SHARING A CHAMPIONSHIP WITH FAMILY

Hello everyone! It has been some days but I had to come home for some personal stuff but thanks to God all is well. During this time, I made time to share it with the people I love the most my family.  Some may not know, but family is very important to me and every chance I get, doesn't matter how tired I am I spend it with them.

Being gone as much as I am gone its very difficult because of all the things that I miss out on, and sometimes I run myself crazy trying t make up for all of the list time in just a few days.

I love seeing people happy, it is so important to me, and to be able to do with my family makes it all with while. Here is a photograph with me and some of my little cousins at Chuck-E-Cheese. I think I may have had more fun than them LOL. I'm still a kid at heart.  Headed back to Russia tomorrow and it's back to business, no more play time. It was fun though and these are definitely the moments that you remember. I love my family -- good, bad or indifferent.

Meek

LOOKING BACK AT THE IMPORTANCE OF LEADERSHIP DURING OUR CHAMPIONSHIP RUN

I am still feeling the affects of our victory. As I mentioned before it was something very special for us as a whole, but it is also a great accomplishment for me as well. I want to talk a little bit about leadership. I rarely ever talk about myself when it comes to this but I know and feel deep in my heart that I am a true leader. For the entire Euro-Cup games I feel as though I have done just that for my team. And to top it all off with winning the entire thing is something very special that I will hold with me forever.

I came across the poem by Howard A. Walter speaking on Character from John Maxwell and I thought it was so fitting. It says:

I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there are those who suffer;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare.
I would be friend of all--- the foe, the friendless;
I would be giving, and forget the gift;
I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.”

― John C. Maxwell, Developing the Leader Within You

When I read this I began to think of me and ask myself does any of this apply to me and sure enough i was able to put a check by each one of them. This is an honor.

I also came across these line of questions and it truly made me think! I loved this questioning and found great joy in answering them. I think you all should do the same. You don't have to share it with anyone if you don't want to, but to be able to ask yourself these questions and answer them will do something for you.
You will be able to answer and realize things that you didn't even know you wanted to know or even think of at that time; but the awareness of it all and the joy that will come with it will be great.  Things may have seem one way at some point but when you take a glance back over your shoulder, you realize just how far you have come and how much better overall you are..

“Look behind you: What have you learned?
Look around you: What is happening to others?
Look above you: What does God expect of you?
Look besides you: What resources are available to you?” ― John C. Maxwell

I hope you all enjoy this.
Have great week!

Meek

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS MY FRIENDS!

Thats right! We have won the Fiba Euro-Cup Championship!

This is the first time in Club History to ever accomplish something as special as this. I am so proud of each and everyone of my teammates. They all played well and played their part. Michelle Snow came up big for us, She was the MVP of the game and it was well deserved. She finished with 30 points and 11 rebounds -- I was very proud of her.

The best part about this all was the gratification that my teammates had, as well as the look of disbelief, excitement, surprise, happiness, etc., all bottled up in one. That was definitely a priceless moment.

Our President, management, Governor, and everyone that played a role in preparing our gym as well as putting things together for us, was very please with this victory. The celebration was amazing!

Although we couldnt fit all the fans in the gym due to its size, there was a big screen outside of the gym that our supporting fans watched until the end.

This again was great for our club, but it was also great for the city and the people in it.

Ok, I am going now as I will continue to celebrate this moment. Have fun everyone and thanks for your support and well wishes, this championship is for you also.

Meek

A BAG OF COOKIES

As I travel the world I get a wonderful opportunity to meet so many people with different backgrounds and beliefs.  I'd like to think that it has made me more well-rounded person as well as helping me create greater tolerance for my fellow man.  At any rate, I was reading last week and came across the story below.  While it has a bit a humor with it I think it certainly had a great story in regard to how we can sometimes jump to conclusions when judging people.  I hope you enjoy it.

A friend of mine, returning to South Africa from a long stay in Europe, found herself with some time to spare at London’s Heathrow Airport.  Buying a cup of coffee and a small package of cookies, she staggered, laden with luggage, to an unoccupied table.  She was reading the morning paper when she became aware of someone rustling at her table.  From behind her paper, she was flabbergasted to s ee a neatly dressed young men helping himself her cookies.  She did not want to make a scene, so she leaned across and took a cookie herself.  A minute or so passed.  More rustling.  He was helping himself to another cookie. 

