The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 129: Grand Opening

On the morning of November 4th, a light drizzle fell from the sky at the Great Western Forum arena in Inglewood, Los Angeles.

Magic Johnson arrived at the arena parking lot in his blue Mercedes, wearing a fancy fur coat.

Last night was another night of romance for him. Regardless of whether there was a match the next day, he couldn't resist the beautiful girls who came to him.

After arriving in Los Angeles from rural Michigan in 1979, he quickly became immersed in the allure of women and women, but surprisingly, this did not hinder his basketball career.

It is said that he once had sex with six girls at the same time in one night. His physique and energy are obviously far beyond that of ordinary people, and even ordinary basketball players are far inferior to him.

However, he never lets women stay overnight, nor does he stay overnight at a woman's place. He values ​​his privacy very much, and to this day, many of his friends do not know that he has a 3-year-old child, let alone that he has intimate relationships with many women.

His management of women and time is just as excellent and amazing as his orchestration of the team's offense on the field.

Magic Johnson's attitude towards basketball is 120% serious, and his desire to win exceeds most people's imagination.

In the 1984 NBA Finals, the Lakers lost the final game to the Celtics. Johnson made a crucial mistake, handing the championship to Bird and the Celtics.

Because there were no overnight flights back, they had to witness their arch-rivals' citywide celebration from their Boston hotel. That experience left Johnson with unforgettable pain, and he didn't sleep for three days and three nights to reflect on his problems.

This summer, the Lakers were dragged to Palm Springs by Riley for a hellish training regimen.

Every ball in training was filled with tension, and the intensity of the competition reached the level of the finals.

Riley wanted to torture his players through high-intensity, brutal training so that they could undergo a transformation.

Perhaps due to overly intense training during the offseason, the Lakers' start to the new season has been less than ideal. In their first five games, they have a record of 2 wins and 3 losses, losing to the Mavericks, Spurs, and SuperSonics.

They lost by 2 points to the Spurs and by 1 point to the SuperSonics. They desperately need a win to adjust their form and shut up the noisy media.

Back in Los Angeles, they will have three consecutive home games. After defeating the Spurs in the first game, they will face the Portland Trail Blazers, who are on a winning streak and undefeated, in the second game.

Johnson made his way to the locker room with ease, changed into his training clothes, picked up a basketball, and prepared to go to the gym for shooting practice.

When playing at home, he usually goes to the Great Western Forum arena to warm up in the morning, then has lunch at the Forum Club, trains with the team in the afternoon, and plays in the game in the evening.

After the competition, it's time for him to have fun and enjoy himself. Sometimes he can play until 3 a.m., and then get up normally in the morning to train, eat, and play competitions.

Whether it's at home or away, he'll provide airfare and room fees for the girls he meets at the stadium, so they can fly to the city where he plays to spend the night with him.

Johnson's boundless energy is astonishing. No wonder many of his friends didn't realize that this guy was so adept at such things, because how could a normal person have so much time and energy?

"Hey Magic, you're the second one today," an elderly security guard at the Forum Arena said to Johnson on the way to the court.

Johnson was taken aback. Was there someone on the team who had done it before him? Was it Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? Cooper? Or Worthy?
As Johnson approached the court, he heard no sound of basketballs hitting the ground, nor did he see anyone training on the court. Where was that person?

"Good morning, Magic!" A greeting suddenly came from the empty arena, startling Johnson.

The sound was coming from the stands. Johnson looked up and saw someone running in the aisle of the stands.

It was Gan Guoyang, wearing a gray T-shirt and dark shorts, running through the narrow aisle of the stands, sweating profusely.

“Gan! How did you get in?” Johnson shouted.

"Rely on my face!" Gan Guoyang said as he ran.

The magician thought to himself, "When it comes to face-saving, is there anyone in Los Angeles sports who has a more effective face than me?"

Why did you come here to run?

"It's raining, and the game is tonight, so I'm warming up first and imagining the audience cheering for me."

"Fuck you, Gan, we'll beat you up tonight!"

The two met during a match between the Olympic team and the All-Star team, and Johnson greatly admired Gan Guoyang.

The magician sees a reflection of himself in Gan Guoyang; his fearless confidence and courage are exactly the same.

But it's as if you can smell the scent of green blood emanating from him, stemming from his perfect blend of arrogance and composure.

