SOME THOUGHTS ON THE LEGACY OF NELSON MANDELA

With the passing yesterday of Nelson Mandela, I took the time yesterday evening to reflect on him and his life.  I have studied his teachings and admired the life that he has lived.  What an amazing legacy to leave that he could battle against so many great odds without quitting...get knocked down time and again only to rise...then reach a great pinnacle of power only to treat all with great humility and compassion.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from Mr. Mandela:

“A leader ... is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.”

"Let the strivings of us all prove Martin Luther King Jr. to have been correct, when he said that humanity can no longer be tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war. Let the efforts of us all prove that he was not a mere dreamer when he spoke of the beauty of genuine brotherhood and peace being more precious than diamonds or silver or gold. Let a new age dawn."

"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."

"The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."

“And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same”

"We recall our terrible past so that we can deal with it, to forgive where forgiveness is necessary, without forgetting; to ensure that never again will such inhumanity tear us apart; and to move ourselves to eradicate a legacy that lurks dangerously as a threat to our democracy."

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

“When there is danger, a good leader takes the front line; but when there is celebration, a good leader stays in the back of the room.”

“Even if you have a terminal disease, you don't have to sit down and mope. Enjoy life and challenge the illness that you have.”

FOR MEEK, IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL -- LITERALLY!

Hello everyone! I'm coming to you a little different today so I hope you like it and appreciate it. As you all know with my Foundation (H.O.P.E.) I express the importance of education for our kids of today as they are definitely our tomorrow and our future. Well, guess what -- I am practicing what I have been preaching. And that is the strong belief that getting an education can take  you much further than anything, and very important to your growth as person. As of tomorrow,  I will be starting classes again as I have enrolled at LSU to get my Masters in Business. That's right -- I am in the MBA program back at the great Louisiana State University. It will be a big challenge for me, but it's definitely one that I look forward to as well as embracing. Learning is so important and I'm thankful for this opportunity to enhance myself as well as those whose path I may cross. The kids are our future, but that doesn't mean that we stop learning and stop bettering ourselves. It means that we keep growing and getting better right along with them to be able to help them, go along with them, and feel good enough that you let go and let them pave the way. This universe has a way of continual moving forward no matter your age.  We can not do it all alone. We have to continue to help others get better, but also work towards bettering ourselves. I am so excited about starting school; knowledge is power, and sharpening your mind is never a bad thing! Stay tune everyone and I'll let you know how my first week goes as well as give you some basketball updates as well.

Until next time...

Meek

AN ASSIST OF HOPE

Hey everyone! I want you all to help me spread the word about this event I will be pushing in my hometown community. This is simply a way for my family and myself to show that that we care -- not just for those in a little need, but the entire community as well.

Although I am in Russia, my family will step in for me as well as Rev. Hurst and his church. I am so thankful for this opportunity to spread a little HOPE. But more important to reinforce that we all need a little help at times as well as to instill some HOPE, love and enthusiasm back into our communities that may have been lost. I encourage everyone to come out:

Saturday,  Nov. 23rd for my  "An Assist of Hope" at the Oakland Baptist Church in Kenner, Louisiana from 11 am until 2 pm...the entire community is invited and it is free to the public.

This is near and dear to my heart and we HOPE that it goes as well as I anticipate. Come on everyone -- please help me spread a little HOPE during the Holidays!
Meek

OPENING WIN OVERSEAS

Well, well, well -- here we go again as another season for me tips off. I have been here with my new team Orenburg for about a week and we have already played our first game. We did come out on top which is a great way to start things off, but we are still missing a key piece to our puzzle. This season I will be playing with Glory Johnson (WNBA Tulsa Shock) and Dewanna Bonner (WNBA Phoenix Mercury). Both Glory and I did our best to hold it down until Dewanna arrives, but our team that we have this season is a very good and talented one. We have a very talented Spanish guard, a talented small forward from Greece, and some fierce Russian players and competitors. I am happy to be a part of this group. So far it has gotten to a great start, and I am looming forward to it, getting even better.

Stay tune everyone there will be more to come...
Meek

MEEK PROMOTES READING TO SEATTLE YOUNGSTERS

HONORING A LEGEND!!!

