Assault on Greg Oden's Mental Health Continues

The level to which Greg Oden's NBA career has been snuffed by the forces of the universe is really becoming something to behold. The microfracture surgery of 2007 delayed his rookie year until this season. When it finally began, he injured his foot before the end of his first game and missed a few weeks. Once back, he suffered a bone chip in his knee that caused him to miss the All-Star festivities, including the Rookie Challenge. Through it all, depression has been murmured as Oden withdraws from this cruel world.

Now, on the eve of his first playoff appearance -- and Portland's first playoff game since 2003 -- Oden has a ... sinus infection. He did not practice Friday, and is listed as a game-time decision.

Some will mock Oden. But I don't think he's hunting for black cats or broken mirrors. Some folks are just unfortunate, unlucky. Really, it's a miracle that someone so frequently afflicted has made it to the ripe age of 62 21.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.