Gan Guoyang did not respond further; his face was expressionless as he was completely absorbed in running.

He woke up around 4 a.m. this morning and couldn't fall back asleep because he was uncontrollably excited about playing against the Lakers on the court.

He wanted to go for a run, but it was raining outside, so he ran to the Great Western Forum stadium and exchanged an autograph for the management's permission to run laps in the stands.

Gan Guoyang couldn't remember how many laps he had run in the stands. Looking down at the Forum Arena floor below, he recalled the 1981 CIF finals, where he won the first major honor of his basketball career.

From that moment on, he felt an unbreakable bond with the stadium, a feeling that he would triumph there.

"Gan, if you keep running like this, I'm afraid you won't have the energy to play ball tonight."

After finishing a set of shooting drills, Johnson noticed that Gan Guoyang was still running.

"I wasn't running, I was just a little hot and wanted some fresh air."

"If you mimic Larry again, I'll throw the ball at you and kill you, ending your season."

After training, the two had lunch together at the Forum Club. Magic Johnson was quite pleased with the Playboy Bunnies who walked by and the flirtatious glances they threw him.

Many of them had one-night stands with him, but Johnson usually wouldn't go a second time after the first one; he liked to seek new experiences.

Seeing Gan Guoyang eating with his head down, Johnson said, "Gan, are you a virgin? Look around here, there are so many attractive things besides food, how can you only focus on eating?"

Gan Guoyang said, "I also like women, but I guess these are all your old lovers. I never take what belongs to others."

Johnson leaned closer and said, "Good resources should be shared, don't you know that?"

Gan Guoyang replied, "Then can you share with me the secrets to dealing with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?"

"Deal with him? Just smile at him! Keep smiling, and he'll think you're crazy and won't want to talk to you anymore." Johnson was laughing heartily as he said this. Gan Guoyang thought to himself, "How can this idiot off the court be so good on the court?"
-
Around 3 p.m., Gan Guoyang and his teammates arrived at the Great Western Forum arena for warm-up exercises, which was much more lively than in the morning.

This was the first time Gan Guoyang had seen so many people at the entrance of the team's locker room. There were reporters, cameramen, and some random people whose purpose was unclear.

Everyone crowded in the corridor waiting for the Trail Blazers to arrive. When Gan Guoyang appeared, they all surrounded him, requesting to be interviewed.

Back then, the NBA didn't have a dedicated media day, nor did it require players to give interviews. Many old-school coaches and players disliked reporters.

For example, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Magic Johnson, an outgoing socialite, really enjoys interacting with reporters and fans.

Gan Guoyang did not resist being interviewed, because he knew that the media, if used properly, could be a very sharp weapon.

High-level NBA games are no less than a war, with both on-court and off-court factors potentially influencing the outcome.

As the entertainment center of the West Coast, Los Angeles has an exceptionally developed media landscape, and the game between the Trail Blazers and the Lakers was given great importance.

Gan Guoyang has caused considerable harm to the people of Los Angeles in basketball, and reporters are eager to know his attitude towards this game.

"You're the Los Angeles media, and I'm representing Portland. What should I say? Hopefully it'll be a draw? One point for each side?"

Gan Guoyang's joke drew laughter from everyone. When asked about the Trail Blazers' winning streak, Gan Guoyang's star-studded performance in the first four games, and his thoughts on the intensity of NBA games, Gan Guoyang thought for a moment and said, "I have a feeling I'm going to sweat a lot tonight. So I'm going to go get some water, thanks."

Gan Guoyang didn't say much and went into the changing room. The reporters wanted to continue the interview, but were stopped by the staff.

Although the game attracted much attention, Ramsey did not overhype it like the media did before the game, telling everyone that it was just a regular season game.

In terms of tactical arrangements, Ramsey asked Gan Guoyang if he should double-team Jabbar, but Gan Guoyang shook his head: "I can handle him by myself."

Everyone looked at Gan Guoyang as if he were an idiot, thinking that he thought he could take down Jabbar by himself, but he probably hadn't experienced the hardship of the Skyhook.

To everyone's surprise, Ramsey nodded in agreement, saying, "No problem, Karim is in your hands. If you die in the three-second zone, I'll ask you to hang yourself on Karim's arm."

