MECHELLE VOEPEL REPORTS ON THE SHOCK

Recently I did an article with Mechelle Voepel of ESPN.com.  Mechelle is one of my favorite writers because she is so passionate about sports -- especially women's basketball.  Not all journalist are knowledgeable on the subject they are reporting on -- that's no the case with Mechelle!

Here are some excerpts from her article:

Temeka Johnson always heard she was too little, and just never paid any attention. Courtney Paris heard she was too big, and tried to ignore it. Now, here they both are with the Tulsa Shock, the team that wants so much to fit in.

In its third WNBA season in Oklahoma, the Shock's record so far isn't much different than the first two seasons, when they won a combined nine games. Tulsa is 2-12, pretty much the categorical opposite of Western Conference-leading Minnesota, at 13-2.

But is there light at the end of the tunnel? Or is it just a mirage? The Shock has lost four games by three points or fewer. You don't need to be completely delusional to picture Tulsa as 6-8, in which case it would be hanging with Seattle and San Antonio in playoff contention.

At least, I don't think you have to be delusional. There seems to be hope in Tulsa … or at least not abject despair.

Johnson wasn't expecting to be here, having spent the past three seasons starting in Phoenix, where she was part of a WNBA championship team in 2009. But she was traded for Andrea Riley on Jan. 12. The move basically was the Mercury's way of saying, "We just don't want you anymore."

Johnson said she hasn't dwelled on that. Instead, she has focused on the fact that Tulsa did want her.

"Once I heard about the trade, I was in Russia, and I accepted it," Johnson said of getting the news when she was playing overseas. "I'm not sure I really understood what I was getting myself into, but I just believed I was here for a reason.

"When I talked to Coach Klop, it was about leadership. This allows me to grow as a person. I like getting better as an individual."

That's certainly an optimistic way of looking at it. And Johnson says she has been encouraged by the fact that Tulsa supporters have welcomed her.

"The fans are loyal, and they're holding on," Johnson said. "They have told us they're going to stick with us, and believe we're going to turn things around. Everybody is looking for that ray of hope. OKC found it, and Tulsa is looking for it."

You can read the entire article here: http://es.pn/P8IiX2

MEEK'S BUSINESS SAVY PORTRAYED IN INTERNET ARTICLE

The following comes from the website www.daily-pearls.com.

Temeka Johnson is about business.

When Temeka Johnson returned to training camp on the 15th, she was accompanied by a Bermuda breeze in the form of an experience that will forever change the lives of two young Bermudians. Temeka took her love of basketball and command of the game and has given hope through her not-for-profit HOPE (Heaven Opens Peoples Eyes) to Bermuda players interested in experiencing the WNBA first-hand. Johnson has showed that her heart for the game goes beyond her connection with her teammates and has transcended miles and conquered sands to make dreams come true. This is just one way that she achieves her goals of spreading hope all around the world. Johnson says, “I have everything I wished for and much more; so for me, now it’s about doing things for others.”

Temeka Johnson of the Phoenix Mercury is truly a phoenix. Rising from the ashes of adversity to an explosive career in the WNBA, Temeka is a professional on and off the court. She has mastered the game of basketball, earning her the title of Rookie of the Year as well as mastering business and her brand. There is no wonder she is highly sought after to represent organizations, products and charitable missions.

Passion, poise and philanthropy are words that easily describe Temeka’s drive and never-ending personal work mantra.  Temeka reflected on her beginnings with the WNBA sharing, “I understood going in that basketball was really entertainment for people who were excited about the sport. I knew that I was committed to going above and beyond for the fans.” There is no denying that Temeka does just that; it is commonplace to find her at practice two hours early, continuously training and conditioning to be the best she can be.

Temeka is so calculated about her playing time that she only plays the 2nd half of the overseas season because the 3-4 game week for the entire overseas season can  put a strain on the body physically and she would never want to disappoint her fans.

