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Related Photos

  • Group hug: Greg Oden poses for a photograph with Courtney, Tami and Jimmy Smith prior to the kick-off of the annual Travis Smith Memorial Golf Tournament.

    SPT 080510 ODEN - SMITH.jpg

  • One liner: Don Isles (multi-color shirt) and his friend Harold Needham make Greg Oden and Jimmy Smith laugh with his story prior to the start of the annual fundraiser for the Boy's and Girl's Club.

    SPT 080510 ODEN LAUGHS.jpg

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August 6, 2010

Greg Oden returns to hometown of Terre Haute for Travis Smith golf outing

David Hughes The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — When Jimmy Smith says that longtime friend Greg Oden “deserves a break” with the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2010-11 season, he doesn’t mean breaking a bodypart.

By the freakiest of accidents, the 7-foot Oden has done plenty of that already in his three-year NBA career.

Oden, who grew up in Terre Haute until his family moved to Indianapolis when he was an eighth-grader in the fall of 2001, stopped in town Thursday to attend a cookout at a southern Vigo County residence. The Terre Haute Boys and Girls Club fundraiser helped promote the fourth annual “Travis Smith Memorial Golf Classic Hosted by Greg Oden” today at the Country Club of Terre Haute.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, Oden has played in zero (because of preseason microfracture surgery on his right knee), 61 and 21 games respectively in each season. Averaging 9.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per outing in those 82 games, Oden’s perceived lack of success by the national media can be directly attributed to injuries.

The latest, a fractured patella in his left knee suffered Dec. 5, forced him to miss the remainder of last season.

“It happened in a game against the Houston Rockets,” Oden told the Tribune-Star. “I was going up to block a shot [by Aaron Brooks]. I jumped in the air and my kneecap just broke in half. There actually wasn’t that much pain. The look of it was actually worse than the pain. They [doctors] told me that if I had kept my leg straight, I could have walked on it right after it happened. There was really nothing I could have done. They said the force of my jump — the way I jump, how my legs were — was at least 400 pounds.

“I got surgery the next day. I’m still in rehab, but I’m getting really close to where I want to be for the start of the season. [The rehab process] has been very long — a lot of ups and downs, good days and bad days. But things are looking good.”

Oden didn’t go into detail about his rehab routine, but he stressed that he’s focused on returning to the Trail Blazers’ lineup.

“I’ve just been working out,” he said between signing autographs Thursday. “I’ve been here and Indianapolis. I’ve been working out really hard with some people who are really good for me … basically changing my lifestyle, just getting myself right and being around people who I know and grew up with.

“Doctors have told me that I should be 100 percent by the time it’s all healed. I can’t predict the future, but I know I’m preparing myself right now to be an [NBA] all-star.”

Oden insists there was no specific reason for his desire to change as a person.

“I know what I need to do, growing up, maturing, 22 [years of age] now,” he explained. “It’s time to mature.”

Portland players will report to preseason camp in late September and Oden wouldn’t mind if an injury-free version of himself silences his critics in the national media this season.

“It does motivate me,” he admitted. “But I don’t care what they say. I know I’m doing all I can this summer to prepare myself the best. That’s all I can do. Anything that happens after that, I’m prepared for.”

“That kid, he’s worked his butt off,” Jimmy Smith mentioned. “I mean, I know personally from the time my family has spent with Greg that with the nutrition and the workouts and everything he’s doing to get in the right frame of mind to play this year … if things don’t work out for him, it’s not because he didn’t try.”

Turning their attention to today’s golf outing — started in memory of Travis Smith, Jimmy’s son and a member of the Ball State men’s golf team when he was killed in an auto accident in January 2007 — Oden and Jimmy Smith plan to make it a success again.

“Travis was my best friend,” Oden emphasized. “He was my brother. He meant everything to me. He looked out for me in ways I can’t even explain. Anything to do with him and his family, I’m there to support and I’m there to help any way that I can. It’s not like it’s something that I have to do when I come here. I’m just automatically here. These days [in early August] every year are already reserved for this.”

“I think the friendship that Travis and Greg had over the years, it’s something that Greg will always remember,” Jimmy Smith said. “This [golf outing] is something that means a lot to him, definitely. Greg’s committed to doing this, definitely.”

Smith said most of the proceeds will go to Boys and Girls Club programs and the rest will go to Travis’ memorial trust, adding that 240 golfers — split into 60 teams — will take part in the outing.

That includes Oden, who is not near the golfer Travis Smith was.

“I’m able to golf,” Oden confirmed when asked if the knee injury might prevent him from participating.

“I’m probably going to golf about nine holes. I know Josh McRoberts [from the Indiana Pacers] is going to come down … I need to work on teeing off, my drive, my short game, my long game, putting, even walking down the fairway. I’ve got to work on everything.”

Although today’s outing is a private event that discourages the presence of fans, Oden said he doesn’t mind signing autographs while he’s in town and he particularly enjoys discussing memories of Travis Smith with old friends.

“I definitely don’t forget how nice people are in Terre Haute,” Oden said.

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Sports
SPT 052213 JENKINS JUBI.jpg

On the scoreboard: Terre Haute South's Justin Jenkins (6) celebrates the Braves' first run with teammate Jacob Johnson during the Braves' sectional game against North on Wednesday at South.

  • North baseball pulls away from South in sectional opener

    In high school baseball little things mean a lot, and the crack in the door doesn’t have to be open very wide.
    Terre Haute North burst through that crack in the bottom of the second inning Wednesday evening at Terre Haute South, scoring seven two-out runs and going on to a surprisingly easy 12-2 victory over the host Braves.

