GOD BLESS THE USA...HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

As we head into the Memorial Day weekend I promise it is not lost on me that I have an amazingly wonderful life -- thanks to countless others that have made unbelievable sacrifices for us to be free.  Often times in athletics we used words like "sacrifice"..."unity"..."dedication"..."resolve"..."battle"..."pride" -- and they are certainly important in our sports arena.  But they pale in comparison when you consider what they mean to the men and women who for centuries have fought and died for our country.

Last night our team got to travel to New Mexico and play the Los Angeles Sparks in front of a great crowd.  The enthusiasm was great -- the atmosphere was special.  All over the nation this weekend people will travel to destinations with their family for vacation or a get away weekend.  Perhaps they will head to a part for a picnic or join with friends for a cookout.  No matter what, we will all rise up in the morning draped with the freedom that has been provided for us by men and women who fought on foreign soil against incredible odds without the option of spending time with their friends and family.

So please take time -- as much time as you can -- and thank God for being an American and especially thank God for those who have paid the price for us and our freedoms.

Meek

GOOD BYE MARGO

Like everyone else, I was both stunned and saddened to hear of the passing of Margo Dydek.  She was not only an outstanding player but a quality person.  Our game and the world was better for her being a part of it.

At www.WNBA.com Bridgett Pettis wrote a beautiful piece that I thought I'd share with you today:

Well I can’t really say that I really knew Margo that well during my eight year stint in the WNBA but that right there might be the problem for me. It’s crazy that you play against these players every year and sometimes the grind of what we do becomes so real that we don’t stop and get to know the opponents that you come across during the season. How did I miss a seven-foot-two gentle giant? I don’t know, but a lot of times in the sport that we play we tend to get to know only the teammates that we play with and not so much the ones we battle against.

I recall meeting Margo only through the handshakes after the game as each team expressed sportsmanship but never once did I get to sit down with her and learn anything about her as a person. I do remember many of my high-arching shots that I tried shooting over her with some of them came right back at me as she swatted many. Shot after shot with her gift of height assisting her.

I remember when the WNBA first started and just as many people were amazed at this tall woman who stood above all the rest, and for the first time in Salt Lake City, Utah I too found myself staring in awe because she was the first woman that I saw with my own eyes dunk the ball in warm-ups before the game. Yea! I know it might not be a big deal now with many of the young ballers starting to leap higher in confidence and athletic ability, but for someone who grew up in the inner city of East Chicago my eyes never witnessed such an act.

I remember her smile in the game reminding myself to enjoy what we were all experiencing because it was clear she was doing that. Taking her game outside and developing a three-point shot that sent her peddling backwards with a huge smile on her face. Nowadays many of these women carry the responsibility as if it’s a job more so than it’s still a game that children are playing in the park today.

I wish I had more stories to share with you about Margo, but for me her life, as well as the passing, will remind me to stop and get to know theses talented and gifted women and let this experience be more than a passing rival.

Thank you Margo. You just helped me wake up even more.

Have Peace.

Here is the link to Bridget's article: http://on.nba.com/jl74lx

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

MEEK SITS OUT MERCURY EXHIBITION WIN

The Phoenix Merucy steamrolled the Japan Sunflowers while the big three of Temeka Johnson, Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor sat out.  The Mercury 96-52. Four players scored in double figures and Phoenix shot 50% for the night.

The Mercury will play one more exhibition game on Saturday, May 28 against the Los Angeles Sparks.  The game will be played in "The Pit" on the campus of the University of New Mexico.

Box Score: http://on.nba.com/lMMvf3

READY TO HIT THE COURT TO SEE WHERE WE'RE AT

Hey there everyone! I am super excited to share with you all what have been going on here with us in Phoenix.

Since I have gotten back to training camp things have been running smoothly. We have a great vibe that's going on right now. The chemistry is getting stronger and stronger. The new additions to our team are learning and catching on fast to everything. Everyone is excited and putting in a lot of hard work. I am so happy to be back.

Many of you know that we picked up Nakia Samford from Washington this off season, as well as YEP that LADY TIGER Marie Ferdinand. Both are key pieces that we need. I am excited to have the post presence that we will have this year and also very excited to be back playing with my alumni Marie. She has been working so hard, and she is excited to be back in a system that will show case her talent. We have fresh Diana and Penny and we also have picked up some pretty good rookies. This will definitely be a season to look out for.