What a great week! As the regular season comes to an end and we head into playoffs; I have to share how great it was.

For our last home game against the Tulsa Shock we were celebrating Tina Thompson's career as well. It was Tina's last regular season game of her career, as she will be retiring when this is all over. After 17 years of great leadership, great work, 4 championships, Gold medals, most minutes played, most points in the WNBA etc. I could go on and on she had decided to call it quits and hang up her nike's. I am so honored to have had the chance to play with Tina as well as learn from her it has been great.

With all the honoring, speeches, fans cheering and all. We the Storm, her teammates decided to honor her in our own way as well.

After the game was over we all changed out of our jerseys and into #7 jerseys as well as put on the famous red lip stick that Tina always wears. She got a kick out of it and we all had a blast.

It was great joy listen to her talk about her careers as well as acknowledge all those that have help impact her life and career. Tina is a great mother, person, and teammate I am so happy our paths crossed.

Meek

MEEK, STORM TAKE ROAD WIN IN PHOENIX -- ON TO SAN ANTONIO

So proud of my teammates and how well responded last night against the Phoenix Mercury. We have come up with some big wins this week, but the most important thing is that we have gotten better each game. The team has come together on one accord and we continue to grow. We now have San Antonio for two games at their place, which are two more important games as we are in this playoff race. We are so focused and have a different mindset and I am loving it. Again I am so proud of Team and very happy to be a part of this group of women.
Meek

A BIG WIN, A COURAGEOUS YOUNG GIRL

Good morning World -- how are you all doing?

I come to you this morning, excited about our win last night, but also excited about life. It's funny how some small things can put so much into perspective.

Yesterday, we has a special guest and visitor named Hannah. Hannah is from the Make-a-Wish  program, and she wanted to meet her favorite player. Well I'm blessed to say that I was that player. Hannah and her family blessed us with their presence for shoot-around and the game. I was able to take her around, show her the locker room, and take a few pictures with her. This really brightened my day. After the game was over I was able to speak with her a little bit more. As I walked out to sign autographs, Hannah comes up and thanks me again and hand me one of her bracelets. She said she wanted me to have it. Her bracelets say Hearts for Hannah and it has her illness on it. I then took off my H.O.P.E. bracelet  and gave her mine. I always play with my hope bracelet on my wrist, but I will now represent Hannah from her on out!

This little 11 year old is brave, strong and courageous. I am so happy that I got to meet her and spend a little time with her.

 As for the game, I am extremely proud of my teammates and how we responded to the Sparks last night. We took one possession at a time and took what they gave us. Everyone contributed to that victory, it was a total team effort, and it helped our push for the playoffs.

We have an important road trip coming up against Western Conference opponents in The Phoenix Mercury, and the San Antonio Silver Stars. We will rest up a little and get back to preparation in the morning.

I will keep you all posted. Thanks!

Meek

BIG ROAD WIN IN PHOENIX

On yesterday, We the (Seattle Storm) put together a very good game against the talented Phoenix Mercury.  It was a televised game and most of the world had the opportunity to see it, but I wanted to share my joy with you all.

I am so proud of how well we played as a whole and how well we executed the game plan. Phoenix is a very talented team and they have players that can lead them on any giving night.

But we played hard and together and was able to come away with the victory.

I do want to wish DeWanna Bonner and Brittney Griner a speedy recovery. It hard to see any player go down, no matter how competitive one can be.

Up next we have a hungry San Antonio team coming here to us for two games. These games will be very important as they are western conference opponents that are fighting just as hard as we are for the playoffs.

So today is a rest day and  tomorrow is back to work and preparation. We need to stay on this road that we are on. We are focused on getting better, everyday and that will stay our focus.

Ill be back in touch soon. I hope everyone is having a great week thus far.

Meek

GREAT START TO THE SECOND HALF

So the Second half of the season started for us on yesterday, and what better way to start it off then with a win? Last night we came away with a very good victory against a very strong and talent PHX Mercury team. It was a total team effort and I was very proud of each and everyone of my teammates. We got some great quality minutes out of our Rookie Tianna Hawkins, who I think is finally finding her way. Tianna is  Maryland grad that has embraced her time here in Seattle and it is starting to show more and more.

