Second Nature

I do realize January 26th is a little delinquent for a Christmas story, but I feel I must share this rare Justice Keene moment. Justice is sitting in the front. Cameron is sitting on his dads lap over to the right of the picture, hiding. He's not a crowd kinda kid--yet.

On Christmas Eve Santa made a guest appearance to Momma Keene's place of employment. I read to the 20+ kids anticipating Santa "Twas the Night Before Christmas." After the book was finished, we had a few minutes to kill while Santa parked his sleigh. I asked the kids if they wanted to sing a few songs while we were waiting for the big man to arrive.

So Justice, being the shy little kid he is, stands up and addresses the crowd. Not planned or coached, just gets up and stands in front of the chair. I would estimate there was about 60 adults and 30 kids. Justice says in his teacher voice, "So, we went to Quincy last night. Santa's was in a house outside of Sears! I waved at him. So now, I would like to sing a song." Justice clears his voice and stands up straight to address the crowd, yet again. "Weeee wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas. We wish you a Merry Christmas....and a Happy New Year. Thanks everyone. Now lets just wait on Santa." I was laughing so hard, I started to cry.

Coach's kids are born leaders. They see their parents addressing the crowd with ease. They see their parents, truly in their element, when in front of large groups. Justice has picked up on this trait with style. Whether he is going to Saturday morning practice watching his father address the players or he comes to work with mommy and watches her direct the crowd, he sees us leading.

The Keene boys are destined to be leaders. Its in their blood. I guess you could say its just second nature!

Brotherly Love

Cameron Enjoying His Book At The Game

Beardstown Tournament Champs

Reality Check

Rock Ridge, geeze. I can't even imagine what time the team will be home tonight, let alone the extra 30 minute drive for Coach Keene back to Macomb. Estimated time of arrival, 12:30am. This conference schedule is brutal. All together too much late night travel on school nights. Alittle overwhelming for players and coaches alike. 20-2, but still no respect. I get real tired of the media dis-ing this team. In the local papers we have been on page 3 the last 4 weeks. Page 3, when you are 20-2 shouldn't you be on the front? Maybe at least once. Also, had a real interesting conversation with another media source about being "realistic" for the post season. Did you hear that? Realistic.

Just like you never make a bet with Justice Keene. And you never tell Mrs. Coach Keene it can't be done. I highly suggest, the most competitive Keene is Coach, and realistic is something he is not. Coach Keene will train you, push you, motivate you, break you, and praise you into believing you can do anything. Just when you think you have been pushed to the point of no return, you have seized the opportunity.

I shared a story today with my management team about "taking it to the bank." A check in your wallet does you very little good. It represents opportunity, sure, but not action. Most of us are carrying around a check, an opportunity to make an impact, to do the work we're capable of, to ship the art that would make a difference. Guess what people? Our Chargers are gonna take the check to the bank and cash in the opportunity toward the post season.

Never let anyone choose your destiny. Be a realist and follow you heart...

Justice in AWE of this new scoretable...

Justice's Scoretable! The Voice of the Chargers...

Fight Club

"To the person that does all the tough jobs, From someone who notices and appreciates it."

Seems like every mid to late January I get flowers, but normally there is a large fight involved. Yes, After 3 months of basketball season I usually have had my limit of players, games, and drama. This bouquet arrived at my house tonight enclosed with the words above on the card. When I first saw them I thought, "Did I miss a fight?"

Nope, just my very thoughtful husband being super sweet. Thank you Coach Keene for recognizing its not an easy job to be home alone with the boys at night. One day, when I am sitting in the stands at a large Division One arena with Justice and Cameron looking down on the gym floor right before your team takes the court, I will have to take a moment and wonder HOW we did it....

Booo Yah!

Justice has added yet another duty to his job description on the Illini West coaching staff. He now shakes the opposing players hand during the starting line up before the game and wishes them "good luck!" The other day he went to shake a players hand and gave her his fist at that last minute and said, "pound it, play well!" My all time favorite was after Justice shook this tall girls hand he says, "boo yaaah." I was laughing so hard, I began to cry when he stated this fact from the Charger floor.

Speaking of "Boo Yah", the team is now 17-2. Ranked as the best start in Illini West history not to mention right up there as one of the better starts in Bluegirl history. Funny thing, I will never understand the media. After we won the Beardstown Tournament the Peoria paper headlines were "Havana Ducks Lose." Then, when we lost our first game on a 12 game winning streak the paper says, "Chargers finally lose." Another one of my favorites this year is, "all the other teams you have played are down." Come on, lets give these girls some credit! This just goes to prove our society would rather dwell on the negative, any day. Why not focus on something good? Because sadly enough, negative sells. Negative news travels faster than positive. Be the change, share something positive and don't be a slave to the negative...

