Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 5:23 pm  |  4 responses

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The W Guest Post: Temeka Johnson

Meek reflects on her amazing year.

I sincerely feel Temeka “Meek” Johnson is one of the kindest human beings you’ll ever meet; and I don’t think you’ll hear an argument from anyone on that assessment. In addition to being a leader on the court, she is equally as dedicated to giving back to the community. In fact, I was fortunate enough to be invited to her “Night of HOPE” event this past August where her dedication truly shined through. Being new to Phoenix, this was an opportunity for Meek to receive guidance and recommendations on how to best help the Phoenix community. There aren’t many athletes who would hold such an event, and her passion for improving the lives of others was unmistakable. In her first guest post, Meek talks about her whirlwind 2009, her offseason in France, and her thoughts on the future.

Follow Meek on Twitter @Quickdeuce.

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by Temeka Johnson

What’s up SLAMonline?! What’s up everybody!!

First, let me say it is an honor to be a guest contributor to SLAMonline. The magazine is one of the best basketball magazines in the world, and I’ve been reading it for as long as I can remember. From the great articles to the posters, it was always a must-read for me. I also want to say thank you to Ben York, as he has been a big supporter of the WNBA, and we all appreciate it.

Where to begin? So much has happened over the last year. From being traded, to becoming the WNBA champion as part of the Phoenix Mercury, it’s been a year of change for me. The best part about it all is that it keeps getting better. I was able to fulfill a life-long dream of winning a championship with my great teammates, the coaching staff and the entire Phoenix Mercury organization. Playing on the biggest stage, in front of the best fans in the WNBA, with my family watching, it was like living a dream. I still remember the faces in the crowd, the tears we shed, and the hard work it took for us to get there. Now? It’s time to do it all over again!

I’m excited about the upcoming season, because I’ve been working hard all off-season. I started by playing in Israel, but now I’m playing in France for USO-Mondeville. I cannot be more excited about the team I’m on, and how my off-season is going. I’ve been named Player of the Week, I’ve been able to be a leader for my team, but most importantly, I’ve been able to work on my game and getting better. I still have a lot of dreams. I want another championship. I want a chance to play for my country in the future. Most importantly, I want to be someone who people can rely on.

Off of the court, I think I have been showing a bit of that. Those who know me, know that on my days off, I’m in the community. Talking to the students at my adopted school in Baton Rouge (Magnolia Woods Elementary), signing autographs, or sending shirts to Haiti for children – I’m trying to do all I can for those in need. I’m most proud of my foundation, HOPE Foundation, as we continue to grow and expand our reach. This will be a big year for the foundation, with the launch of my children’s book, a charity basketball game, school donations, a revised web site, and more.

I’ll stop now, though, but I plan to be back every two weeks to talk with all of you! Please feel free to ask me any questions, as I love to hear from all of you. You can follow me on twitter (@Quickdeuce) or find me on Facebook (Temeka Johnson – Meek), if you ever want to reach me.

Thanks for listening, and talk you soon!
Meek