[Buckskin86]

Oden Is Solid on and Off the Court
By LIZ ROBBINS
Published: June 27, 2007

Greg Oden held a tissue in his left hand, coughed like a truck rumbling through Times Square and graciously extended his right hand.

Greg Oden, a 19-year-old, 7-foot center, played one season at Ohio State, helping the Buckeyes to the N.C.A.A. championship game.
?Don?t worry,? he said with his mustache-stretching smile, ?I used hand sanitizer.?

Oden was looking out for others even though he was only beginning a whirlwind schedule of interviews yesterday in his first visit to New York City. The 19-year-old, 7-foot Oden is approaching tomorrow night?s N.B.A. draft ? where he is likely to be the first pick (by Portland) ? with a cold.

Oden called his one season at Ohio State ?the greatest year.? He loved being the Big Man on a campus that revolved around football, keeping him out of the spotlight until he helped lead the Buckeyes to the national championship game. Even after Florida won, Oden could not get to class without being mobbed.

?Every time I go somewhere and someone recognizes me and I?m with Mike Conley Jr.,? Oden said about his former point guard who is likely to be drafted no later than fourth, ?I?m like, ?Do they not recognize you? Is it my face? What?s going on here?? ?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/27/sp...tml?ref=sports