The game started out a little sluggish,  and with the length of Phoenix playing that zone that they were in we became a little stagnant but we figured out a way to find the gaps as well as started pushing the ball and we were able to find the open people as well as knock down some shots.

Again this was  a great win for us and a great way to start the 2nd half of the season.

We take off tomorrow to head to Minnesota, this will be our first time playing them this season. Minnesota is a another very talented team, that is leading the entire league in victories. It will be another test as well as a battle but I think we are ready.

I'll keep you all posted on the outcome if you are not already tuned in.

Meek

MEEK GIVES AN ASSIST TO YOUTH CARE

On yesterday, I had the opportunity to do something so great and fun. I helped give back. Yes thats right. I gave back which something that brings me so much happiness.

I had the opportunity to help out with Youth Care.

I have to say, the little that I know about this organization I am very much impressed with.

This organization does a lot for the kids of this world. Not only does it Help shelter homeless youth, it helps them to stay off the streets as well as help prepare them for life.

Some of these kids are faced with so much stuff at an early age. Such as sexual abuse, witnessing drug abuse, physical abuse, alcohol abuse, or parents just not caring. It is truly a sad a touching case to me.

With Youth Care they feed , clothe, and shelter them, because they understand that these kids are literally living day to day, and do not have much of anything else.

Youth Care also assist in helping them recover. They understand that it is a hard thing for most if not all homeless people/children to remember or recognize the good that came before, and the bad is definitely fresh on their minds; So the need for a safe place, and people who try to understand, and time to actually accept it. Youth Care is there.

They also help point them in a new and better direction. Its not just the food and other basic needs, the shelter and housing. There are also education and employment programs  that help kids that are just looking in a doorway to a kid in school, as well as an adult with a job, something independent and stable for them.  I can not even put enough in here about this organization. I need ALL of you to go and check it out for yourself. You can donate things, volunteer, or you can give some clothing. If I can take the time to do a little something, I know that you can as well. Go to WWW.YOUTHCARE.ORG and just check out the many things that go on through this organization. I know it will move you. And please let me know what you all think.

For all the Seattle people that are reading this and you know of anyone that is in need of any of this. Food, clothing, showers, and other services Please direct them to the James W. Ray Orion Center :

1828 Yale Ave. ( Denny and Stewart).

I am so looking forward to do more with this organization and I am definitely happy that I had the opportunity to see and learn about this up close and personal.

Again I was only there for a short period of time but i was definitely moved.

WORKING THINGS OUT

I havent been back to speak with you all lately, because I have been trying to figure some things out. I am trying to figure out how to get us back on track. We have yet to play up to our full potential, and it truly needs to change. So I have tried to step away and figure out what it is I can do to help hold up my end for our team. I have not forgotten about you all, and I truly appreciate you for your continued support.

We are finally home after being on the road for 12 days and now we are home for a few days and a couple of games and looking to turn things around. We have Atlanta coming in this Sunday and Tulsa again after that. I also have some family coming in town so that would help me some more as well.

We are dedicated to changing things, so we are now back in Practice correcting a lot of them; no more talking, just getting it done. The things that we correct,  is what we have to carry over to the court as well and this is what we are looking to do.

I will be back in touch very soon.

Meek

A WIN AND A SPECIAL VISITOR

Hello everyone! Let me start off by telling how great my week has been so far. After our loss to Indiana, we bounced back after a very slow start against the Chicago Sky. I had a chance to see my former teammate Sylvia Fowles and her mom, then The Reverend Jesse Jackson who attended the game came in the locker room after. He was such a kind man and spoke about how well he thought we played and how much he enjoyed the game. He said he wants to let everyone know how much fun our game is and that we should be getting more people to our games because in his words " you girls don't play." Lol -- and he's right. He also spoke to us briefly about the importance of Title IX and how we need to make sure we stay on top of it so that young girls can continue in sports. Following this we took pictures with him  and we then closed in prayer Led by Mr. Jackson. He prayed for all of us, Mr. Nelson Mandela, and for our country. With that being said I want to Say Happy Fourth of July to all, celebrate the independence but also be careful.  We have Washington Mystic coming up on the 6th but in the mean time we will enjoy DC a little but but also rest up to try and get us another road win.