With Temeka, her best is not limited the court. She is a champion of heart and inspiration to communities, her team and league mates.  A true ambassador for her sport, her story of triumph, motivation and dedication is inspiring.  Temeka has gone from the block where she was told she would never succeed and was too small in stature, heart and resources to the bench, beating the odds and playing the big game of basketball on an international stage. She has made it to the boardroom where she blossoms as a leader, entrepreneur, author and mentor.

Many are called, and few are chosen. Basketball, brilliance and bounty are clearly Temeka’s destiny.

Read the entire article: http://bit.ly/jcbat8

MEEKS WANTS YOUR VOTE!

Don't miss out on your opportunity to vote for Meek for this year's WNBA All-Star game!  Just click on the link and follow the directions.

Remember -- you can vote once each day!

Vote here: http://on.nba.com/jRcc8G

MEEK CHECKS IN WITH HER FIRST BLOG FOR NOLA.COM

Temeka Johnson, Kenner native, Bonnabel and LSU graduate and the point guard for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, will be providing a weekly update on her life in professional basketball for the readers of NOLA.com. This is her first installment.

The WNBA is starting its 15th season today, which is a great accomplishment. The WNBA has given me and many others the opportunity to play in front of family and friends and for it to still be here 15 seasons later shows me that it will be here to do the same for so many others in the years to come.

I am headed into my seventh season in this league. Yes, time really does fly. I can't even believe it.

We have been gearing up to kick off the 2011 season Saturday against the defending champion Seattle Storm (check us out on ABC at 2 p.m.) with two weeks of two-a-days.

So far, things have been great. We have been bonding as a team both on and off the court. This is a new and improved team and I am excited about where things are headed. I hope that you all follow us as a team and you can also follow me on Facebook - Temeka Johnson-Meek, Twitter - @quickdeuce as well as my blog spot, 2meekmoments.blogspot.com. Come along with me and my team, the Phoenix Mercury, as we ride this road and try to get another championship. Talk to you all again soon with more of what's to come.

- Temeka

Check out the entire blog: http://bit.ly/mnqboc

MEEK TO WRITE WEEKLY COLUMN

Temeka Johnson will be showcasing her journalistic skills this year by providing a weekly update on her life in professional basketball for The Times-Picayune, her hometown newspaper in New Orleans.  You can keep with the column at NOLA.com as well as here on her blog.  Her first installment will appear Friday.

MEEK FEATURED IN NEW ORLEANS NEWSPAPER

The following is an article written by Hunter Paniagua of the Times-Picayune:

The brutal Russian winter has often been credited for the failures of military invasions, most notably causing the downfall of Napoleon's army.

But blizzards and subzero temperatures didn't deter Temeka Johnson, a Kenner native and former LSU Lady Tiger, from succeeding in her stint in the Russian Premier Basketball League. Johnson, the starting point guard for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, braved the bitter cold and led Dynamo Kursk to the league championship series, where it lost to Nadezhda Orenburg in a three-game series.

Johnson said she stepped well out of her comfort zone to play in Russia, especially in communicating with Russian teammates and a Lithuanian head coach that spoke English but reverted to his native tongue in tight situations.

Like many other American players, Johnson journeyed overseas with hopes of making extra money during the offseason. But the experience resulted in more than just monetary gains.

"It gave me the opportunity to get to know myself and grow as a young woman," said Johnson, 28. "I embraced it and accepted it. I learned a lot from it. It was definitely good for me to go over there.

"It gave me the time to sit back and reflect on everything. It took me away from my comfort zone and allowed me to step away and actually see things for what they were and reflect on everything I was doing in my life."

Now back in the United States, Johnson's Mercury tip off the 2011 season Saturday against the Seattle Storm looking to return to the glory it experienced in their 2009 championship season.

Mercury Coach Corey Gaines said the team's success depends on Johnson's leadership. Gaines compares her to the lead dog in a sled race.

"We go as fast as she goes," Gaines said. "The way she goes is the way we go. In our system, the point guard pushes the pace, and if she's not going fast, we're not going fast."

Johnson understands her role and embraces leading her pack.

Read the entire article: http://bit.ly/myDSkr

HOOPFEED.COM CHATS WITH MEEK

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