I was waiting to cross the street down on SW 5th last week when I looked over and spotted Greg Oden standing next to me. He was on crutches and looked embarrassed to be there. Not sure what else to do, I nodded and he nodded back. A few seconds later, two PSU undergrads strolled up to wish him well. As we crossed the street at least five different people said, "Hey, Greg" or "good luck, man."

I have no idea why he was down there or why he was navigating the streets by himself on foot, clearly miserable. A guy with his bucks could probably afford a driver or a few handlers to get him wherever he needs to go. When I mentioned this on Twitter someone snidely replied that he was probably on his way to campus to enroll for spring term, given the plague of injuries that have sidelined his basketball career for the time being.

My guess was that he was on his way to a restaurant or to speak at a campus event. Still, it was an odd sight- an NBA player, a potential superstar, glumly walking through downtown on a January afternoon.

Labels: sports