Take care everyone, I will speak with you all soon.

Meek

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all!
By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall.
 

~John Dickinson

TOUGH LOSS TO THE LIBERTY AND THEN A ROAD TRIP

Despite the list last night, it was a hard fought battle against the New York liberty. They have a very big post presence and it showed tremendously against us. We got out rebounded by 20 I believe, and more than half of that was second chance points and opportunities. On top of that we did not shoot the ball well either so it was definitely a bad combination of things. But with all that we were still in the game. The Liberty made some good plays towards the end that helped them to gain the W.

With that being said there is no time to dwell on that game as we have Indiana on tomorrow. Then Chicago on Tuesday and then Washington finishing up this road trip. That right on the road! This will be a very interesting stretch where we have want it at all times, as well as go after it, because no1 is giving us anything. I will keep you posted on how things turn out for us on the road, and I am looking forward to sharing some exciting news.

Talk to you all soon!

Meek

MEEK PLEASED WITH STORM PROGRESS

Hello all, I am not even sure where to begin. We have been going non-stop, with game after game after game. I am happy to say that we have turned things around and have been moving forward in the right direction. On last night we got a great win in San Antonio against the Silver Stars, but it was no cake walk. They are a very talented young bunch.

Before that we were able to gain a win in Connecticut against the Suns then again on our home floor against a hot Washington Mystic team. We are now headed to On a back to back to play against this young energetic young group.

So as you can see I have been and still am a little busy.

I am a also happy to share with you all that leading up to last nights game I needed only ten points to reach 2000 points in my WNBA career and I was able to do so by finishing the game with 12 points. This is a great accomplished meant and I am very happy to join the great group of women that have accomplished this.

That's all that I have for now. I will be back in touch with you all very soon.

Meek

WE JUST HAVE TO DO IT

After taking a little time to reflect back on our game last night, I can not do anything but shake my head at our petty mistakes. I am going to say this early so that no one mistakes it for anything else than what it is. I am not taking anything for the Tulsa Shock. They are a young hungry team that was looking for as well as needing a win. Glory Johnson and her bunch played well together. With that being said, (Us) the Seattle Storm did not play the way that we are capable of. We didnt have very much energy at all nor did we gain or take the momentum of the game. Tulsa led the way the entire time and they didnt let up.  As for us, we are a talented veteran bunch, that know that we have to be on point every position, every day, every game. Some may say that it seem impossible or like we are saying that we need to be perfect, well something like that but not the pressure of being perfect but having the assurance that we are capable of doing just that. Holding ourselves accountable and expecting the best from one another. It is so doable and we are all capable of doing so.

We have let that game slip away and that is definitely one that we can not get back, but we will look forward and get prepared for our next game coming up in Atlanta. That is the most important game on our schedule right now. You may ask why? And no it is not because the are playing well and are undefeated or anything else that can be tied into it. It is because it is the next game on our schedule. We are not looking backwards, and definitely not too far ahead.

This week we are going back to the drawing board, for fine tuning nothing else. We know what it is that we need to do, WE JUST HAVE TO DO IT!!!!!

Meek

HOME OPENING VICTORY AND THOSE STORM CRAZIES!

Good Morning all! As I wake this morning, I can not help but beam with pride thinking about last night.  Yesterday we had our home opener against the Phoenix Mercury and came away with the victory. But it was the grind that we exhibited as a team to gain the victory that made me the most happy.  We had to face the likes of Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi, and a lot of other great talent on the Mercury team. That didn't stop us though with all the attention that the two of those players demand, we never lost focus on what it was we were suppose to be doing. After our loss to LA we had a great week of practice to correct something's and get better. We did just that and carried it over to the game. That's some great focus right there.

We have Tulsa coming in on Friday and it will be another battle, but I know that we will prepare just as hard.

 This is a great feeling knowing the efforts that you put forth are showing when we step out on the court. And there is still more work to be done.

Meek

P.S. -- I want to thank the Storm Crazies for all their support and allowing us to have a sell out crowd last night.  It is definitely a great feeling to be on the side of these fans cheering for you rather than against you lol. Thanks again!

LEARNING EACH OTHER AND GETTING IN THE COMMUNITY

Hello world, let me share with you what's been going on. We (the Seattle Storm) have completed our exhibition games and have come up with victories in both.

