Does Greg Oden Have MVP Award Locked Up After One Quarter Season?

Some experts are ready to declare the race for the 2008-09 MVP award already over after the first game of the season. Although usually having to wait a couple months before even making the first guesses as to who will take home the illustrious prize, some are already prepared to anoint Greg Oden. All this after he managed to play only a single quarter before rolling his ankle and leaving the game. "Well, I think you saw one of the most brilliant seasons from a young big man in a long time," said analyst Steven A. Smith. "Everyone saw the 2 weeks Andrew Bynum had last year before his injury, and suddenly without playing again he was the best center in the league. Now you see this guy come out, who everyone said was injury prone and would never contribute this year after missing all of last, and he gives you a whole 13 minutes before being shut down for the season. That's heart, that's determination, and that's what an MVP is all about. He could have given up after 1 minute, 2 minutes, but he toughed it out for 13!" "Sure he missed all 4 shots he took and looked very awkward at times, but he did manage to get 5 rebounds in his short time," said Charles Barkeley. "He is my definite pick for MVP in 7 months, because of what he showed out there. Look, he was by far the most valuable player to this organization. He helped make everyone in the Portland area believe that they would be able to watch the next big superstar when they purchases Trailblazers season tickets. Sure, he tricked them all. But it was his work pretending he would be able to play in an entire NBA game that made those tickets possible. That's a valuable player."