Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Playing the Game - Right..

Hey there everyone, I am back to share with you what has been going on.

Our Regular season is coming to an end so Sunday we had a team dinner that turned out really nice. Everyone was there, and we all had a great time. From there the following day we had another game. We played Hapoel Tel- Aviv. We had to play again with out Charde who was filling a little under the weather. I think she may have a 24 hour virus or something. But anyway we won the game and had fun doing it. Everyone played well, and everyone scored. This game was played the way every game should be played. It was FUN, yet competitive and everyone had a blast playing.

I was so happy for our other point guard Hadas Levi, she got in and played her heart out and came away with 13 points. She has been really pushing herself in practices as well as pushing me; we play very hard against one another and yesterday's game proved that, by the way that she responded to the other teams pressure. I would say all in all it was a very good night.

We have one more regular season game against Natanya, and from there on it's money time. It's the playoffs. I am looking forward to it all. I am also looking forward to visiting Jerusalem again, as well as the Dead Sea, the sea of Galilee, and hopefully I get a chance to visit the Red Sea and the Elot area.

Until Next time everyone.......

Meek

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Temeka Johnson Earns MVP!!

Temeka Johnson was selected as MVP of her league in Israel!

Check out the story below:

Meek MVP

Monday, February 16, 2009

Learning Curve..

Hello everyone,

This week has been somewhat of a hectic week. We played three games in seven days. Our first game was against Bnei Yehuda, it was a pretty good game for our team. We jumped out on the team early, we were showing some promising signs with the growth of our team, then we lost focus. After being up by 25 or so at one point on the game we began to play lazy and a little rattled at times. Of course that part started with our defense. This is the part that we can never let be our down fall, defense wins championships. Somehow our defense always seem to fall apart throughout the game. We did beat this team, but that was expected, and we cannot continue to play like this going into the playoffs.

Now with the two days in between this game and our next game against Ashdod, I caught like a small stomach virus. I couldn't hold anything in me; I wasn't able to get up and go to practices or anything, it was a tough two days. Well Thursday came and it was game day. I was not feeling 100% but I was feeling better than I had been the past two days, so I got up and went to shoot around, from there, straight back to the bed to get some more rest before the game because I was feeling a little weak. I got me some food in my system, and prayed that it stayed in me this time.

I guess my prayer worked because I was able to make it through the game and help our team to another victory. After this game we had a day to rest on Friday and was right back at it on Saturday night for our practice, because instead of the game being on Monday like it is usually we played on Sunday. There was a men's game that needed to be played on Monday to determine the outcome of their leagues for some teams so everything else was pushed up. We have had some quick turn-arounds in this past week but it has been worth it.

The game on Sunday was against Holon. They have a very talented team as well. The game wasn't until 8:45 pm last night which is much later than we usually play. That was no excuse as to how we actually played. We started out very slow and let them gain the momentum very early. We trailed the entire game up until 14 seconds left in the game. As the clock ran down and I drove to the hole, I was fouled by one of the opposing teams guards. We were in the bonus and the clock stopped with 5.8 second left on the clock. I sank both free throws to put us up by one point.

After a timeout the team comes out and does a screen a roll using both of our post players and the guard Edwina Brown scores a lay up at the buzzer.

We lost 82-81.

This was a game that we needed to come away with. If I am not mistaken, we were tied for first place 3 ways, and now I am not sure what place we are in just yet. We will have to continue to play hard and finish out the regular season on a good note and go from there.

We as a team still have things that we need to correct and work on but for the most part we are headed in the right direction. I can honestly say that throughout the wins and losses I have been learning a lot about myself and the game. Much more than I have before. It is true; you learn something new everyday, even about yourself. The one thing that has become even more clear to me, much more than it has before is that Leaders never have a day off and their focus should never be broken for any reason at all. When you are leading a group of individuals they must trust and realize that you will not let them down, that you will do your best to lead them the correct way, and that you have their backs not matter what.

I have been learning so much more about myself and my game it is unbelievable. I am seeing things so much more clearer. It is almost like things were somewhat cloudy for me at times and I was able to see them. I have to say I am so happy and thankful that I am here and that I can see it now. I can acknowledge it, accept it, learn from it, as well as grow from it and I know that is what I am doing.

Until next time everyone......... Have a great week,

Thanks

Meek

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Tough Win..


Hey there everyone, I have to tell you that the Celebration was really nice. There were a lot of people there. Our manager Debbi had a lot of support with the celebration. There was a lot of food, music, dancing, but the memorable part for me was the video that was shown. It started from the first time that Little Daniel was brought to the arms of our manager. The excitement and happiness that she showed was really something. It went from that time up until now and it just had different pictures of things that the two of them as well as some of her friends were doing. It is amazing how much love she has to give that young boy and she shows it every time she sees him. It was a pretty nice event.

Now on to the game that we had yesterday. It was a nail bitter. We played against Ramla who has redesigned their team. Tan Wdhite, Nikki Anosike, and Adia Barnes used to play for them, but now Nikki Teasley and some other players are on that team now. It was good to see Nikki Back in action after having her baby. She had a really good game. Anyway like I said, it was a really close game. We trailed by 15 points as it was approaching the end of the 3rd quarter. But our team persevered, we refused to give up, we fought much better this week, especially what we had showcased last week. Everyone played hard, Charde was back and playing hard. Everyone was in tune to the game and sitting on the edge of their seats. I don't think that we took the lead until about the 2 min mark left in the game, and from that point on it went back and forth, in the end we came away with the win. We needed this win, Ramla had beat us earlier in the season at their place so this game could help us some where near the end we are approaching playoff.

Ok I am off to eat now. We do have two games next week so I will fill you all in on that later. We now have another week of practice ahead of us, I am sure defense will be our main focus again. I am looking forward to it.

Later Ya'll

Meek

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Tough Game..


Hey there fans, last week was a little disappointing. We lost to Ivory Latta and her club. Her team is projected to win it all over here, and of course I disagree even though they beat us pretty bad last night. The score alone was bad, but that has nothing to do with how our team just didn't fight. That's hard to cope with. Our defense was not there, the focus and concentration, the drive or desire to compete was missing big time last night and it showed throughout the game; so Rat hen came away with the victory.

We got back to practice on Wednesday last week and worked on more things and had better focus, especially on the defensive end. We have no problem getting what we want on the offensive end. Defense is what wins championships.

On to the good news. My teammate, Charde Houston, has been out due to having minor surgery on her knee, but she is back in full form and she is ready to string up her laces and get back into the swing of things. She has been really missed out there. She will join us on Monday against Ramla, another good team that we will face. So until next time.......I should be writing you to let you know that we have come away with another victory.

I am off to a party that our manager is having for her son that she adopted. It is a religious tradition that the guys that are born here get circumcised on the eighth day that they are born and it is usually done by the Rabi, but her son who adopted had his done in hospital, his was to make sure that he was officially Jewish. So there is a celebration for that tonight. I believe he had the procedure done about a month ago. It is amazing the different things that you learn about everyone's culture.

Until next time,

Meek