Last weekend, my friend asked me what I had in store.

Probably reading, I retorted. I’m fighting with this 2,000 page ebook by Murakami. He’s Japanese.

I like the plan, he said. It’s cold and very rainy. Perfect for staying indoors and reading epics.

Years ago, my teacher mentioned her Japanese friend. When she saw a roach, she asked ‘What’s that?’

Yeah, they’re hard to find in Sydney, he deadpanned.

The life

Before this, I crested Mirin Fader’s latest output. Purchased on Kobo. Dream chronicles Hakeem Olajuwon, former superstar centre. This was more than a feel good story. From a skinny teenager in Lagos, Nigeria to two-time NBA champ. He started playing ball as a twelve year old. Before this, he was a soccer and handball star. Coaches saw tremendous potential in the teener, becoming a Houston Cougar. He led Phi Slama Jama to three straight Final Four appearances, losing twice in the title game. Started out as an inside force before becoming a complete player.

As mentioned, this transcends hoops. His hurdles as a young migrant. The language barrier, media interaction, and his Islamic faith. Asked if he was the shortest in his family, he replied yes. Subsequently, his older brother was depicted as 7-5 though he was 5-10. Over the years, Hakeem stories were like feeding the beast. Tales about his college recruitment become more incredible. With the main players now in heaven, it was like Chinese whispers.

Channeling Hakeem

This book was meaningful to me since I could relate to Hakeem’s early struggles. Before, I went through similar growing pains. Twice, I adjusted to a new country and education system. Though not as accomplished, I ironed my creases. True to his monicker, Hakeem inspires us to dream.

Genesis

Hakeem is the first African born and bred player to make a big ripple in the league. The number one pick in 85, drafted before Michael Jordan. Mentored early on by Moses Malone, he was half of the Twin Towers. Together with 7-4 Ralph Sampson, the pair led the Rockets to the 1986 Finals versus Boston. He became the original international MVP. By his rookie year, Dream was an All-Star. He routinely had more steals than guards, a nod to his soccer skills. His leaping ability and timing were unique for a big man. Later, he became more patient and levelheaded. Fasted during Ramadan, even on game days. Upon rediscovering his faith, he gave back to the community.

He had always been a big brother to his teammates. After many playoff disappointments, he won a chip in 94. Perhaps his series altering block of red hot John Starks in Game 6 inspired Maki’s deflection of Mitsui in Slam Dunk. Quick aside: Starks should’ve passed it to Ewing. Dude was wide open. The Knicks would’ve been kings. Anyhow, the Rockets repeated as champions in 95. Ranked sixth in the west, they remain the lowest seed to win the title. Hakeem is the NBA’s all time blocks leader, with 3,830 swats.

Mentor

He relocated with his fam to Jordan. Been mentoring nba players like the late Kobe, Dwight, and LeBron. His wisdom in improving their post games is unmatched.

I’ve read Giannis, the author’s debut. Both works are well-researched and a joy to read. She’s a plus storyteller and an accessible writer. One-word chapter titles are her trademark. Though the main course was over 600 pages, the book was a breeze. Full marks from Topher.

Rating: 5/5

My favourite quotes from Dream:

‘But those acts are not much heard about because he refuses to promote them. It is, he notes, against his religious beliefs to seek praise for those deeds are between him and Allah.’

‘He asked an attendant at an airport which city had weather similar to Lagos.’

Then there was a cab driver who almost took him to University of Texas at Austin because in Olajuwon’s Nigerian accent, his pronunciation of “Houston” sounded like “Austin”.

‘Several international players have tried out for Lewis’s team over the years, claiming to be 6-10 or thereabouts, only to show up as 6-1 with a mediocre game.’

‘Lewis assumed that would be the way with Olajuwon. ‘I never dreamed the guy would be able to play’, Lewis later said. ‘I had never heard of anyone from Africa being able to play.’

‘After the ball was inbounded to him, he caught the ball and took off without dribbling.’

‘However, the players weren’t sure if Olajuwon could handle the game’s physicality, especially his tendency to bend forward in respect; they didn’t want opponents to mistake the gesture for softness.’

‘Olajuwon told him that many students held inaccurate views of Africa, with some asking if he lived in “the jungle or a hut”…’

‘He speaks in halting English but fluent Dunkese.’

‘Hakeem was a dreamer’, says Gbemisola Abudu, NBA Africa’s first Vice President. ‘He gave everybody permission to dream.’

‘He played with a certifiable pride, an unquantifiable competitiveness.’

‘Ybarrondi was trying to teach him that material things wouldn’t truly fulfil him.’

‘One should not seek happiness from external things or people.’

‘He no longer drank alcohol.’

‘He had finally embraced a critical lesson: he needed his teammates to help him win.’

‘He (John Starks) had already drained six shots in a row. “He was hot as fish grease that night.”

‘He wasn’t just The Dream,’ journalist Monis Khan wrote. ‘To many Muslim-Americans, he was the epitome of the American Dream.’

‘Don’t ever underestimate the heart of a champion.’ – Coach Rudy Tomjanovic

‘Being a good citizen doesn’t mean taking pride in where you were born. It means being a good citizen of the world.’