So, here's the first take I ever did in one-on-one interviews with players with my reporter, Zane Donovan. Today on the chair, we have 2016-17 rookie, Creole-Chicagoan raccoon Lee Baraquin, take a read!

Art by  bluebane, edits by myself.

Lee Baraquin ©  bluebane
Zane Donovan © myself

All belonging to the  furrybasketball universe.

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About a week ago, I have publicly stated I was going to open myself for player interviews; to my surprise, many have offered to take a spot. I guess the term “media darling” isn’t a title earned as effortlessly as it seems to be. Despite several big shots asking for the services of this relatively small-time digital journalist throwing himself into the “real world” I decided to take a step back and sort it out. Then it hit me: Why not use my time to help others know about their newest members? After all, they’re bound to be stars one day (ahem, some of them, but at this point is too early to call their future), and being “first” here, unlike Internet comments, has some merit to it. So, for my first ever interview, I decided to go out for the new blood. And to make it interesting, I’m going to veer of what likely 90% of the journalists focus on and go for the underrated, but still fully meritful players. And that’s what brought me to Vegas one day, interviewing a raccoon that is surely about three Roni Fultons combined. He was surely chipper in having his first personal media encounter. So, off we went.

Zane Donovan: “Morning, Lee...”
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Lee Baraquin: “Bonjou, Zane! Thanks for de chance ta’ sit an’ talk a bit, cher!”



ZD: “So, it would make sense to start from the very beginning, no? What was the moment when you told yourself ‘this is what I want to do with my life, I want to go to the FBA’?”
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LB: ”Well, I gotta start by givin’ credit ta’ my big sis, Toni. Probably never woulda picked up a basketball if she didn’ get me goin’ in de firs’ place. An’ heads up FBA--I hear she’s lookin’ ta’ get in this year’s draft! Men wi, I guess I gotta blame big ol’ Dan Q. for gettin’ me started down de path ta’ de FBA. He came an’ gave a talk at my school, an’ I got ta’ talkin’ wit him after, an’ he said I oughta give it a try when I was done wit’ school.”



ZD: “And then came the whole deal that came with the package, including you managing to get in the Top 24. So, after your combine run, you managed to move from fourth, all the way up to second highest ranked out of all. What do you think was your secret or the reason of that success to go from top 5 to top 3?”
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LB: “I bet it was when dey saw my bench press. *laughs* Nah, I bet it was jus’ gettin’ a chance ta get out on de court an’ show I was more’n jus’ a pretty face an’ some big shoulders.”



ZD: “We know all about the big, beefy bigfurs that every team wants. But what do you feel makes your style different from the rest?”
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LB: “Hard ta’ say, cher. I guess I jus’ got de best moves out on de court! Ain’t nobody stoppin’ me anytime soon!”



ZD: “Not only that, but a Creole-raised fur as well. Seems it’s a popular area for basketball stars to pop out every season or two, you probably heard of Barton, Dufrain and Savoy. Got any opinion as to why that? Gotta hear it from someone from there...”
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LB: “Gotta be de food. Ain’t nothin’ like it anywhere else!” *laughs*



ZD: “How were your first days as a new face in this league been so far?”
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LB: “Is been great so far, cher! I thought it’d be a li’l weird tryin’ ta fit in an’ get started wit de’ team. Men wi, but Vegas been great an’ our fans are de best! Dis is gonna be de year we turn things around!”



ZD: “But I’m sure we as normal furs need to find some diversion. How is life off-court in this new city you settled in? Found anything of your liking to do when free time rolls?”
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LB: “I’m still gettin’ used ta de new life in Vegas, really. When I’m not playin’ a game or trainin’, I spend my time-”
ZD: “Gamblin?” *laughs*
LB: *laughs* “I tried it a time or two, but believe me cher, I ain’t got any luck off a’ de court. And Mamá would kill me if I lost all a’ my money in my firs’ year. LVG’d hafta find a replacement quick!”



ZD: “You are a fur from many different backgrounds, Creole, Haiti and Chicago... Do you think that multicultural upbringing gave you an edge in the league or over your peers?”
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LB: “Natirèlman, cher. When ya got a mamá as tough as mine, ya gotta learn how ta’ be tough yourself. An’ I think dat’s been one a’ my biggest assets.



ZD: “Got anyone you look up to in any particular way? Skill wise? At a personal level?”
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LB: “Not gonna be super original here, but I gotta say Healey Davis. When I firs’ got started playin’ basketball, I started learnin’ about everythin’ an’ he really spoke ta’ me, bein’ from Chicago an’ playin’ for de Mayors.”



ZD: “How were the fellow players at the combine? Was it all friendly times? Or deadly competition that is at everyone jugular?"
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LB: “Eh, I’d say mebbe 50-50. Got ta’ have plenty a’ fun wit’ my new friends while we were there, but on de court, it was all business. Had ta’ make sure I was playin’ at my best!”



ZD: “Tell me something no one knows yet, tell your fans something no one knows yet, go.”
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LB: “If ya go to Fremont Palace an’ look under one a’ de floorboards on de three point line…” *laughs* “Nah, I think I’m a pretty open book, cher. I’m not one ta’ have many secrets, unless I don’ know what they are.”



ZD: “And it seems our time is up! Really glad to have had interviewed ya. Any words to conclude this interview?”
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AV: “I jus’ wanna thank all a’ de Wildcard’s fans for makin’ me feel so welcome from day one. I’m lookin’ forward ta’ helpin’ make your team de best in de FBA! We got this!”