Staying Grounded

I came back out to Portland last week to get going with my last stage of rehab for my knee. Before that i was in Indiana the week before i came out. I stayed at my moms house, and i know shes gonna call me and cuss me out cause of this but ill try to make it nice. The first thing i noticed when i got to my moms house was that her house is really big but something happen to the lawn. I guess she put in a sprinkler system. Well the guys doing it messed up our whole house. So i go in the house and tried to take a shower. After letting the water run for 10 mins and it not getting hot i asked her and she said there hasnt been any hot water since they put that in, so i had to take a 2 minute cold shower. I say 2 minutes cause i couldnt stand it any longer. So after i get out of the shower i go to use the computer and the wireless was cut off too, also the house phone didnt even work. So i went through the whole week with no phone, no internet, and no hot water. It was just something kinda funny to me because i remember that stuff happening when we lived in a little house, but now we are in a huge house in a beautiful neighborhood and it still happens. I love my mom and i hope she will be ok, my brother leaves for prep school sunday so she will be at home all by herself. Goodluck to my brother too. Love you both!

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• mvbuckeye01 said August 11, 2008

  Thanks for stopping by. Its crazy how acclimated we get to luxury amenities compared to our folks who have not had them our whole lives. I went to visit my mom over the weekend and mentioned she should put on the AC as it was really hot that day. Her reply was "O my, I forgot we even had it".

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• BookerT said August 11, 2008

  nice humbling article Greg
  
  ....1/3 of the world is in poverty, to walk in their shoes in this society is pretty impossible being the fact we dont want our state of norm be affected and we are pretty self centered as well...In your case a cold shower, the impoverished probably have to walk miles n miles for water and they probably wouldnt have enough water to take that shower which probably is dirty water...
  
  That being said I praise you for the experience you got from this tiny situation and your perception on this becasue though it may be a small issue, their is a bigger issue at hand which is poverty, which sadly enough has been a problem ever since mankind...Saddest part is we as human beings havent done our part to help those and Even more embarrasing on the leaders of the nations part....IVe said enough..Peace and Keep Hope Alive to all the Mommas Bois including myself....

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• HoopsHoncho said August 11, 2008

  Hey Greg... It sounds like it's time to get your mom and Assistant/Handler ... someone who can oversee the day to day chores of making sure stuff gets done right by the right people ... making sure stuff gets paid and is working. I know a lot of people who have them just because they're too busy to constantly be on the phone trying to find someone to clean up the loose ends, ya know? They have a lot of "concierge service companies" now in big cities. Not sure about Indiana necessarily but you should look into it. :-)

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• Rosecity07 said August 11, 2008

  I just saw on the news you are going to be working out tomorrow. Wanted to see if you would update on how your feeling since everyone seems to be speaking for you. Cold showers suck. That's why hotels are great, unlimited hot water. Also when you have your hose on the water pressure goes away so maybe the sprinklers are messing that up.

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• BigDaddy said August 11, 2008

  Greg,
  Hey Greg,
  That stinks!
  I used to work on water heaters. There are only a few reasons why there wouldn't be any hot water: 1) the top element in her water heater is out (assuming it is an electric water heater) or two the pilot light on her water heater(assuming it is gas) is out. 2) Someone cross connected a cold water line and hot water line somewhere in the house. At any rate send over a plumber who REALLY understands water heaters as well as plumbing.
  Do you plan on watching Rudy Fernandez during the Olympics?
  Can I stop by the practice facility and get an autograph this weekend?
  I am a season ticket holder. Will you be at the PGE park event? Thanks and take care

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• Quickzoom said August 11, 2008

  Greg,
  Stay humble! I can't wait to root you on at the Rose Garden next year.

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• deluge99 said August 11, 2008

  Well it's a good thing that you'll be able to make sure your Mom is always taken care of. Can't wait to see you stomp this year, I have my season tickets and I'm fire up and ready to go.

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• deluge99 said August 11, 2008

  Well it's good to know that your Mom will always be taken care of, an NBA salary will help that. I can't wait to see you stomp this year, I have my season tickets and I'm fired up and ready to go.

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• ItsMrHarris2u said August 11, 2008

  here's a hint for you ladies...
  
  find a man who loves his mom 1st and foremost.

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• ColinAtkinson said August 12, 2008

  If your hot water heater doesn't work and you also don't have power in some areas, I'll bet the guys doing the work just forgot to flip the breaker back on after installing the electronic timing system for the sprinkler system. check that everytihng is on in your breaker box. Then, proceed to take our team to the playoffs.

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• GardenOfOden said August 12, 2008

  cant wait till you play ...seriously. the towns ready mang. cant wait to watch you n the boys play...its like x-mas day coming. n alotta people understand that you dont have to swat the ball down shaqs throat the first time you 2 meet...but we know its coming. thanks for actually being apart of this blog so that the fans can communicate...its the best.

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• Blackjack said August 12, 2008

  Welcome back to Portland Greg. Been watching any Rudy Fernandez in the Olympics? He's looking good.

