Recently, Cheryl Coward took the opportunity to interview Meek for www.HoopFeed.com. Here are some portions of that article:
Late last week, Temeka Johnson came home from a Phoenix Mercury preseason practice and crashed into a nap. The intensity of head coach Corey Gaines’ preparations for the upcoming season exhausted the six-year WNBA veteran but she interrupted her rest to speak on the phone with Hoopfeed.com about her overseas experience in Russia during the offseason, her plans for the 2011 WNBA season, the new coaching staff at her alma mater LSU and other topics.
Johnson finished the 2010 WNBA season averaging 9.2 points and 4.7 assists per game. The starting point guard for the Mercury also had three double-doubles and collected at least 10 assists three times including back-to-back performances on June 29 and July 1. She spent the offseason playing for Dynamo Kursk in Russia. She has also played in France and Israel. She came to the Mercury in 2009 after three years with the Los Angeles Sparks and a rookie year with the Washington Mystics. She was the 2005 WNBA Rookie of the Year.
The Mercury defeated a Japanese League team Tuesday in Phoenix in a preseason matchup but Johnson along with two other team starters, Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor, did not play. The team faces Los Angeles Saturday on the campus of the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque at The Pit. The Mercury kicks off the regular season on June 4 on the road against the Seattle Storm. Their home opener is Friday, June 17 against San Antonio.
You’ve had a week of training camp so far, how is it going?
It’s actually going pretty well. I’m excited to be back in Phoenix and excited to see the new additions to our team. It’s good to be back.
What are your thoughts on the newcomer Brittany Spears who I’ve covered when she was in Colorado in the Big 12 plus Alexis-Gray Lawson and veteran Marie Ferdinand-Harris?
The two rookies that you spoke about, I’m really impressed with both of them. To be honest, I have to say when I saw that name Brittany Spears I was like ‘what are you talking about?’”….I thought they were kind of joking around but I’ve been impressed with Brittany and Alexis. They’re both working really, really hard. I’m excited to be playing with Marie again. I’m happy to see her happy and I’m excited to be around the three of them very much.
You started in all of Phoenix’s game last season for the second season in a row, what can fans expect from you this season that may not have been on display last year?
I think a little bit more in tune on the offensive end. I have more experience and we’re bonding more and more as a team. We still have the core group and myself, Diana, Penny, DeWanna [Bonner]…Kara’s [Braxton] Back and Candice [Dupree]….just excitement and more leadership but in different areas and in different points and times in the game. I’m excited about it.
You are the Phoenix floor general, that’s how it is it. How does it feel to be in that position on a team with so much talent especially with Kara coming back in great shape?
I’m honored by it, to be able to play with the group of women that I’m playing with and to be the leader of this group, the floor general. It’s exciting to me to be able to distribute the ball at any position that I want and know that…I’m giving it to somebody that is receiving it and going to finish it. I couldn’t ask to be in a better position than what I’m in.
Read the entire article at: http://bit.ly/jHxL2r
