Former Blazer (and Net and Sun and Knick and Cav) Chris Dudley Running for Governor of Oregon

Jon Runyan isn't the only jock throwing his name into Republican politics.

Connecticut native and former journeyman NBA center Chris Dudley (whose grandfather was U.S. ambassador to Denmark under the Nixon and Ford administrations) has done everything short of announcing his bid for the Republican nomination for governor in Oregon.

To pave the way for his announcement, Dudley is using YouTube to introduce himself to voters. Oregonians can only hope he's a better politicians than he was a free throw shooter.

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

DNA Tests Confirm, Greg Oden's body made up of Jenga pieces

A stunning revelation today out of the NBA that 2007 Number One overall pick Greg Oden, a center for the Portland Trailblazers, is actually constructed internally of building blocks from the Hasbro game Jenga. Jenga, a game that combines physical and mental skill, requires players to skillfully remove blocks from what appears to be a sturdy structure. As the blocks are removed, the structure begins to wobble with the loser being the one who causes a complete collapse of the tower. Oden, who missed all of the 2007-2008 season with a knee injury and then played just three minutes in his second crack at a rookie season before leaving with an injury, is believed to be in a rare 1 percent of Americans afflicted with this disease. Known in medical circles as "Samotis Bowieotis," it is commonly referred to as "Jenga Bones." While it is possible to resume a playing career with this condition any type of hard collision could leave the Oden tower in proverbial pieces. The Portland Trailblazers had no comment.

TMZ: Isaiah (JR) Rider Is a Wanted Man

Skid Row and GTA...NICE!

From TMZ Exclusive:

A Los Angeles Commissioner has just issued a $30,000 bench warrant for former NBA player Isaiah Rider. The warrant was issued after Rider failed to show up for his scheduled arraignment this morning.

Rider, who played for the Lakers and Timberwolves, was busted last month while driving through Skid Row in L.A. for failure to stop at the limit line at an intersection. He was originally booked for grand theft auto -- since the 2001 Chevy Monte Carlos he was driving seemed to have been a stolen vehicle -- but was only charged with one misdemeanor count of driving with a suspended license. Isaiah was released on a $25,000 bail.

He already has an alleged prior conviction for driving with suspended license back in 2007.

Helping Greg Oden With His Hook Shot

Since Greg Oden has decided to weigh in on national political matters, might we suggest he looks in his own backyard at one of the Democrat candidates for US Senate in Oregon?

Steve Novick, to our knowledge, is the only federal candidate in the country who is proud and openly flaunts his hooker...

Greg Oden's Obama Endorsement in The Hotline

Photo: clevelandleader.com

You might have read the very good piece by the young hoopster on his Yardbarker blog.

Here is the text, in full, of the piece that ran in the Hotline blog:

COLUMBUS, OH – Greg Oden, the centerpiece of Ohio State University’s 2006-2007 Big Ten champion and national runner-up team, announced today his endorsement of Barack Obama.

The number one overall pick in last year’s NBA draft, Oden is a first-time voter, and he decided to speak out about this election because he believes America is at a critical juncture.

“Like a lot of young people, I’ve been drawn to Senator Obama’s campaign and the potential he has for our country,” Oden said. "Obama gives Americans, especially young voters like me, a sense of hope in politics. He makes us feel like we can come together for the good of our country. Topics like education and healthcare are very important to me, and I agree with Sen. Obama's views on these issues."

Oden will work with the campaign to reach out to young voters in Ohio and states that are still to waiting to have primaries, such as Indiana, where Oden was the high school basketball player of the year, and Oregon, where Oden plays for the Portland Trail Blazers.

“Greg Oden meant a lot to the state of Ohio, and we’re proud to have his endorsement,” Obama Ohio Director Paul Tewes said.

Good for Oden for getting interested and active, but truth is, there are very few "young people like him." You know, 7' 20-year olds who were #1 overall picks in the NBA draft and sign $20-some-million contracts with no degree or professional work experience.

And I just find it difficult to take a guy who won't have to worry about health care for some time (stow away some of that $21 mil in a health savings account, would ya?) and one that simply made the obligatory NBA-mandated stop over in college seriously when he says, "Topics like education and healthcare are very important to me."

Call us crazy.