COLUMN: Odom lost all class, respect
Lamar Odom, what happened?
Just one season removed from being named NBA Sixth Man of the Year, the now-disgraced forward from Queens, N.Y., is done for the rest of this season.
How does a player go from Sixth Man to no man’s land so quickly?
There are many excuses out there being made for Odom, most of which have to do with the vetoed trade that involved him before the start of the 2011-12 NBA season.
The Lakers wanted to trade Odom and others to the New Orleans Hornets in order to get Chris Paul. There’s nothing wrong with that right? It was a simple business decision – aging forward for a star in-his-prime point guard. Common sense.
Then David Stern stepped in and vetoed the trade.
That left both the Lakers and Odom in a sticky situation. Odom knew that the Lakers weren’t too intent on keeping him and looked at him as a trading asset. The Lakers on the other hand knew that Odom was becoming increasingly unhappy with the situation. Instead of dealing with his pouting, they sent him to the Dallas Mavericks. The Dallas freaking Mavericks.
Instead of going to the Hornets, who have the worst record in the Western Conference, Odom was sent to the defending NBA champions. Maybe it’s just me, but that seems like a wonderful change of fortune. Instead of playing with Al-Farouq Aminu and Greivis Vasquez in a half-empty arena all season, he could be playing with the reigning Finals MVP and an old, but still talented, point guard in Jason Kidd.
Instead of drowning at the bottom of the Western Conference standings he would be involved in a tight race with Dallas to make the playoffs and defend the NBA title.
How can being traded to the defending NBA champs be an excuse for a whole season of apathetic play?
It can’t.
Lamar Odom lost something that day he left the Lakers, and it looks like he might never get it back.
Was it his pride? Was it his trust?
Although Odom has been a high-maintenance player since his arrival in the NBA, who could have foreseen how poorly this most recent move would end.
The fact that the Mavs would rather list him as inactive instead of release him is a testament to how poor he’s been since his arrival. It’s a slap in the face to the former Olympian.
In essence Mark Cuban and Mavs organization are saying, “you have been so bad that we are better off paying you NOT to play.”
So instead of getting to play every night for the defending champs, Odom can sit at home and chill with his almost $9 million.
Maybe that is what he wanted all along. It’s a tragic turn in Odom’s career.
It has been said that “adversity doesn’t build character it reveals it.” If true what does that say about Lamar Odom?
It is interesting to compare this recent occurrence with Odom to what happened recently in the NFL.
Peyton Manning who played his whole career with the Indianapolis Colts, won a Super Bowl, guided them to numerous playoffs, and brought unprecedented success to a the capital of Indiana, was released in favor of a yet-to-play-a-down prospect.
His reaction?
Humility. Gratitude. Thanks. More gratitude. More humility and maybe more importantly understanding for the Colts decision.
What about Tim Tebow?
After an incredible season and a playoff appearance, John Elway went out and signed Peyton Manning all but officially ending Tebow’s career as a Bronco.
Tebow’s trade to the Jets was anything but smooth, and had some hiccups not unlike Odom’s, but his reaction was totally different.
He was happy and excited and promised to give his all to the Jets organization. Knowing full well that he might not ever start another NFL game.
Maybe these experiences are more testaments to the great character of Manning and Tebow than to the lack of character Lamar Odom has. Who knows?
I don’t, but what I do know is Lamar Odom quit on the Mavs before he ever started.
He quit on the city, fans, management, team and coach before he stepped off the plane in Dallas.
Great players don’t do that. Classy players don’t do that.
Lamar Odom what happened?
– Spencer is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. He supports Manchester United and hopes to live long enough to watch the Cubs win a World Series. Send any comments to eliason.wright3@aggiemail.usu.edu.