Good story on Oden with the latest developments:
The Trials of Greg Oden
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Oden's trial was originally set for Oct. 22, but a judge granted a delay Monday until Nov. 19. He is free to leave Indiana but remains on a court-ordered GPS tracking device until his trial.
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But on a night that allegedly played out like Aug. 7, it turns ugly. Among the details that stood out to sociologist Dr. Harry Edwards, professor emeritus at the University of California-Berkeley who counseled the San Francisco 49ers and Golden State Warriors on sports, family, race and ethnic relations over nearly four decades, in Oden's arrest documents was the juxtaposition of his alleged rage as he punched his girlfriend and the calmness with which he described the incident to police in anticipation of the likely consequences.
"I'm more appalled by that than I would be if he just temporarily lost his mind," Edwards said. "Because what he's saying here is, 'Hey, I did this. Punish me. Give me what I've got coming.' If he was rational enough to go there, then he was rational and considerate enough not to beat on that woman."
The timing of Oden's case places him squarely at the center of national controversy and debate as both the NBA and the NFL point to stiff conduct policies now in place to punish those who commit acts of domestic violence.
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If Oden, a free agent, is signed, he could be subject to suspension if he is convicted or pleads guilty or no contest to any of the charges, according to league disciplinary guidelines. A first offense in the NBA generally warrants a 10-game suspension but could be expanded at the discretion of commissioner Adam Silver.
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Edwards, who has counseled pro athletes involved in domestic disputes, examined Oden's case and believes it's essential to avoid linking his history of injuries, depression and alcohol issues as mitigating factors to a violent outburst against a woman.
"Is there any possibility that his chain of disappointments could have had an impact on his expressed frustrations?" Edwards asks. "Absolutely, because he's human. But beating on a woman simply is not an option. And for someone that high profile to do it, I don't want to hear about any of his bad luck."
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Entire article:
http://espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/story/_/id/11455761/nba-trials-greg-oden
...as a matter of fact...so does greg..i think it would be a great fit