Greg Oden: The Tale of Two Covers

You know you've got some juice when you wind up on the cover of two prominent Portland publications and you've barely lived here a month. Such is life when you're Greg Oden, the No. 1 pick in last month's NBA Draft. Oden is featured on the cover of the August “Best of the City 07” issue of Portland Monthly and Willamette Week's “Best of PDX” edition out this week.

“Honestly, Greg Oden was the only choice for Portland Monthly's Best of the City issue,” said Jill Davis, Portland Monthly's deputy editor. “Sure, he's the No. 1 draft pick, the kind of player you can build a championship team around. But more importantly, he's the kind of guy that can rev up an entire city.”

Case in point being the 5,000 fans that turned up at Pioneer Courthouse Square the day following the draft to welcome Oden to Portland at a noontime rally in his honor.

Apparently, Willamette Week felt the same about Oden declaring Portland 's No. 1 draft choice the “Best Reason to Believe Again” adding:

The expectations that have been placed on this 19-year-old rookie are, frankly, insane. Can he save the franchise? Can he bring us the trophy? Can he restore the glory of the Rip City era? Can he solve the crisis in the Middle East ?

Meantime, Portland Monthly called Oden the “Best Shot at the NBA Championship.”

“We knew we had to have Greg Oden on our 2007 Best of the City issue,” added Davis . “After all, what epitomizes the best of a city like a man who led the Ohio State Buckeyes in shooting and rebounding—as a 19-year-old freshman? Plus, he's got a heart-warming, cover-worthy smile. Really, who can resist him?”

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