First off I want to say what's up to my family back home, all my people who support me back home in Chicago and Maywood. I really appreciate the love and support for real, means the world to me. I'm doing GREAT, life is good, things could be a lot worse. I'm just really making the best out of the situation. I just want to enjoy the experience and make sure I come back home better and more mature.

My team has been doing well we are 4-0 since the last time I wrote my last blog. We are playing only one game a week now so that means more practice and long weeks. I really enjoy practicing because right now I'm really not playing that many minutes so practices is like my game and a time to work on your game. If I was playing minutes I would still love practice because it helps you get that confidence back you need to play the next game. I make sure I go work hard everyday and compete so I can get better by watching and by applying what I see from film or the bench into my game.

It seems like the older I get the more I understand the game and I thought I knew a lot but there's so many other things to learn and its crazy because I'm really excited because I know my strengths and that's why I've been good over the years. But now I really know my weaknesses and when I play and practice that's what I'm focusing on improving and challenging myself everyday to get better. Sometimes not playing can help a player because it makes you appreciate the game of basketball more and see things in a bigger picture. I'm just always thinking positive and making sure I be myself everyday never changing for anyone.

My main goal and focus right now is to win the championship and come home with another great experience. Also to gain more knowledge of the game of basketball and the WORLD. I been playing good, could be better with the time given to me. I'm really not shooting the ball well from the three point line but I'm bringing energy, defense and making sure I run the team by moving the ball and making sure we are in our sets. When I get minutes I really believe that I can make a difference and you will know I was out there on the court that's just how I have always felt. But the hardest part about this business is...a lot of guys can't do that if they weren't playing.

I can make a difference in the locker room, in practice, during games because I want everyone to be successful, if they're successful that means WE are successful. It's a team sport and the teams that fall in line like that...saying we are a FAMILY, those are the teams that are winning and dominating everyone. That's why I love watching some teams play and I stay up to 5 am just to catch the game live and then wake up again at 1 and watch it again because the beauty of basketball played the right way on both ends is a better sight then a pretty lady driving a bentley (and that's beautiful).

My mom hold me down though whenever I call back home we talk for an hour and she humbles me and make me smile so I use a lot of different methods to keep me positive and happy at all times. Because a lot of things are going through my head during the day and when you really think about it I'm in another country ain't no "like me drive down here to moms house and see what she doing", or "I'm about to go over my homie's house and play the game". When you overseas ain't enough of that and when you are a professional basketball ain't no hanging out with your teammates. Your teammates are grown men, some with families, others with egos, others who are just plain different. Some who are cool but don't do what you do. Its just different scenarios. So you are by yourself for most of the day so you have a lot of me time.

I promised my mom and grandma that I would eat more, since I can't cook I find myself going to restaurants everyday, but sometimes I don't eat 3 meals like I should. I would only do 2. That's how I know I'm truly blessed ever since I was 14 I have only ate 2 meals because I would wake up not hungry go to work out and then eat because I overheard that's how the military do it. They train then they eat. I still have this crazy amount of energy and I'm able to go out there and do my job. So I'm promising my mom and grandma again I will start eating good and making sure I eat a lot during the day.

Other than basketball, basketball, basketball I just been resting, watching a lot of movies, and writing a lot of music. I recently recorded a song with a famous Israeli singer who goes by the name Lee Fishman and its called "I DO". Its going to be her new single and I was really excited when she called me to do the song because I have made 2 or 3 songs with other artists but it should be a lot more. I learn from everyone I encounter because there are so many talented, educated people in this world. So we setup a meeting, she came with her piano made the sound of the beat, sang her part and then let me hear my part to the song. So I listened and I really wasn't feeling it because it wasn't my sound and style. So she let me know what she wanted me to say and I made it work.

I met her and her manager at the studio 3 days later, media, cameras was there to record me in the booth which turned out to be a mini party. It was fun she liked what I did on the track, it was a great experience and I'm truly blessed to be doing music overseas and making my music travel around the globe. MOM DUKES I'm INTERNATIONAL now!! LOL. I really been relaxing and enjoying my time in Israel. I want to say this again its one of the nicest places I been its really nice and my mom is coming in 2 weeks. I'm so excited about her coming because I think Turkey was a bad experience for her even though Istanbul was nice.

I'm working hard, I'm smiling, I'm blessed to be living and playing ball for a living all Glory to God, I'm definitely on a mission to win this championship, play well and continue to live my life to the fullest like everyone should. I want to thank all my fans for the continued support you know its appreciated I love y'all, to my family whats up and I love you so much hold down the crib until I get back!! Much respect PEACE your boy

Quote of the day: "Intelligence plus character is what defines true education" Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dee Brown "Illini Prince"
One Man Fastbreak