Bonzi Wells turns 27 on Sunday. He figures it is about time he grows up.- The Trail Blazers' talented sixth-year swing man says he is embarrassed about some of his actions, the kind that earned him three separate suspensions last season and have affected his reputation in the community.

Wells owns up to his transgressions and hopes to earn Blazer fans' forgiveness this season.

"I want to get away from all that happened the first five years of Bonzi in Portland," says Wells, who has returned to Portland from his summer home in Muncie, Ind., to prepare for the start of training camp Oct. 3. "All the stuff that has happened is just crazy."

Wells' suspensions last year: one game for spitting in the face of San Antonio forward Danny Ferry, two games for his involvement in a post-game brawl with Golden State, and one game for insubordinate actions toward coach Maurice Cheeks.

"I can't believe I spit on Danny Ferry," Wells says. "I think about that sometimes. That was the most stupid thing I have ever done. They put him in the game to frustrate me, and I am going to say Danny Ferry did his job to the fullest. He should have gotten a pay raise. I fell to the pressure. This is my sixth year in the league. There is no time to fall to pressure anymore."

Wells, whose full name is Gawen Deangelo Wells, is the father of two boys, Gawen III, 5, and Christian, 4, who live in Muncie. After spending time with them in the summer, Bonzi says he has come to an important realization.

"My kids are watching me," he says. "I don't want them to go to school and have everyone talking about their dad in a negative way. They are at an age where they watch every move I make. I have to be a role model for them."