We have learned a lot from those game and are looking forward to capitalizing off of that. I have been really learning a lot and I know that there is more to come in that area. I really enjoy my teammates and u and truly happy that I am here.

More importantly, I have already started getting out in the community. Nakia Sanford and I were at the Girl 5k run on yesterday and it was so amazing to see those kids accomplish finishing the race; what was also great was seeing the parent get involved by running the race with to help them out. It was a touching thing for me to see.

We will be opening up at LA on the 26th of this month and we will be looking to start off in the right direction. Until then there will be nothing but preparation.

 Ok that's it for now, I will be back in touch soon.

Meek

READERS CREATES LEADERS

Hello Everyone,

I know that it has been a long time, but I have been running every since I got home.

I got back from Russia, unpacked and repacked, spent a little time with my family and then headed out to Seattle.

I practiced for a few day with my new and exciting team, and from there had to head over to Maui. I spent three days in Hawaii giving back to the kids and somewhat enjoying the Island. I had a great time with the kids. I was joined by Lawrence Wright, Glory Johnson, and DJ Fisher of Defining Sports. We all had a blast, but most importantly we all love giving back.

I donated 300 of my books to the island and had the opportunity to read as well as get feed back as to what the next book should be. The kids had a lot of questions and the interaction was great. I know the next book will be much better and it will definitely continue to flow from the first book.

I want to take this opportunity to Thank the people of Basketball Maui for having us as well as "Readers Create Leaders" for allowing me the opportunity to share my story. I am looking forward to the future of this.

From Maui I left and met my team in Los Angeles where I got off the plane and played in our exhibition game. It was a pretty decent game, we did come away with the victory, as well as learned a lot about some things we need to work on. Overall we did a very good job. I am looking forward to the season and all that will come along with it.

That's all for now. I will be back in touch soon.

Meek

PRAYERS FOR BOSTON

When events happen such as the one yesterday at the Boston Marathon, I go through a range of emotions. 

Shock -- that this could actually happen on American soil.

Fear -- that this will probably not be the last such attack.

Anger -- that anyone would have such a disregard for human life.

Sadness -- for those innocent ones that must deal with death and injury.

And then there is my favorite of all emotions -- HOPE! 

Hope -- that we can all unite and support our brothers and sisters in Boston.

Hope -- that from this can come change to hopefully prevent future attacks.

Hope -- that certainly that those responsible will be swiftly brought to justice.

Hope -- that we can understand from such senseless acts that our time on this earth is short and with that comes a perspective on how to live and serve each other -- to make this world a better place.

My heart and prayers will continually go out to the city of Boston and all those people from around the world that were there and tragically effected.

Meek

PLAYOFF UPDATE FROM MEEK

Hey everyone!

We are on to the next round of the playoffs. We were able to sweep Dynamo Moscow in this first round. The first game was tough in the first half and we were able to pull away in the second half, but in game two it was down to the wire. It was win or go home for Dynamo and they came out fighting like any competitor would do.  It was Epiphany Prince for us that caught fire and carried us over the top to victory. She went 6-8 from behind the 3 point line and finished with 28 points. On the other side it was Kristie Toliver that tried her best to carry her team to victory but was not able to.

Our team really rallied together and came up with some key stops as well as some big shots, and I was very happy.

From here we have to take on Ekateringburg, they have the number 1 seed and we have the number 5. Of course the odds are against us with that, but each time that we played them it was a pretty close game so it will be interesting to see how it plays out. We are back home now and I am in my bed resting, I intend on doing this the rest of the day to give my body the proper rest that it needs, and we are back at in the morning.

That's all for now, I will keep you posted on how things turn out.

Talk to you later!

Meek

A QUICK VISIT HOME TO WISH MY LADY TIGERS WELL

Hello everyone!

I had such a great time at home. I spent some quality time with some great people and I am missing them all already. While there I was able to attend my little cousins birthday party, spend time with my pastor, family, and friends. What more can you ask for?

