Episode 257 with Mirin Fader, Author of Dream, and Keen and Empathetic Observer and Chronicler of Stories within Stories and Stellar Portraits of Athletes that Show Their Completeness

Notes and Links to Mirin Fader’s Work

 

   For Episode 257, Pete welcomes Mirin Fader for her second Chills at Will visit, and the two discuss, among other topics, her love of contemporary fiction, how her second book’s release is different than that of her first, seeds for her latest book-Dream, about the great Hakeem Olajuwon-coming from her previous blockbuster about Giannis Antetokounmpo, her finding stories within stories while researching the book, and the wonders and legends of Hakeem Olajuwon, from his start in handball and soccer to the ignorant and racist ways he was often viewed, to the role that discipline, creativity, and his faith play in his daily life. 

 

   Mirin Fader is a senior staff writer for The Ringer. Her first book, Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA Champion, was a New York Times Bestseller, Los Angeles Times Bestseller, Wall Street Journal Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, Publishers Weekly Bestseller. She has profiled some of the NBA’s biggest stars, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant, DeMar DeRozan, and LaMelo Ball, telling the backstories that have shaped some of our most complex, most dominant, heroes. Fader wrote for Bleacher Report from 2017 to 2020 and the Orange County Register from 2013 to 2017. Her work has been featured in the “Best American Sports Writing” series and honored by the Pro Basketball Writers Association, the Associated Press Sports Editors, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, the Football Writers Association of America, and the Los Angeles Press Club. 

 

Buy Dream

 

Mirin Fader's Website

 

See Mirin on Tour!

 

At about 2:50, Mirin discusses her love of fiction and beloved contemporary texts, including Tommy Orange’s latest, and Sudanese writer, Rania Mamoun’s latest

At about 4:40, Mirin responds to Pete’s question about any sort of competitiveness within writers in Mirin’s cohort, and Pete and Mirin stan Wright Thompson 

At about 6:30, Pete highlights Demar Derozan’s recent book and Mirin’s profile of him for The Ringer

At about 9:45, Mirin gives background on her profile of Bronny James and what “lane” she focused on for the piece

At about 12:30, Some all-time NBA rankings!

At about 14:45, Pete cites the book about Giannis and its lasting greatness

At about 15:05, Pete asks Mirin about the run-up to her second book and feedback

At about 16:10, Mirin mentions the nostalgia associated with Hakeem Olajuwon

At about 17:30, Mirin talks about the “unheralded” nature of Hakeem, as well as the emergence of international basketball players, particularly with African players, for which he was a “prequel”

At about 19:25, Mirin gives background on Ben Okri’s quote for her epigraph and its connection to Hakeem and devotion and creativity

At about 20:10, The two discuss the book’s Prologue and LeBron James famous trip to train with Hakeem in 2011

At about 22:40, Henri de Ybarrondo and his importance to Hakeem and his spiritual resurgence is referenced

At about 24:00, Mirin discusses her wonderful experiences in going to Hakeem’s mosque in Houston

At about 25:00, Pete asks Mirin to expand on Hakeem as a “hidden one,” and connections to a hadith quoted from the Koran

At about 26:30, The two discuss the book’s beginning, and Mirin talks about the bustling city of Lagos, Hakeem’s childhood (and later American media racism in describing his youth), and how his father taught him to be proud of his size

At about 29:10, Mirin talks about Hakeem's early athletic feats outside of basketball, and how he was “recruited” to finally give in and play basketball

At about 31:20, Pete and Mirin reflect on the sad fact that so many interviewees for the book have died recently and how this affects her urgency to get stories on paper

At about 32:35, Mirin responds to Pete’s wondering about how Hakeem’s 1980 Nigerian National Team appearance affected his growth

At about 34:10, The “Dream Shake” and Yomi Sangodeyi’s greatness and tutoring are explored

At about 35:00, Christopher Pond and the supposed origin story of Hakeem’s Univ. of Houston landing, as well as problematic parts of the story are probed

At about 38:50, Mirin talks about Hakeem’s time in Houston and the city’s growing Nigerian population 

At about 40:10, Mirin expands upon the ignorant and racist ways in which Hakeem was written about, especially in his earlier years, and she shares the story of how him “changing his name”
Was emblematic of his humble nature

At about 42:55, Mirin highlights how Hakeem was never seen as a draft mistake, even though he was drafted over Michael Jordan, and Pete cites Frank Guidry’s book on Houston and how the Forde Center helped Hakeem improve greatly as a Rocket

At about 44:15, Pete cites Hakeem’s moving letter referenced in the book, and how Mirin charts his rediscovering his faith through some amazing and makes it clear that he never “converted” to Islam

At about 46:45, The two reflect on and express the amazement and respect for Hakeem’s Ramadan fasting during his playing days

At about 47:45, Pete and Mirin stan Hakeem’s unforgettable series against David Robinson 

At about 48:45, Mirin talks about how Hakeem’s faith calls for him to not display iconography and show humility and how the book’s cover satisfied the requirements of being respectful 

At about 50:45, Mirin shouts out Brazos Bookstore and Skylight Books as good places to buy her book, and shouts out her first tour

 

 

   You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I’m @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you’re checking out this episode.

      I am very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. A big thanks to Rachel León and Michael Welch at Chicago Review.

    Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl

     Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting my one-man show, my DIY podcast and my extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features segments from conversations with Deesha Philyaw, Luis Alberto Urrea, Chris Stuck, and more, as they reflect on chill-inducing writing and writers that have inspired their own work.

I have added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

   This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

   The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.

    Please tune in for Episode 258 with Porochista Khakpour, the critically acclaimed author of two previous novels, Sons and Other Flammable Objects and The Last Illusion; a memoir, Sick; and a collection of essays, Brown Album. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bookforum, Elle, and many other publications. Her latest book, a chaotic and satirical stellar work, is Tehrangeles.

This episode will air on October 22.

Lastly, please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.