"Boo, blah"--From Mam ma Bear all the way to wee baby bear, all the Keene's have tackled the flu this 3 day weekend. Coach Keene is the last of the bears to have the bug. As I type he is burrowed down in the covers freezing between worshiping the porcelain throne. Men are just pathetic when they are sick. He is literally giving himself a pregame speech that "HE WILL" be well for the game tomorrow. "HE WILL" be well enough to coach. And lastly "HE WILL" make sure this is only a 14 hour virus. Oh, the power of positive sports psychology. If a bystander was listening to this they would think he needed to be shipped to the loony bin. I also think he might be a little delirious. He just told me if he ever got fired from coaching he was going to open a tea shop and call it "T-You Up Time". Maybe I will start the car and drop him off at the loony bin myself.

Well, only time will tell if this mental proclamation worked. I will put all my money down on Coach Keene will be at the game, pink tie and all, ready to go. Don't forget tomorrows game theme is "hope for cure." They have already raised $1500 for Cancer at the Memorial Hospital. Booo YAH, Ladies! Way to go...

32 Minutes of Hell

Coach Keene last season nicknamed the Illini West defense "32 minutes of hell." Sports casters, newspaper columnist and radio personalities had a great time talking about this intensive kind of play. Its fun to watch and gives a whole new meaning to girls basketball.

Last night it hit me on the ride home--during the 3rd quarter of the game. You ask "why leave so early?" The un-official scorekeeper tossed his cookies in the locker room during the early stages of the third quarter. It was all down hill from here on out. BIG SHOUT OUT to Pam Campbell who entertained Cameron while I was tending to JC and my dad was pulling up the car. Poor Pam, Cameron poo-ed in this ten minutes of chaos and she cleaned him up in the blink of an eye. Justice is a trooper! He was up all night throwing up. Not to mention his parents were up most of the night too. I took the day off today to give him some extra TLC.

Anyhoo-back to "32 minutes of Hell." My epiphany on the ride home last night--after the 4th game I have got to be in attendance for in the 17-2 season--I hear by bequeath the slogan to me, Mrs. Coach Keene. It truly is 32 minutes of hell with Cameron wiggling, screaming, climbing, kicking, throwing, did I mention screaming, and Justice, who is normally a handful entertaining the crowd. Yes, Its all mine now and I wont share. I am truly destined not to participate in this basketball season.

Nope not angry, just realistic. This coach's wife is offering her resignation to the basketball gods to just stay home and listen to the radio. Now, I have to figure out who I need to bribe at WCAZ not to split airtime with the boys games. (Loud EVIL LAUGH)

Wanna Bet?

"Daddy, I don't want to take a bath tonight!" Coach Keene says, "I'll make a deal with you Justice. If you can make 30 points in a minute you can take one in the morning." Smiling ear to ear Justice says, "I'll take that bet." Well, needless to say Coach Keene set the time and the kid pumped up 42 points in a minute flat. When the buzzer sounded, Justice says with his tongue in his cheek, "Where's my PJ's?" I love it! Don't ever make a deal with this kid that involves a ball and a hoop--he will beat you, every time!

Our Weekend Hardware...

WELCOME 2011

Not only are we official in Keene Country, but we are officially nuts. Aunt Ashley surprised Justice with a score table for Christmas. (pictures soon to come) You should have saw him jump up and down, run over and pet it like a puppy when the wrapping came off. Papa purchased a small PA system for him too. Score table--Check. Possession Arrow--Check. Microphone--Check. Coach Keene Bag--Check. Logo and all, WE ARE CHARGERS on West Adams. Highly doubt we will ever be a bomber....

This holiday season was alittle rough on Mrs. Coach Keene. I am embarrassed to say I only got one short Christmas shopping trip in, and it was a marathon. Cold hard cash was the gift of choice this year for practically everyone! Normally, Coach takes a day off. We enjoy making our list and checking it twice all the way to our shopping destination. Shop till we drop and have a nice quiet dinner. Not this year! Nothing has been normal about 2010. Good ridden 20-10! Sorry, I am alittle bitter. Not to mention a few basketball enthusiasts trying to steal our joy on Christmas Eve. And yes, we almost let them win. Idiots.

You know the saying, "You dont know what you have until its gone." The Keenes are doing some serious soul searching this week on the brink of a new year. In the early stages of my 2011 goals board, exciting! Keene's are weird about goals. They are kinda like a road map for us. We just MUST have them to drive the family. Coach and I are even planning a little retreat for us to have some quiet time and really focus on where we are going in the years to come. Of course, his lovely assistant will be planning the trip. Thinking about a cabin in the woods. Not really Cabin people, maybe a nice spa in the country. :)

On a normal year I love the holidays. Christmas, decorating, family, basketball, this year takes the cake. I took our tree down on Christmas day? I need an attitude adjusting. Honest. I took a few days off work and now both boys have the flu. I just cant catch a break. And a break for Coach Keene this time of year is a far off dream. What I wouldn't give for a week in the sand and sun with my husband and 10 good books! Sorry, dazed off for a second.

‎2010--good ridden! Adversity has strengthened me. I thank the ones who struggled with me in the uncharted times and let go of the grudge from the people who didn't call. I am thankful for the chaos, it has brought me to stability. 2011 I anticipate the beauty you have instore for the Keenes!