Acknowledgement

Intensity

Strength

"Got a hunger for this game..."

Jay-Z - Honey

I didn't go too far from home when I decided to attend college, as I merely was a public transportation ride away from Temple University. As a post graduate I've lived in numerous places, including New York City, and Beaverton, Oregon...I've been homesick as an adult, but never as a student, since I was educated so close to home.

Honor

If you have been watching the NBA this season a few things will stand out, such as the MVP season that LeBron James had, and the way Dwyane Wade led the Miami Heat to the playoffs with a young team, however Courtney Lee, the rookie guard for the Orlando Magic is having the time of his life.

Lee had a standout career at Western Kentucky University, and as a homesick freshman he was befriended and guided by teammate Danny Rumph, which he credits for helping to shape him into the person he is today.

Rumph collapsed and died in 2005 at a playground in his hometown Philadelphia. He used to wear the number 11 for WKU, and now Courtney Lee remembers him twofold by wearing Rumph's number for the Magic, and through a tattoo on his right arm of an angel winged-basketball player, wearing a no. 11 Western Kentucky jersey with a Philadelphia Phillies cap.

The Philadelphia 76ers have drawn the Magic in the 1st round of the playoffs, and as the series shifted to Pennsylvania, these games serve as a homecoming for Courtney Lee. I had an opportunity to interview him before Game 3. Here is the score on our conversation:

GAME TIME: You have a big role with the Magic, can you talk about that?

Lee: "Like you said, I'm playing, and staying ready and prepared to knock down open shots and taking what the defense is giving me...and they're giving me a lot of open good looks, so I'm ready to step in and knock them down. Fortunately my teammates have been able to get me the ball in that position. It's been a long season...I've been working hard from day 1...I was able to break [into] the starting line-up, after the first 30 games.

GAME TIME: What's it like coming from a small school?

Lee: "Coming from a small school Western Kentucky...we really wasn't on the map that much, but we did our best."

GAME TIME: Talk about conditioning...have you hit the rookie wall?

Lee: "Conditioning wise, I'm in the best shape of my life. 82-games, practice...there's no time to get out of shape. My legs are fine...I really didn't hit the rookie wall. I mean there were a couple of times when we would get in late, and I'd wake up the next day and I'm tired...but not really to the point when I needed a break. This is basketball, and I love to do it!"

GAME TIME: What are you feeling now that you are in the NBA Playoffs?

Lee: "This is the biggest stage I've ever played on in my life...I'm definitely having fun out there, and coach does a good job of preparing us in practice and walk through, so we know what we're going to face. It's all about execution, and we're out there playing for each other."

GAME TIME: You had a big offensive night in Game 2, can you talk about playing defense?

Lee: "I've been getting switched from 1, to 3, and I'm just trying to stay in front of my man as much as possible, and make them take difficult shots all night."

GAME TIME: Talk about shooting the big shots:

Lee: "That's what you have to play for, you have to be ready to knock down big time shots. On this team we have other guys that probably get the play called for them, so anytime it comes to me, I have to be ready. I thrive off that."

GAME TIME: Coming from a small school, you are carrying a lot of people on your shoulders:

Lee: "Yeah...after Game 2...I had like 50-60 text [messages] from people just telling me that they're proud of me, and that definitely means a lot. I come from a city where they are basketball crazy, and then as I kept going to the next level, they have followed me and supported me, and it means a lot!"

GAME TIME: Can you talk about your jersey, and the number 11?

Lee: "In college, my teammate which is from the Philadelphia area, passed away after my freshman year, and I wanted to pay a tribute to him at the highest level, so I have a tattoo of him, and I switched my number to his number.