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Lewis Player Page Celebrity Softball Weekend Off the Record Sonics News Archive

Sonics forward Rashard Lewis is back in Seattle this weekend to co-host the Jamal Crawford and Rashard Lewis Celebrity Softball Weekend, which includes a VIP Party and Auction tonight at SPORT Restaurant and Bar and a Home Run Contest and the softball game itself tomorrow at the UW baseball field at noon. Lewis also took time to check out the Storm's win over the Minnesota Lynx, and SUPERSONICS.COM caught up to him at KeyArena for a quick Q&A.

What can fans expect if they get involved this weekend?
A lot of fun, a lot of celebrity stars out there. Just go out to have fun, and everything is benefiting the Boys and Girls Club. We just want to give back to our community.

"A lot of fun, a lot of celebrity stars out there. Just go out to have fun, and everything is benefiting the Boys and Girls Club." Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty

Who is the biggest name coming out in your opinion?
I think the biggest name to me of a guy that's going to be out here is Gary Payton. He's a hometown guy, he pretty much built the franchise out here in Seattle, so I think it's exciting to see him come back and participate in me and Jamal Crawford's event.

How much softball experience do you have?
Not very much. Back in Houston, as a family, on Sundays we would go probably once a month and play softball. That's the only experience I've got is just having fun with it.

Does Ray Allen have an extra advantage after taking batting practice with the Mariners recently?
That's practice, so if he was taking practice at Safeco Field, I want him tomorrow, that's all I can say.

Are you guys drafting teams?
Yeah, we're going to have a draft (tonight) at SPORT at 7:30. Jamal and I are going to be on different teams, and we'll have a draft to see who's on everybody's team.

As important as having Ray on your softball team is, how big is it to have him coming back to the Sonics?
I think that was the main key, especially for me. I was nervous. I was upset when we lost Coach Nate (McMillan), and I felt like if we would have lost Ray we would have been starting over like when I first came into the NBA, just building a whole new franchise all over again. But with Ray signing back, even losing Coach McMillan, I still feel very strongly about this season, because he's the guy who's going to be out on the floor playing with me. We think Coach (Bob) Weiss is a good coach, so with Nick Collison under contract and Luke Ridnour … I don't know who else we're going to sign, but I feel real strong about those four players.

How has your summer been?
It's been pretty good. I'm pretty healthy now. I've been trying to get my foot right and the tendinitis in my knee, so I'm just starting to work out and get myself in shape.

Rest is important with the nagging injuries you had, isn't it?
Yeah, especially after the season we just had. My main focus is I don't want to come to training camp at 80%, I want to be 100% and ready to go, because if I come in at 80%, that can hold me back from how I want to perform.