"During a timeout at a recent game at the Rose Garden, the Trail Blazers paid tribute to Greg Oden's 24th birthday with a mention on the JumboTron.

As the camera honed in on Oden to scattered applause, the 7-footer looked up, saw himself on the big screen and looked away, seemingly embarrassed.

The camera quickly moved to another subject.

When I relay that story to Sam Bowie, I can almost feel him wince at his home in Lexington, Ky."