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• Blazersrock said August 12, 2008

  Thats almost like camping in the PNW!...at least you have toilets that are working :) Welcome back Greg

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• ElNegro said August 12, 2008

  THE TRAILBLAZERS ARE GONNA BE BEASTING NEXT SEASON...AND I'M A HORNETS FAN...BUT THE BLAZERS WILL BE BACK IN THE PLAYOFFS

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• BadenBall said August 12, 2008

  Whats up Greg, first time yard barker here and I think it so sick that you have a blog on here, that is so cool. Anyways, I wanted to let you know that I will be cheering you guys on tough this year. not only do you guys have one my favorite players on your team (present company excluded) B-Roy, but with the hijacking of the Sonics, my allegiance has swayed in your favor. I'm certain when I say you will most likely have a whole state of new fans in WA. Good luck this year!!! and I will certainly keep an eye out for any new blog entries. oh yeah, you did a great job on the espy's...hilarious.

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• McGuiganFamily said August 12, 2008

  Greg,
  Your Mom will laugh, not be upset. I missed your visit. I miss you, Have a great season, send me a poster to hang up at school, DONT SIGN IT (hahaha!) Love you, Sweetie!
  PM me on facebook and I will give you the address.

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• blazerjunkie said August 12, 2008

  Take care of your mom Greg.
  
  
  blazerjunkie

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• tominhawaii said August 13, 2008

  I love you Greg Oden. Don't worry, I'm way to lazy to stalk you.

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• Rosecity07 said August 14, 2008

  Obama said he saw your work out and that he could dunk on you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65I0HNvTDH4

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• swiftlyjenkins said August 14, 2008

  Thats messed up, but still hella funny. Tell them sprinkler cats to come back out and fix that ish. thanks for posting.

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• mitchtothemax said August 14, 2008

  Hey Greg, you looked dominating against Steven Hill in your workouts.
  And by the way, who did you miss on the Dream Team Quiz?

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• ElNegro said August 14, 2008

  YO ODEN,I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR INSPIRING ME TO STEP MY GAME UP IN BASKETBALL MAN. CUZ IM 15 AND IM 6''2 AND I COULDN'T BLOCK FOR SPIT...BUT FROM WATCHING YOUR VIDEOS I'VE LEARNED HOW TO NOT ONLY BE A OFFENSIVE FORCE,BUT A DEFENSIVE FORCE ALSO. AND ONE DAY,ME AND YOU WILL PLAY EACH OTHER IN THE NBA VERY SOON MY FRIEND.
  -Rasheed Lateef
  www.myspace.com/neworleansfinestfasho

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• dacouve12 said August 14, 2008

  ouch a two minute cold shower...thats brutal
  btw I think you should try to beat Baron Davis in karaoke. He was pretty funny, but I think you could mop the floor with him
  And please don't hurt your knee again. I dont think I could handle you and B-Roy being out to knee injuries. lol

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• jdooley863 said August 15, 2008

  What Greg did not tell you is that while he was in Indiana he came to Terre Haute to host the Travis Smith Memorial Golf Outing. Travis was his best friend and was killed in an automobile accident in Muncie, Indiana on January 27, 2007. They were like brothers. Travis was my grandson and we have loved Greg ever since we met him.

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• cocojumbo77 said August 16, 2008

  Hey Greg, dude I sat right in front of you at Tropic Thunder on Thursday. I was so nervous I was texting me buds and stuff. Haha. I didn't bother you though, seeing as you were with a very pretty woman. :-)
  You're my favorite player man.
  John

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• StorminOrman said August 18, 2008

  Greg- talent aside, you are a great fit in Portland because of how you carry yourself. We all love to root for the home team and believe you will be able to help our city win basketball games. More importantly, you are the kind of guy we want to root for- humble, respectful, funny, hard working. Your momma needs a hug from Portland! We will always, ALWAYS keep rooting for you. Now- from a fans perspective... DUNK EVERYTHING! GROWL! RIP! GRIMACE! SCREAM & YELL! DEMAND EXCELLENCE WHEN ON THE COURT AND HAVE A GREAT TIME BECOMING THE PLAYER WE KNOW YOU ARE! Continue being the guy off the court you have been this past year. For someone having not played a game, you've done great things for Portland and I am proud of that and proud of you. GO RIP CITY!

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• Madley said August 24, 2008

  Greg-It was nice seeing you a couple weeks ago! I was taking a bike ride and got to see you when you were getting out of your car. I hope you remember me, since I was in your life for such a short time (sixth grade). The kids at Gibault think it is cool that you were a manager on my 6th grade team and I tell them how there is never a bad thing said about you and use you as a role model for them. My kids in my classes are mainly from the Gary area and most of them need role models. I hope we can keep in touch through your blog, so I can use you as a tool to connect with these needy kids!

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• Rosecity07 said August 31, 2008

  Greg you need to call the people at 2k because they rate you poorly in 2k8. I dunk it when your under the basket, but the next play I get under the hoop and you get the ball stripped or just fall over and lose the ball. If I dunk it too many times the game has this thing where it make you lay the ball up and it gets blocked by Yao or Duncan. I tell your player to dunk but he just won't do it. This has got to be fixed for 2k9, don't let them do this to you.

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• newatl said September 21, 2008

  It's crazy because it happens like that often. We need that every now and then dont we??
  Go Bucks (I know your not there anymore but once a Buckeye always a Buckeye!!!)

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