when Oden was unexpectedly forced to undergo microfracture surgery on his right knee, meaning that the No. 1 overall pick in the June draft likely will miss his entire rookie season.
Sam Bowie
Blazers center Sam Bowie had an injury-filled NBA career.
It's a fate Bowie knows painfully well. Portland infamously took Bowie with the No. 2 pick in the 1984 draft -- one spot ahead of Michael Jordan. But Bowie's leg problems, which first surfaced at Kentucky, limited the 7-footer to an average of 28 games over the next five seasons. Bowie also was forced to undergo five leg surgeries in that span, all while Air Jordan was beginning his ascent to legendary status.
"I feel terrible for Greg," Bowie said. "I've never talked to the young man, but he's always come across as very professional, very mature. Obviously, with the past history of the team and my situation, he's walked into some quicksand, shall we say. I just hope this kid gets a chance to prove all of the doubters wrong. ,,,more
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3019727&type=story