The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 17 Flexibility
As August 1981 arrived, the United States entered the height of summer.

The MLB strike continues, with games canceled since June.

However, as August approached, there seemed to be signs of a softening of the stance between labor and management.

The investigation and trial of John Hinckley, the assassin of President Reagan in March, is still ongoing, and his lawyers are trying to define him as a mentally ill person without criminal responsibility.

JFA (Jodie Foster's Army), a hardcore punk band formed 19 days after the assassination of Ronald Reagan, is touring the Midwestern underground music scene, spreading hatred towards Ronald Reagan.

Meanwhile, on August 1st, MTV officially launched in the United States, and its first music video, The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star," aired in the New York area.

The unprecedented combination of music and film is beginning to have a disruptive impact on the cultural industry.

However, television and sports, which have a closer relationship, seem to be still exploring the direction and path of cooperation.

The 1981 NBA Finals achieved the lowest viewership ratings for the next two decades.

Four of the six matches were recorded and broadcast late, scheduled after the evening news.

The only two live broadcasts were held on Saturday and Sunday to align with CBS's broadcasting strategy, making it a back-to-back finale.

Even with the addition of young talents like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, the NBA still faces financial, viewership, and reputational crises.

They need change, they need to seize this historic opportunity, and they need more players with healthy, positive, and talented personalities to join them.

However, even the NBA's owners and executives are unsure where the league is headed in the future, or where the people who can save the NBA are.

On the afternoon of August 1st, Gan Guoyang, as usual, went to the backyard court of The Beginning restaurant to train with Thurmond.

Inside the restaurant, workers were removing the "THE BEGINING" sign from the entrance and taking down posters and player portraits hanging in the store to pack them into boxes.

San Francisco is a restaurant capital, with different restaurants of different flavors and styles opening every day, and correspondingly, some restaurants closing down.

The economic recession that began in 79 was relentlessly battering every street and restaurant in the Bay Area, and The Beginning, which Nate Thurmond had run since the 70s, was no exception to this deadly wave.

On the court, Gan Guoyang's back-to-the-basket technique has become increasingly proficient. He can dribble with great smoothness, turning from face to back to the basket, dribbling, exerting force, turning, and then finding a space to shoot.

Faced with Thurmond's height, weight, and wingspan, Gan Guoyang had to leverage his youth and agility, incorporating his own understanding into Thurmond's back-to-the-basket teaching methods.

Compared to Thurmond's solid and heavy steps with his back turned, Gan Guoyang, wearing Avia860, was more agile. His steps with his back turned had a sense of dynamism, with a greater range of movement in all directions, making him appear unpredictable.

This put Thurmond, whose knees weren't in good shape, under some strain, but his 20 years of experience hadn't gone to waste, and Gan Guoyang still couldn't score against him.

"One step, two steps, back, then right, then left, I'm turning to drive inside, watch out..."

Gan Guoyang muttered something to himself, but his footsteps were completely contrary to what he was saying; he was deliberately trying to distract Thurmond.

As he spoke, he turned and rushed in, but then suddenly stepped back, took a big stride out, ran to a position of 15 feet, and made a face-up jump shot.

Thurmond couldn't keep up, the ball went through the net and went in!

"Yes! Goal!"

After scoring, Gan Guoyang clenched his fist to celebrate his goal against Thurmond.

Thurmond, hands on hips and panting, cursed inwardly and outwardly, "Who the hell said they were going to die inside? Are you going to die inside like this?"

Gan Guoyang smiled and said, "You can't be rigid when playing basketball. You have to be tough, but you also have to be flexible. Right, Nate?"

Thurmond rubbed his knees. He couldn't keep fighting like this. This kid's strength was improving at an astonishing rate, and he felt like he couldn't keep up.

Sensing Gan Guoyang's agility and vigor, Thurmond knew that this was the kind of young man who represented the new generation and the future direction of basketball.

Just then, a worker came over and told Thurmond that the gate had been removed, everything had been packed up and loaded onto the truck, and asked if he wanted to leave.

