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Oden hoping for chance at ‘the other trophy’

By WTOP Staff

TIM REYNOLDS
AP Basketball Writer

MIAMI (AP) — It’s become a tradition. When the Miami Heat win an Eastern Conference championship, managing general partner Micky Arison accepts the trophy and quickly hands it to someone who hasn’t experienced that moment before.

In 2012, it was Norris Cole.

Last year, it was Chris Andersen.

This time, the moment went to Greg Oden.

Seven years after entering the league amid great fanfare and expectation, Oden — the No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft before knee injuries derailed his career — is heading to the NBA Finals for the first time. He grinned while holding the trophy throughout the celebration after the East finals were over, posing with it alongside tennis stars Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki, then retreated to the Heat locker room to dance with teammates.

“I was happy,” Oden said. “I’ve never been here before, never won that before. So it was just an enjoyable night, and now it’s time to go get the other trophy.”

That other trophy is the Larry O’Brien Trophy, presented to the NBA champion. The Heat and San Antonio Spurs will start vying for it when the NBA Finals begin in Texas on Thursday night, a rematch of last year’s seven-game series that ended with LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade celebrating their second straight championship as Miami teammates.

“Those guys are definitely going for their legacy,” Oden said. “I’m trying to get one. They’ve already got one. I’m just trying to get this first one. So I don’t care if it’s their third or sixth — as long as I get one, I’m happy.”

Arison said he loved the joy that the East-title moment brought to Oden. Teammates noticed as well, and while all the first-time East champions like Toney Douglas, Michael Beasley and Justin Hamilton also reveled in the accomplishment, some Heat players thought it was especially fitting that Oden held the trophy after all he’s gone through health-wise since turning pro.

“That’s what we’re all about, man,” James said. “That was big-time. We kind of just sat in the back and let the guys who haven’t been a part of this kind of enjoy it. Like I said, we didn’t take it for granted. We were very excited about it.”

There’s an irony in that the Spurs and the Heat are the last two teams standing this season.

Both were in the mix to land Oden last summer, and the Spurs made a compelling argument that nearly tipped the scales in their favor.

Oden was attracted to the idea of learning from Tim Duncan, the San Antonio star who is widely considered one best power forwards to ever play the game. The notion of playing for Spurs coach Gregg Popovich also appealed to Oden.

In the end, Oden picked the place where he figured he would have the best chance of winning a championship.

“If we win, I guess it was the right place,” Oden said.

How much Oden plays in this series is anyone’s guess. He played the last 4½ minutes of the Game 6 blowout win that clinched the East title against Indiana, his only appearance in this postseason.

Oden played in 23 regular-season games with Miami, and wasn’t in either of the two matchups against San Antonio. This season was difficult for Oden, who worked diligently to get his knees right, then was bothered in the final month before the playoffs by an unrelated back issue.

He said he’s ready to go if Heat coach Erik Spoelstra needs him.

“I want to win the finals,” Oden said. “I’m here. Later on down the line, nobody is going to remember who lost. They’re only going to remember the champion. So that’s the No. 1 thing.”

Oden confessed that he has allowed himself the chance to daydream about what the moment with “the other trophy” would be like.

Four more wins, and that dream becomes reality.

“It’d mean we’re the champions of the world, the best basketball team this year,” Oden said. “That’s what it’s about, playing your best basketball when this time comes, who the best team is. I’m part of this team and that’s what they brought me here for, to help get another ring. I’m just happy to be a part of it.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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