Thompson patted Gan Guoyang on the shoulder, meaning it wasn't that his brother wouldn't help him, but that he was the one who had to take the fall.
-
Around 7 p.m., Zeke Hearn’s calm yet fast-paced voice came through a radio station in the Los Angeles area.

"Good evening, friends. I'm Zeke Hearn. I don't know if you're ready to enjoy the Los Angeles Lakers' show at the Great Western Forum again, but I think the Portland Trail Blazers on the other side are definitely ready to enjoy it."

Starting in 1961, Zeke Hearn began providing commentary for Play by Play at the Lakers' home games, transmitting the live action to every radio station.

Although television broadcasts are now available and TV stations have their own commentators, fans in the Los Angeles area still prefer to turn on the TV with the sound off, then turn on the radio to watch the broadcast while listening to Zeke Hearn's commentary.

At this moment, the players from both sides stood in their respective player tunnels, ready to take the field.

“Relax, Forrest Gump. If you keep jumping around like that, my eyes are going to go blind. Are you going to box?” Mitchell Thompson said to Gan Guoyang, who had been jumping around for ages.

"I have so much energy that I can't use it all up. I need to use it up a little, otherwise I'm afraid I'll foul out too early." This kind of battle against a master makes Gan Guoyang excited.

"You're such a freak."

"Who isn't? Who wouldn't be in this damn league if they weren't a freak?"

"You're right. Alright, everyone get ready, let's go on stage!"

Captain Thompson shouted, and the Trail Blazers players rushed onto the court in order.

The Trail Blazers' starting lineup consists of Gan Guoyang, Thompson, Vandeweghe, Paxson, and Valentine.

The Lakers' starting lineup consists of Worthy, Johnson, Byron Scott, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Wilkes.

After the opening ceremony, which was filled with boos and applause, Gan Guoyang finally stood opposite Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

This was the first time the two faced off on the court, and also the first time Gan Guoyang had met Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. They had previously passed each other twice.

If Gan Guoyang joins ULCA, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar might coach him on the hook shot; the two are currently rivals on the court.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, now 37, is starting to go bald, and his appearance with sports glasses is somewhat odd—giants are often a little eccentric.

He is 7 feet 2 inches tall. When Gan Guoyang saw him on TV, he thought Kareem Abdul-Jabbar looked a bit thin. But when he was up close and face to face, he realized how huge and burly he was.

"Jabbar is in position, and standing opposite him is this year's second overall pick, Sonny Gan, the only Asian face on the basketball court, as rare as a bear in a national park in winter. Hopefully, he will cherish these two hours at the Great Western Forum. I believe he will have a lot to learn, such as how to wear long socks."

Zick Hearn said with the arrogance typical of elite families, not without a hint of sarcasm.

Back then, the shorts the players wore were already uncomfortable enough for Gan Guoyang, and most of them also had to wear long socks.

Gan Guoyang couldn't stand this outfit. Even if the other players on the Trail Blazers wore long socks, Gan Guoyang resolutely refused to wear them.

As he prepared for the jump ball, Gan Guoyang recalled what Berman often told him: "Maintain your focus and competitiveness from the first second of the game, and when the result comes out, you won't regret every second you've invested and worked hard."

From the moment the ball was contested, Gan Guoyang gave it his all. The referee tossed the ball into the air, and he immediately jumped.

Using his exceptional speed, he flicked the ball to Thompson on his left. Thompson received the ball and was about to pass it to the guard.

Unexpectedly, Gan Guoyang had already rushed towards the front after landing. Like a running back in rugby, he squeezed past Worthy and Wilkes and made a quick run down the middle.

Thompson understood perfectly and made a risky long pass to the frontcourt. Gan Guoyang turned around, jumped up, and received the ball despite being blocked by two players. Without dribbling, he jumped directly into the three-second zone and slammed the ball into the basket with both hands!

This dunk sent Worthy flying on the right, brought Wilkes down behind him, and knocked Magic Johnson off the left out of bounds.

"Oh my God, the Trail Blazers' center, Gan, sprinted up the court. Thompson threw the ball through the crowd, and Gan dunked it with both hands. The referee blew the whistle and drew a foul from Worthy!"

Gan Guoyang easily landed, the referee blew the whistle, and it was time for the penalty kick.

"Hmm~~" A low hiss came from the audience, clearly everyone was stunned by Gan Guoyang's magnificent opening.

(End of this chapter)