The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 59 Rebellion
"...Coach Dan Fitzgerald is a legendary figure and one of the most interesting people I've ever met. He brings his vast knowledge and irrepressible Irish personality to every training session; he's always talking, even while driving...and while driving, he'll constantly look towards the back seat and gesture instead of looking at the road."

I think the instructor drives using Braille, listening to the horn and using road bumps to keep the car in the lane… When I first entered the school, I heard one of Fitz’s famous quotes on the training field: “The best thing about freshmen is that they’ll become sophomores!” However, Fitz didn’t say that when Gan first walked onto the training field.

—Excerpt from John Stockton's 2012 autobiography, Assisted.

On July 5th, Dan Fitzgerald, head coach of the Gonzaga University basketball team and the school's athletic director, along with Steve Delon, the team's assistant coach, nurse, psychologist, bus driver, carpenter, and mechanic, Terry Kelly, a legendary star of G-Prep (Gonzaga Preparatory School), and two staff members from the Board of Education, visited Gan's Restaurant in the Tenderloin district.

Also accompanying them was "English teacher" Cap-Raven, who was the one who made the connection.

In March of this year, after the 1981-1982 NCAA season officially ended, the University of San Francisco announced the closure of its basketball department.

As a strong team in the Bay Area, the University of San Francisco suddenly became a "clearance sale," with many universities on the West Coast coming to San Francisco to recruit its students.

Dan Fitzgerald was born in San Francisco, where he studied and played basketball at San Francisco State University before transferring to UCLA and graduating there.

After learning from his classmates at UCLA that the Chinese player named Gan had declined the Golden Bears' invitation, he immediately contacted LaVine and asked him to arrange a meeting.

These West Coast basketball figures are all interconnected; Cap LaVine is much more than just an English teacher.

When Gan Guoyang first met Dan Fitzgerald, he was deeply impressed by his Irish-American features, including his broad chin, prominent nose, and hearty laughter.

Gan Youwei prepared a large feast at the restaurant to entertain the group. Everyone praised Gan Youwei's culinary skills. Fitzgerald said, "We should invite Gan's father to be the head chef in the school cafeteria. This might greatly increase the school's appeal to students, hahaha!"

After dinner, they got down to business. Fitzgerald offered Gan Guoyang very generous terms, including a full scholarship, living allowance, a promise of being a key player on the team, and support for his family.

"However, our school has limited funding, and the disciplinary committee is being very strict this year, so we may be restricted in some expenditures."

Fitzgerald also spoke frankly, citing the University of San Francisco and UCLA as recent examples. (More than a decade later, Gonzaga was indeed suspended for financial issues, for which Fitzgerald was held responsible.)
Gan Guoyang felt Gonzaga University's sincerity. After dinner, they went to the YMCA gymnasium together, where Steve Delon and Terry Kelly gave Gan Guoyang a brief tryout.

The test includes basic skills tests, as well as tests of physical strength, speed, explosive power, coordination, and balance.

Deron was a white instructor with a mustache and a sharp look, resembling a retired Marine Corps officer.

Unlike Fitzgerald's talkative nature, Deron was aloof and rarely spoke; his expression remained unchanged throughout the entire interview.

The first thing he said to Gan Guoyang when he arrived at the stadium was, "I heard you have excellent strength, which is great. Many people don't value strength."

Gan Guoyang nodded and said, "Strength is the foundation of technique, and it can also reduce injuries."

For the first time, Delong's eyes showed surprise; he hadn't expected Gan Guoyang to have such awareness.

At that time in the basketball world, many players avoided strength training, believing that increased muscle mass would affect their touch and agility.

Steve Deron was among the first coaches in college basketball to provide professional strength training for players.

However, Gonzaga University is a relatively unknown basketball school in the United States, so their coaches naturally don't have much influence.

In the subsequent test, Steve Delon and Kelly worked together to set some requirements for Gan Guoyang to complete certain actions and conducted physical fitness tests. Kelly then conducted a one-on-one offensive and defensive confrontation with Gan Guoyang.

Twenty minutes later, Steve Delon walked up to Fitzgerald with the form in his hand. Fitzgerald asked in a low voice, "How was the test? It looks pretty good."

Deron said softly, "We've hit the jackpot. Those guys at UCLA must be idiots."

"Don't say that, I'm a UCLA graduate too. But they really are being a bit stupid right now."

Fitzgerald took the caliper scale from Deron Williams, glanced at it, and his eyes widened immediately. "This guy's a high schooler? With these stats, he could easily play in the NBA." "That's more than enough. And his technique is solid, his stamina is excellent. And I'm convinced he's a guy with a strong will."

How can you be so sure?

"The feeling of being one of the same kind of people. You don't have that feeling."

"What's it to me? Why are you dragging me into this?"

Fitzgerald and others were quite satisfied with the test results, but Gan Guoyang was still undecided about whether or not to go to this little-known school in a small northwestern town.

Fitzgerald's recruitment efforts did not end there. He then invited Gan Guoyang and Gan Youwei to visit Gonzaga University, experience the school environment firsthand, and decide whether they wanted to study and play there.

Gan Guoyang thought to himself that since he came to the United States, he had never taken his father on a trip. His father had been busy in the shop all day, dealing with cooking fumes, and had not had a single day of rest.

Perhaps we should take this opportunity to take Gan Youwei out for a trip, and I can also take the opportunity to check out Gonzaga University.

Gan Youwei didn't want to go, but considering that it would determine his son's future, he decided to go and take a look.

So, after a little preparation, Fitzgerald and his companions took Gan Guoyang and his son by plane to Spokane, a small town on the border of Washington and Idaho, where Gonzaga University is located.

To Gan Guoyang's surprise, when the plane landed at Spokane International Airport and he stepped out of the airport, he saw the welcoming team that was supposed to greet him.

The group consisted of representatives from the school's athletic department, officials from the city of Spokane, and Gonzaga students dressed in blue and grey uniforms, holding a huge banner that read in yellow letters on a red background, "Welcome to Gonzaga University, Spokane."

The scene was so enthusiastic and grand that both Gan Guoyang and Gan Youwei felt flattered.

Gan Youwei even said directly, "Son, study here. It would be so embarrassing if you didn't come."

Among the large welcoming procession, a familiar face appeared. He walked towards Gan Guoyang and shook his hand tightly.

"Welcome to Spokane, Gan."

Gan Guoyang looked surprised. Isn't this Coach Berman?

What brings you to Spokane Gonzaga University?

"Bobby, you've betrayed us again?"

"What the hell are you talking about? I only signed a one-year contract with Beiqiao Middle School. Gonzaga University invited me to be the team coach."

Gan Guoyang then realized how much preparation Gonzaga University, and even the city of Spokane, had done to get him.

An official in Spokane even read out a formal announcement declaring the day of Gan Guoyang's arrival "Sunny Gan Memorial Day".

At that moment, Gan Guoyang decided to stay in Spokane and bring victory to the city.

Beside the library, a statue of Bing Crosby stands eternally, aptly representing for decades the essence of this Jesuit school nestled in a leafy neighborhood on the north bank of the Spokane River, one of Gonzaga University's most celebrated alumni. However, next to the university's gymnasium, the sculpture of Forrest Gump raising the championship trophy better encapsulates the spirit of Gonzaga University today.

—Excerpt from Dave Boehring's book "Tales from the Gonzaga hardwood", published in 2004.

(End of this chapter)