    May 23, 2013 4 Photos

  • SPT0512213mcmillan.jpg Blank, Mundy named McMillan Award winners

    Posing side-by-side for photos following Terre Haute North High School’s Senior Awards ceremony, seniors Calvin Blank and Chanli Mundy couldn’t look more different.

    May 23, 2013 4 Photos

  • Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship

    Indiana State’s Wednesday morning wish list probably read something like this: a dominant complete game effort from starting pitcher Devin Moore, near-immaculate defense to support him, and a steady diet of clutch situational hitting from lineup spots one to nine.

    May 23, 2013

  • West Vigo baseball advances with 10-0 win behind Stewart's two-hitter

    West Vigo got off to a good start in Class 3A high school sectional baseball action Wednesday evening at Dick Ballinger Field.
    The Vikings scored four runs in the first inning of the first sectional game and went on to defeat Brown County 10-0 in five innings with Kevin Stewart hurling a two-hitter.

    May 23, 2013

  • Terre Haute South tennis claims regional crown

    It was a lot tougher than some thought it would be, but the Terre Haute South girls tennis team won the Greencastle regional for the second year in a row Wednesday evening at DePauw University Tennis and Track Center.

    May 23, 2013

  • evans-jump.jpg METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete

    Rose-Hulman senior Liz Evans earned her fifth career NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year honor, according to results released Wednesday by the U.S. Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association.

    May 23, 2013 1 Photo

  • Terre Haute's Mascari running 10,000 meters for chance to get to Hayward Field

    Indiana State freshman and Terre Haute North graduate John Mascari is among the enormous group of Sycamores competing this weekend at the NCAA East Preliminary. The top 48 NCAA track and field competitors in each event on this half of the United States are narrowed down to 12 who will compete at the NCAA meet at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

    May 23, 2013

  • SPT0511613trackseibert.jpg Big group of Wabash Valley boys head to Evansville looking for state berths

    The top four finishers in each event from last week’s Terre Haute North, Evansville Central, Jasper and Princeton boys high school track and field sectionals will converge on Evansville Central today for regional competition.

    May 22, 2013 2 Photos

  • SPT0512113WVSB mcclain.jpg West Vigo comes up short against 19-9 Brown County softball

    West Vigo got off to a good start but Brown County finished better in Class 3A high school softball sectional semifinal action Tuesday night at Edgewood.
    The Eagles bested the Vikings 7-5 and will meet South Vermillion, a 12-7 winner over Owen Valley, for the sectional championship on Thursday starting at 6 p.m.
     

    May 22, 2013 5 Photos

  • Valley baseball teams have been keeping busy heading into sectionals

    When high school baseball sectionals begin around the Wabash Valley today, one complaint that’s not expected to be heard from any coach is that his team has had too much time off.

    May 22, 2013

Local Interest
evans-jump.jpg

  • METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete

    Rose-Hulman senior Liz Evans earned her fifth career NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year honor, according to results released Wednesday by the U.S. Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association.

    May 23, 2013 1 Photo

  • SPT 051913 TIM TERRY.jpg Terry enjoys strong year with Wildcats, and still enjoying suiting up to play

    South Vermillion’s Tim Terry is the longest tenured coach in Wabash Valley high school baseball as his Wildcats are set to begin sectional play Thursday against Owen Valley.
    But on the Yankees, a 35-and-over team in the Terre Haute Men’s Senior Baseball League, Terry is “just a youngster” if you ask Larry Roesch, his 68-year-old teammate on the Volkers Group Yankees.

    May 22, 2013 4 Photos

  • softballsecs.jpg Softball sectionals up for grabs

    All three Vigo County high schools and Northview appear to have a realistic chance of winning sectional championships in softball this week.

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • Indiana State baseball series canceled

    Heavy rain from Thursday through Saturday has forced Indiana State and Tennessee Martin to cancel their three-game weekend baseball series in northwest Tennessee.

    April 27, 2013

  • METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman baseball to play DePauw on Thursday after Tuesday's rain

    The Rose-Hulman baseball team has rescheduled its non-conference game with DePauw to Thursday night.
    The start time remains 7 p.m. for the single nine-inning game that was originally scheduled for today. Tuesday’s scheduled Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game at Anderson was moved to Sunday because of rain.

    April 24, 2013

High School
College
  • Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship

    Indiana State’s Wednesday morning wish list probably read something like this: a dominant complete game effort from starting pitcher Devin Moore, near-immaculate defense to support him, and a steady diet of clutch situational hitting from lineup spots one to nine.

    May 23, 2013

  • Terre Haute's Mascari running 10,000 meters for chance to get to Hayward Field

    Indiana State freshman and Terre Haute North graduate John Mascari is among the enormous group of Sycamores competing this weekend at the NCAA East Preliminary. The top 48 NCAA track and field competitors in each event on this half of the United States are narrowed down to 12 who will compete at the NCAA meet at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

    May 23, 2013

  • Manaea's shoulder causing him latest pain

    Indiana State pitcher Sean Manaea has battled through so many aches and pains during the 2013 season that it can be hard to discern the serious pain from the pain he pitches through.

    May 22, 2013

  • ISU's Negele answers call in big way in wake of Manaea injury

    When Indiana State starting pitcher Sean Manaea slumped on the mound in obvious pain after he took his warm-up pitches, red flags raised for ISU’s Missouri Valley Conference tournament hopes.

    May 21, 2013

  • SPT0511613manaea3.jpg ISU baseball hoping Manaea can get its MVC Tournament moving in right direction

    Indiana State’s baseball team has been waiting all season for its stars to align.
    But this is the 2013 Sycamores, after all, and after a season in which seemingly little has gone right, it appears its stars will remain crossed at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.

    May 21, 2013 1 Photo

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Terre Haute Rex
SPT 071512 DORSETT FILE.jpg

Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)

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