i have the arcadia watching the screen today we're looking at athletes and activism he's an example. of somebody who got a. lot of her i want out. of . here. in just a. little to hurt. her up to the glitter of black lives matter. so that was an n.b.a. video released in june of this year is showing support for the black. and social justice movements we're talking about the power of athletes and activism and using that platforms i know you've got opinions you can jumping to the cheap comment section and be part of this discussion let me introduce the stream very own dream team no pressure gas that day say hello to everyone who you. oh hey my name is dave zirin on the sports editor at the nation magazine and i've written a bunch of books about the politics of sports nice to have you welcome back to the stream hello max oh tell everybody he wanted you an introduction. hello everyone my name is max well piers i'm an athlete i am an influencer and i play for the harlem globetrotters thanks for joining us next hour and then tell introduce yourself hello everyone my name is chantelle lavende

the main character of pressfield's latest book is a soldier of fortune named talaman of arcadia livinging character. he's kind of a fass mating character, a little bit of an alter ego. i wanted to write this book to follow his journey and see where he was going. >> reporter: the journey is an expansion of recurring theme in pressfield's work. people engaged in monumental struggles against others and themselves. you wrote for how long before you found success? >> i think it was 28 years i was trying to write, and you know, some friends of mine called me the man who has written more words for less money than anybody on the planet. >> including as an advertising copyrighter. just one part of a dizzying life. pressfield was born in trinidad in 1943 while his father was stationed in the navy. after graduating from duke, he served in the marines before taking jobs as a bartender, teacher, trucker, and fruit picker. 21 jobs overall in 11 state. meanwhile, the writing rejections kept rolling in. was there a low point? >> at one point i was in new york driving a cab, dead broke, living me and m