I also got a chance to speak with the Lady Tigers as well as share selection Monday with them. It was great seeing these ladies and I am wishing them all the best in the tournament. I know they will give their all and do their best. I also want to say how proud of and happy I am for Coach Starkey and his team Texas A&M for their number 3 seeding. Coach Starkey is one of the best assistant coaches that this game has to offer and I couldn't have asked to have a better one when he coached me. Coach good luck to you and your team.

Well I am back in Russia and it's time to get back to work. I will be back on touch soon!

Meek

GREAT WIN

Great Win yesterday everyone!

It came against my buddy and little sister Glory Johnson's team --Volodga. You all remember thats the team that gave us our first lost.

I want to let you know how proud I am of my teammates. We all really played well and together to get this win. Michell Snow was not to be reckon with, she came away with 19pts and 11 rebounds. Epiphany Prince did her thing as well scoring with ease like usual. Glad they are on my team. I played well also, but my Russian teammates came in with a bang to help push things over the edge as well.

Vologda fought pretty hard but with early foul trouble across the board it was kind of hard for them to be as aggressive as they may have wanted to be. With that being said though it didnt stop Glory from having a monstrous game. She finish the game with 17 pts and 14 rebounds. I was very proud of her, as well as my teammates.

Jasmine Thomas also managed her team very well for Vologda she is a very fast strong level headed point guard and she definitely keep the defender on their toes.

After the game we grabbed a bite to eat and it was time to say good bye. I did get a chance to speak with Glory a little bit, so that was a good thing. Now after a relaxing day off, it back to work in the morning.

OH YEAH. Before I get off of here, I just want to say congrats to my Lady Tigers. They have been performing very well, and I am very proud of them. I wish them all the best in the SEC Tournament as well as the rest of the season. Keep Pushing ladies!!!!

Meek

VICTORY!

Hey everyone, we WON! It has been quite sometime since I wrote to you all about a game. That is because we have only 5 left in 2 months. Its so crazy i know but what can we do. We lost out of Euro-cup  so some of this is our fault.

Anyway this game that we won moved us back in 3rd place. The top 6 spots are so close nit, that we lost one game and it dropped us from 2nd place to 5th and now we are back up to 3rd. These next couple of games will be very important as we are looking to finish the season in either second or third place heading into the playoffs. This will be fun as well as interesting.

We are coming off of a day off and back at it in the morning, starting with weights and then a night practice. We must be Focused and bring that focus to practice so that it can carry over to these next game. You play the way you practice, and we have two very important games coming up before another small break.

I will keep you all posted on things that will take place but right now it is kind of slow, so I am working on some non- basketball stuff; such as, my books and different future plans that I have. Be on the look out for it

Until then I will talk to you all later,

Meek

THANKS TULSA!

I want to take this opportunity to thank the Tulsa Shock fans for all of their dedication and support to the team as well as to myself. You all were very supportive and I hope that in my time there, I have shown myself to be a quality player of leadership and experience.

While I have enjoyed my time in the Bible Belt Town and looked forward to coming back, my future in Seattle is truly bittersweet. I am excited about my new opportunity in the wonderful City of Seattle and starting a new chapter within my life. The Storm is a very respected organization with a proven winning formula and I look forward towards being a positive addition to the Storm with my experience, leadership and hardwork and hunger to win another championship. I will miss the friendships I've made.

Tulsa, Oklahoma is an amazing city and with great fans who should be excited about their future. I wish the Shock much success for all the amazing fans and wonderful people in the city.

Meek

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: COLIN POWELL

I hope you excuse the length of this blog post -- it's on Colin Powell -- someone I have long respected in so many ways.  The following is his bio from History.com:

Early Military Career
Military official/diplomat. Born Colin Luther Powell on April 5, 1937, in Harlem, New York. The son of Jamaican immigrants Luther and Maud Powell, Colin was raised in the South Bronx. Powell was educated in the New York City public schools, and graduated from Morris High School in 1954 without any definite plans for where he wanted to go in life. It was at City College of New York, where Powell studied geology, that he found his calling in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). He soon became commander of his unit. This experience set him on a military career and gave him structure and direction in his life.

After graduation in 1958, Powell was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. While stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, Colin Powell met Alma Vivian Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama, and they married in 1962. The couple now has three children: son Michael, and daughters Linda and Annemarie. That same year, he was one of 16,000 advisers sent to South Vietnam by President John Kennedy. In 1963, Powell was wounded by a punji-stick booby trap while patrolling the Vietnamese-Laotian border. During this first tour of duty, he was awarded a Purple Heart and, a year later, a Bronze Star.