Thurmond nodded, gave the worker an address, started the car, and drove away from the restaurant, leaving it empty.

Looking at the place where he had poured his heart and soul, Thurmond sighed. Before long, a new restaurant would move in, be renovated, and open for business.

“Nate, where are you planning to go from here?” Gan Guoyang asked. “I’m definitely staying in San Francisco. I hate Ohio winters. The Warriors gave me a job as a community liaison, and I’ll be going to Oakland often.”

"Can I still ask you to play ball?"

"There's a vast world out there. There are many talented people in San Francisco and Oakland. Schools and streets are the places where you can truly showcase your talent. Of course, you can also contact me if you want. If you want to watch an NBA game, I can get you tickets."

After spending just one week together, Thurmond really liked this energetic and driven young man—and of course, the Chinese food he brought.

Gan Guoyang nodded. As they parted, Gan Guoyang expressed his concerns to Thurmond:

"Your restaurant has already closed down, and I don't think our restaurant will be far from closing down either. Business is getting harder and harder."

"My Beginning restaurant closed partly because of the economic situation, and partly because I had other ideas and wanted to take a break. I'll open another restaurant in the future. As for you, your father's cooking skills are quite good, but the Tenderloin area isn't suitable for middle-class consumers. You either need to find a different location or change your approach. In short, just like when you jumped out to long-range shots, you have to be flexible, right?"

Thurmond's words gave Gan Guoyang some inspiration.

Back at Gan's Restaurant that evening, everyone ate dinner together, and the atmosphere at the table was somewhat somber.

Gan Bingguang told everyone that the restaurant's income in July was still insufficient to cover expenses. Although the increase in takeout orders led to a rise in revenue, dine-in business became increasingly scarce.

Even after factoring in rent and other expenses, the company is still operating at a loss, and there are no signs of improvement for next month.

“We’ve been contacting buyers to sell the shop recently. Once we find a suitable buyer, we’ll leave. Youwei, I’ll introduce you to a new job, and you don’t need to worry about where to stay. It’s just that you and Guoyang will have to make do.”

Gan Bingguang's dream of opening a high-end Chinese restaurant seems to be shattered, which makes him look even older.

Gan Youwei said he did not regret it, and besides, he had a skill and would not have to worry about making a living in San Francisco.

Gan Guoyang wondered, is there really no other way?

After dinner, Gan Guohui found Gan Guoyang and said, "Cousin, we're going to the training camp the day after tomorrow. Should we have another match with Cancer?"

Gan Guoyang said, "Why not wait until we come back from the training camp to fight? We'll definitely be much better by then. A gentleman takes his revenge even after ten years."

Gan Guohui said, "I'm afraid that by the time we come back from summer camp, there won't be any restaurants left."

"Then what do you mean..."

"What I mean is, how about we play the game at the Tiandelong District stadium this time, using the name of our Gan Family Restaurant to promote our restaurant? What do you think?"

"Publicity...how to do publicity?"

"They advertise, put restaurant signs on jerseys, and give out coupons when you watch the game."

"Will this idea work? You might as well have Chen Xing ask his dad to waive the restaurant's rent."

"We've tried, but don't dwell on it. Let's give it a shot. My grandfather poured his heart and soul into this shop; it was his life's dream. I don't want to watch it go out of business like this, so we have to give it a try. Besides, don't you want to have another go at Cancer?"

Thinking of the resentment he felt after losing to Cancer last time, Gan Guoyang dreamed of avenging his defeat.

Besides, he was also eager to test the results of this week's training and see how effective it was in actual combat.

"Okay, let Chen Xing make the arrangements, the sooner the better."

"No problem! By the way, where have you been going in the afternoons lately? You haven't found a girlfriend, have you?"

"Finding a girlfriend is out of the question. It's settled then. Let's meet tomorrow morning and discuss our tactics."

"Do you think we should give our team a name?"

"Let's think about it together tomorrow."

"They call it Cancer, how about we call it Chemotherapy?"

"...Let's discuss it together later, don't just come up with a random name."

(End of this chapter)