Owl getting wings ready

ANTHONY LEE SAT out his entire freshman season at Temple after undergoing major back surgery. But if his recent play in a summer league in Iowa was any indication, he might be ready to contribute by the time he finally does suit up on North Broad Street in another 4 months.

The 6-9 forward averaged 21 points and 12.8 rebounds in eight games, in his first action since he suffered the injury. He saved his best for last, with 35 and 21 in a playoff-opening, two-point loss.

Lee, who just turned 20, recently moved from Florida to Davenport, where his father, Anthony Lee Sr., grew up.

"I'm so ready to come back to school this fall and make a mark at Temple," Lee told the Daily Iowan. "I've got a pretty big role to play. I just wanted to come [here] and get myself back in shape, do what I need to do to help [the Owls] go further in the [NCAA] Tournament."

Temple won a first-round game last March, for the first time since 2001. Fran Dunphy will have four starters back, although one, forward Micheal Eric, missed the final month after undergoing knee surgery. But he must replace center Lavoy Allen, a second-round Sixers draft choice who was a rock the last 4 years.

"Every game, my father tells me I need to be a defensive-minded person first," Lee said. "I know when I go back to Temple, that's what they're really going to want me to do."

Lee was allowed to take the summer off from the Temple program to help get his game back to where it needs to be. His father, a pastor, has been working with him in the gym on a regular basis to help facilitate the rehabilitation. And Lee has also spent time mentoring kids at his father's church.

"I just go and give them a good message," said Lee, who's been rapping as Young Polo since he was 13 and actually has a mix-tape coming out soon. "Telling them that they have a destiny, a plan and a purpose."

Just like him.

During the Nationals' game against the Dodgers on Sunday, Duffy's Irish Pub in Washington, D.C., will allow you to order Pabst Blue Ribbon tallboys, Buds and Miller High Lifes for whatever Werth's batting average is at the time. If that promotion started today, it would cost you $2.18. Are PBRs worth $2.18? Is Jayson Werth worth $126 million?

- Mike Kern