For gods sake Grey Lady, just say it

This is how the NY Times played the Greg Oden injury story. It's one way to put it, I guess:

Oden’s Career Is Delayed by Surgery

I guess that's better than:

Portland fans bent over, rammed up the ass

By HOWARD BECK

Published: September 14, 2007

Greg Oden was stamped a franchise savior the moment the Portland Trail Blazers made him the No. 1 pick in the June draft. As he emerged yesterday morning from a knee operation that will probably wipe out his rookie season, Oden felt the full force of that burden.

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

A promising career, and a franchise’s anticipated rebirth, were delayed when the 19-year-old Oden had microfracture surgery on his right knee.