While on his second Vietnam tour of duty from 1968 to 1969, the 31-year-old Army major was given the assignment of investigating the My Lai massacre. In this incident, more than 300 civilians were killed by U.S. Army forces. Colin Powell's report seemed to refute the allegations of wrongdoing and stated, "Relations between American soldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent." Also during this tour in Vietnam, Powell was injured in a helicopter crash. Despite his injury, he managed to rescue his comrades from the burning helicopter, for which he was awarded the Soldier's Medal. In all, Powell has received 11 military decorations, including the Legion of Merit.

Reagan and Bush Administrations
Powell earned an MBA at George Washington University, in Washington, D.C., and won a White House fellowship in 1972. He was assigned to the Office of Management and Budget during the Nixon administration and made a lasting impression on Caspar Weinberger and Frank Carlucci. Both men would consult Powell for advice when they served as secretary of defense and national security adviser, respectively, in the Reagan administration.

Colonel Colin Powell served a tour of duty in Korea in 1973 as a battalion commander and after that, he obtained a staff job at the Pentagon. After study at the Army War College, he was promoted to brigadier general and commanded a brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. In the Carter administration, he was an assistant to the deputy secretary of defense and the secretary of energy. Promoted to major general, he again assisted Frank Carlucci at the Department of Defense during the transition from the Carter to the Reagan administration. He then served as senior military aide to Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, helping to coordinate the invasion of Granada and the bombing of Libya.

In 1987, Powell became national security adviser, a post he held for the duration of the Reagan administration. While there, he coordinated technical and policy advisers during Reagan's summit meetings with Soviet President Gorbachev and his conferences to topple the pro-Communist Sandinista government in Nicaragua. It was discovered that the administration had arranged for covert and illegal shipments of U.S. weapons to Iran in exchange for the release of hostages. Proceeds from the sale of the weapons would go to support the counter-insurgency movement in Nicaragua, which was aimed at toppling the Sandinistas. Such support had been prohibited by Congress since 1982. Powell was asked to testify before Congress about the incident, but he was not implicated in any wrongdoing.

In 1991, Colin Powell took over the Army Forces Command and was made chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by President George H. W. Bush. The post is the highest military position in the Department of Defense, and Powell was the first African-American officer to receive that distinction. General Powell became a national figure during Desert Shield and Desert Storm operations in Iraq. As chief military strategist, he developed what became known as the "Powell Doctrine," an approach to military conflicts that advocates using overwhelming force to maximize success and minimize casualties. He continued as chairman of the Joint Chiefs in the first few months of the Clinton administration. He publicly disagreed with the president on the issue of admitting gays into the military, although he eventually agreed to the "don't ask, don't tell" compromise.

Iraq Controversy
Colin Powell retired from the Army in 1993. In 1994, he joined Senator Sam Nunn and former President Jimmy Carter on a last-minute peacekeeping expedition to Haiti, which resulted in the end of military rule and a peaceful return to elected government in that country. In 1995, he published a best-selling autobiography, My American Journey, which chronicles his life and its influences, the ins and outs of military bureaucracy, and what he learned in his life about personal rules and character. From 1997 to 2000, he was chairman of America's Promise, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering character and competence in young people. Powell and his wife, Alma, now co-chair the organization, which has a presence in more than 500 communities in all 50 states.

In 2000, President George W. Bush appointed Colin Powell secretary of state, and Powell was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. At that time, this was the highest rank in civilian government ever held by an African-American. During his tenure, Powell came under fire for his role in building the case for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Initially, Powell had serious misgivings about President Bush's plan to invade Iraq and overthrow Saddam Hussein. Powell believed the policy of containment was sufficient to control the Iraqi regime. He warned Bush that a military invasion would consume the president's first term and that if an attack were to occur, it should use overwhelming force and have broad international support. This support would be key to the rebuilding of Iraq.