Tonight we have our scrimmage game against the Japanese Sun Flowers. I am excited to see how much we have gelled with one another thus far as well as anxious to see how we will look. Keep checking back for some fun stuff including new features and prize give aways!

Until next time!

Meek

MEDIA DAY AND MY LSU CONNECTIONS

I love this photo that was snapped during our media day...that's me at the bottom on the left and leaning up against me? Yep, LSU Lady Tiger alum Marie Ferdinand-Harris!  We picked up Marie in the off-season as a free agent and I love playing with her.  Her ability makes her a great pick up for our team and our transition style of play.  Standing in the blue shirt is our General Manager Annie Meyers Drysdale.  She was one of the games greatest players at UCLA but she also has some LSU blood in her because she was a very close friend of Coach Gunter's.  In fact, I knew Annie long before I began playing for the Mercury.  Coach Gunter is looking down at this photo and SMILING!

Meek

MEEK'S BOOK "DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS" COME TO US ARIWAYS ARENA THIS SUMMER

Great news for Meek's children book "Decisions, Decisions, Decisions."  We just shipped out an order to Gameday Merchandising and fans will be able to pick up copies at the gift store in the US Airways Arena -- home of the Mercury and the Sun!  Meek also hopes to set up some dates during the season where she will stop by the gift store after the game and sign copies for fans -- stay tuned for more information!

TO GIVE AND TO SERVE

I love this quote!  It is kind of details my thoughts in regard to my HOPE Foundation.

“The service we render to others is really the rent we pay for our room on this earth. It is obvious that man is himself a traveler; that the purpose of this world is not ‘to have and to hold’ but ‘to give and to serve.’ There can be no other meaning.”

-Sir Wilfred T. Grenfell

WELCOME TO MY NEW, IMPROVED BLOG!

We wanted to take this opportunity to welcome you to my new and improved blog!  I'm very excited about it and the potential it has to serve so many.  As a basketball player, the only way to maintain a level of excellence is to constantly strive for improvement.  I'm taking that same approach with my HOPE Foundation so that extends to social media and how I communicate to all of you.

It is still under construction as we are adding different components to it each day but we wanted to go ahead and start posting content to it so we can maintain those lines of communication.

Besides the normal blogging of the day-to-day adventures of my life, we will also have some specific areas that will include:

Training Camp Update: Behind the scenes look at what's going on as we prepare for a new season.

Meek's Assists: Basketball pointers for my young followers who, like me, are trying to improve their game.

Meek's Words-Thoughts-Inspirations: Here I will share some thoughts and passages that have inspired me in hope that they will do the same for you.

WNBA Update: This will be done during the season to give you info and stats into our games.

Save The Date: Designed to give everyone advances notice of all of my appearances.

We hope you like the changes -- I know I'm excited about it.  Please be patience as we continue to upgrade this site -- it will be worth it.  And please pass the word on to everyone to come by and check us out!

Meek

THE IMPORTANCE OF BALL HANDLING

For all the players out there following Temeka's blog, she will occasionally post some basketball pointers.  Temeka is a big believer in the fundamentals of the game and will share some of her thoughts and theories.

There is probably nothing more important in offensive play than the ability to handle the basketball without making mistakes.  Regardless of the offense that you are attempting to execute, it is unlikely that you will have much success if you’re unable to pass and catch the basketball.  Because of this, we make ball handling a high priority each day we practice.

In the basic handling of the basketball, we have two primary principles that we constantly stress.  The first is that we never want the palms of the hands touching the basketball.  We want to couple this with the finger placement which should allow the fingers to be comfortably spaced.  We want the fingers spread as wide as possible but not to the point where it is uncomfortable to the ball handler.  The second important ingredient of good ball handling is that it should always be done in the proper stance with the main emphasis on keeping the head up.  It does not matter how impressively you can handle the ball if you can not see your teammates or anything else that transpires on the court, including how the player with the ball themselves might be defended.

The positive thing about proper ball handling is that it is without question a teachable trait.  Those players that are poor in this area can improve by constantly working the ball with their hands.  The other aspect of importance is that it is something that a player can work on without a partner or even a basket.  Simply a good work ethic and a basketball and you can improve your ball handling.