By the time they were down to the last cookie in the package, she was very angry but could still not bring herself to say anything.  Then the young broke the remaining cookie in two, pushed half across to her, ate the other half and left.

Some time later, when the public-address system called for her to present her ticket, she was still fuming.  Imagine her embarrassment when she opened her handbag, and was confronted by her package of cookies.  She had been eating his.

-credited to Dan P. Greyling

READYING FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Hello everyone!

Yesterday we played against the last place team in Russia, and it was a very ugly game. I know that we need to make sure that we play and prepare better before our championship game and last night was not the way. I do have to give credit to the opposing team for their efforts, but believe me when I say that we MUST do better.

Today was a rest day after that long trip that we have just come off, so I will take full advantage of that as well as get some other off the court done that is needed. Then back to work we go. This next game is very big for both Countries and it will be a battle but it one that we are all looking forward to.

I will keep you all posted on how it turns out. Either way we have accomplished some great things thus far. I hope that everyone week starts off great and that you enjoy it to the fullest!Meek

BACK AGAINST THE WALL

Well, well, well...I come baring some bad news.

We did not come away with the win against Kaseri. We started off very very slow and were behind the entire game. If we want to be the Euro-Cup champions we will have to beat this team by 15 or more points at our place. We have no choice -- our back are against the wall. We have played this team twice prior to this game and was sitting undefeated in the Euro-cup until now, and as you all know,  this doesn't mean anything. It is the championship game and it is like the new season.

How bad do you want it? This is what we have to ask ourselves, and then apply it like we need to. We are headed back to Kursk, and will prepare for the task that we have. We will have a Russian game on the 18th that we need to make sure we get and then on the Championship game on the 22nd.

Time to compete ladies!

Meek

PREPING FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND OF THE EURO CUP

Hello World!

I have to let you all know that I was not writing to you because I didn't want to. I have been having to take care of a few things that has kept me pretty busy, so please forgive me.

Let me fill you in on whats been going on. We have just finished the Russian Cup where Ekateringburg were crowned the champs. After all the games were over there was a dinner for all the people and players which was very well put together as well as entertaining. It was a fun time and a great experience although we didn't come away with the victory. I had the opportunity to learn as well as see a lot of stuff that we need to work on.

Following this set of events we had a Russian league game against Spartak --  we lost this game by 4 points but I will say that it has given us momentum going into the Championship Round of the Euro-Cup. We have been in Moscow for a few days now, and will leave for Turkey soon. Until then I will visit Moscow a little more and try to enjoy my day of Recovery. I will be back in touch with you all soon.

Meek

MAKING HISTORY!!!

HISTORRRRYYYYYY has been made for Dynamo Kursk! On our last night we accomplished something very good for our club, and I couldnt be more proud of our Team. Our Coaching staff did a great job in the preparations, and our team came together on one accord and got the job done. We are headed to the Euro-Cup Championship for the first time in club history.

Before I continue with the basketball part of the game I want to share a little bit of another part of history being made. The game yesterday was officiated by three woman from different countries, and the commissioner (which is the oversees refs ) was also a woman. All in all it was really 4 women that were being paid to officate such an important game. I thought it was such a great thing to see. I also want to share that not only did they get a chance to show what they were capable of doing, and that they can do it just as well as men; I didnt notice any difference in the game as far as the game being called. And a plus to it for me was the women were very approachable, and focused on doing their job. Great moment to see.

Ok, now back to basketball. I want to say that Vologda definitely had a different game plan, and they came out running at the start of the game. They actually took a one point lead early on, but once we took it back we kept on going. I have a lot of respect for that team, their staff and their grit. They bring it every time we play them and definitely make you compete.

Our team though.... WOW! We are really doing some great things. Right now we have a day an half off to try and rest our bones and then we start to prepare for the Russian Cup The top 4 teams in Russia will play against each other in Ekat. The teams are Ekateringburg, Orenburg, Spartak, and Us Dynamo Kursk. From there we go to Moscow and will play Spartak at their place for a Russian Game, then to Turkey we head.

We will be on a 12 day road trip and will try and rest as much as possible while trying to do what it is that we need to do in competition. As of right now we wait to see who we will be playing out of Kaseri and that we have played before and Botas who are both located in Turkey so we will see. Until then I will keep getting better as well as informing you of what is going on.

Meek