Bush decided to go to war and, in a crucial moment, Powell agreed to support the president. To advance the case for war with the international community, Powell appeared before the U.N. Security Council in February 2003 to present evidence that Iraq had concealed an ongoing weapons development program. Powell's reputation for integrity helped convince many in Congress and the country that Iraq posed an imminent threat.

For the remainder of Bush's first term, Colin Powell tried to establish an international coalition to assist in the rebuilding of Iraq. In September 2004, he testified before Congress that the intelligence sources he used in his February presentation to the United Nations were "wrong" and it was unlikely that Saddam had any stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction. Powell advised the committee of the necessity to reform the intelligence community in order to improve its gathering and analysis. In 2004, after acknowledging it was unlikely that Iraq possessed stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction, Powell announced his resignation as secretary of state. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice was his successor.

Retirement
Since his retirement, Powell has remained vocal on political topics, openly criticizing the Bush administration on a number of issues. In September 2006, Powell joined moderate Senate Republicans in supporting more rights and better treatment for detainees at the Guantanamo detention facility. In October 2008, Colin Powell made headlines again when he announced his endorsement of Barack Obama for president.

Powell has also spent much of his retirement in the business community. In 2006, he was a speaker at a special series called Get Motivated, along with former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Powell also joined Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm, as a "strategic limited partner." Most recently he joined the board of directors at Steve Case's new company, Revolution Health, a health-related portal site and social network that provides online tools to help people better manage their health.

Colin Powell has spent much of his life inspiring many with his leadership skills and life experiences. Along with his wife, Powell began America's Promise Alliance, as part of their dedication to the wellbeing of children and youth of all socioeconomic levels and their commitment to seeing that young people receive the resources necessary to succeed.

Colin Powell began his American journey from ordinary circumstances. His close-knit family provided support and a caring environment during his childhood. He found his calling in the military, and his entire adult life has been in the service of his country. As a soldier, he was committed to protecting the nation and advancing democratic values. While he gravitated toward support roles early in his career, his organizational talent and pragmatic outlook were recognized by those who placed him in key government advisory roles.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT

From History.com: The Montgomery Bus Boycott, in which African Americans refused to ride city buses in Montgomery, Alabama, to protest segregated seating, took place from December 5, 1955, to December 20, 1956, and is regarded as the first large-scale demonstration against segregation in the U.S. On December 1, 1955, four days before the boycott began, Rosa Parks, an African-American woman, refused to yield her seat to a white man on a Montgomery bus. She was arrested and fined. The boycott of public buses by blacks in Montgomery began on the day of Parks' court hearing and lasted 381 days. The U.S. Supreme Court ultimately ordered Montgomery to integrate its bus system, and one of the leaders of the boycott, a young pastor named Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-68), emerged as a prominent national leader of the American civil rights movement in the wake of the action.

VICTORY!

We have finally gained a win in 2013. It came against a team name Rostov here in Russia. Now this team is sitting in last place in our league, but I never felt like that when I stepped on the court; and the way that they competed, they didn't feel like they were either. They were a very physical uptempo type team. And believe me my body feels ever moment of that game. I tip my hats off to them though because they did not just put up a fight, they put a very hard fight. I am also proud of our team and the way that we responded to the game. Ausa Bimbiate had a great game, almost went perfect from the field, but it was one free throw I believe that was missed. She carried us with 26 points.

We have another big one coming up against Sidney Spencer's Team on the 10th. It will be another hard fought game and we will need to jump out early. Until then we prepare. So off to sleep I go, because before you know it, it will be time to get up and head to practice.

Later Everyone!

Meek

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH: THE ORGINATION

Hello everyone! I hope each and everyone of you are having a terrific week.

Today is the start of Black History month. I am very proud to be an African America, and I am so thankful for the millions of people that came before me to pave the way for not only me but many other races as well. Looking back on a lot of the things that they had to endure, it is difficult to watch, so I couldn't even imagine having to go through it. I am in awe with the strength, the courage, the faith, the belief, the determination, etc., that is within our culture especially back then. WOW! There is still a ways to go in regards to our race, but I know that there are so many looking down smiling, saying that knew that these days would come; and they are happy that they fought so hard for it.

I  would like to this month to try and share as much as I can about African Americans. I hope you enjoy reading and learning about just as much as I do and did.

Here is a link for starters on the origination of Black History Month.
Meek