The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 87 Not easy

Two weeks after the Finals between Gonzaga and Houston, things gradually returned to normal.

Spokane held a grand city-wide parade on April 8th, with the entire Gonzaga Bulldog team riding in a boat from Gonzaga University, circling the city along the Spokane River.

April 8th was also designated as Champions Day, with the entire city taking a half-day holiday to celebrate this hard-won, miraculous undefeated championship.

Gan Guoyang spent a week in a drunken stupor. Although he didn't drink alcohol, he was almost drunk every day.

Countless blessings, letters, and phone calls poured in; groups, advertisers, and individuals constantly sent him congratulations and invitations, making him a hero in Gonzaga and Spokane.

The mayor and university president said they would erect a statue of him in front of the stadium to commemorate his enormous contributions to Gonzaga basketball.

Gan Guoyang found it hard to refuse people's kindness. He was recognized everywhere in Spokane. He started signing autographs, taking photos with people, waving and smiling at them. By the end of the day, he felt like he was turning into a clown, with a smile that he could never get rid of.

By mid-April, the situation gradually improved, and everything calmed down. Gan Guoyang was finally able to attend classes and train normally, and had time to think about his next steps.

Dan Fitz and Berman both offered advice to Gan Guoyang, and their ideas were basically the same: they hoped that Gan Guoyang could leave college and participate in the 1984 NBA draft.

However, Berman was more adamant, saying that he had no challenge in the NCAA and that Gan Guoyang had to go to the NBA to aim for higher goals.

Dan Fitzgerald left Gan Guoyang a way out: if he wanted, Gan could stay and play another year in the NCAA. Although Stockton had graduated, the school would recruit talented players to help Gan Guoyang.

Gan Guoyang asked Bellman, "Bobby, you're so determined to make me leave, you're not thinking of betraying us again, are you?"

Bellman quickly explained that he had signed a multi-year contract with the school and would not be leaving anytime soon.

"You deserve a bigger, grander stage, Forrest Gump."

Billman's words persuaded Gan Guoyang, and after discussing it with his father Gan Youwei and getting his consent, he decided to participate in the 1984 NBA draft.

Before that, he needs to complete the required credits for graduation, obtain a degree certificate, and join the NBA with a college diploma, so that he can become a cultured player.

At the same time, he began looking for a reliable agent to handle everything from the draft to signing and future matters.

Gan Guoyang was quite cautious in choosing an agent. Some people offered their services, and Fitz and Bellman made introductions to him, but Gan Guoyang did not make a decision easily.

An agent is, to some extent, half the brain of a player, an important strategist. A good agent can secure the best benefits for the player and choose the best path.

The path of a professional player is short and arduous. The world of the NBA is far more complex than college basketball. Gan Guoyang doesn't understand this world well enough. He needs a powerful mentor, not a bloodsucker who wants to profit from his fame.

Therefore, Gan Guoyang declined the two Chinese lawyers recommended by Huang Shaohua of the Chinese Endeavour Association. Although they had some reputation in the legal field, the NBA was not an area they were familiar with.

Gan Guoyang made it clear to Huang Shaohua that if he could establish himself stably in the NBA in the future, he would definitely mentor and help Chinese people, but now was not the time.

Huang Shaohua understands and agrees with Gan Guoyang's decision, and says he will continue to provide strong financial support for all of Gan's activities and will begin to actively connect him with more prestigious and powerful professionals in the alliance.

Gan Guoyang was very patient. Before officially announcing whether he would run for office, he focused on being a student at Gonzaga University and enjoying his remaining time on campus.

By late April, the cold Spokane had warmed up, and signs of spring were visible everywhere on campus.

Gan Guoyang got up early in the morning and drove his blue Ford to Spokane International Airport.

Today is the weekend, and Wang Fuxi flew in from Portland to spend two days at Gonzaga University.

A photo of the two embracing warmly at the end of the NCAA championship game graced the cover of the mid-April issue of Sports Illustrated, becoming a classic moment in the history of American basketball and even American media.

However, the photo is facing Gan Guoyang directly, and Wang Fuxi only shows half of her profile, with the rest of her face showing her thick, black hair, which makes her very dissatisfied with the photo.

What displeased her even more was that the two still hadn't established a romantic relationship after the finals.

Although Gan Guoyang hugged her tightly, he was then surrounded by reporters and had no chance to say even a single word to Wang Fuxi. After that, he left with the team and returned to Spokane.

Before parting, Gan Guoyang told her to come to Spokane to see him at the end of April. Wang Fuxi waited until the end of April, knowing that Gan Guoyang must be extremely busy, but she had the patience to wait.

The plane arrived on time. Gan Guoyang picked up Wang Fuxi and, after settling her in at the hotel, took her to Jack and Dan's bar near the school at noon. It was owned by Stockton's father, Jack Stockton.

Besides selling alcohol, the place also offers barbecue and other food. Since winning the championship, Gan Guoyang has been an SVIP customer here. No matter what he eats or drinks or who he brings, it's all free.

After greeting Jack, the two found a seat and ordered some of their favorite dishes.

Facing Gan Guoyang, Wang Fuxi felt a little shy and just kept his head down, eating silently, not knowing what to say.

If a relationship between two people reaches a certain point but doesn't progress further, it will enter an awkward situation where they are caught in a dilemma.

Gan Guoyang sensed the awkwardness, so he took the initiative to break the balance and suddenly asked, "Hey, Fuxi, would you like to be my girlfriend?"

Wang Fuxi choked and coughed until her face turned red. She didn't expect Gan Guoyang to be so direct. How was she supposed to answer?

Who confesses their love like that?
Gan Guoyang cut a piece of steak and said, "Don't answer me yet, I'll give you time to think it over. Also, I want to tell you that being my girlfriend... might be different from what you think, you need to think it through carefully."

Gan Guoyang's directness calmed Wang Fuxi down. She suppressed her pounding heart and asked, "Just tell me what's wrong, and I'll think it over."

"I've decided to enter the NBA draft in June and become a professional player. I think with my skills and performance, I'll definitely be selected. But I don't know which city I'll go to. It could be any city in the US. You're still studying. If I go to another city to play, it means we'll be separated until you graduate and won't be able to see each other often. That's the first point."

"Secondly, even if we lived together, the nature of my work would mean I would frequently travel to other cities. I would be on the road for hundreds of days a year, and we still wouldn't be able to be together often. Moreover, I don't know which city I will settle down in. If I leave a team, I will have to go to another city. So, I might become a nomadic person."

"Third, I'm someone who places basketball at a very high level, extremely high. My training will be very tough, I will be very serious and hardworking at work, and basketball will occupy a large part of my life. Correspondingly, I don't think I can devote too much to my partner or family. In other words, it's difficult to live like an ordinary person with me."

"Fourth, I will earn a lot of money, so you won't have to worry about finances with me. But correspondingly, I will face many temptations, and many people will surround me, including beautiful women. Although I am not particularly interested in women, the environment I am in will make my partner feel insecure, which is a problem that needs to be faced."

"Fifth, I will gradually accumulate wealth and fame. I hope my other half is someone who can fight alongside me. We will face many challenges together. Race, injuries, failures, public opinion attacks, and all sorts of other things... I haven't thought of them yet, nor have I experienced them, but I... I can foresee that this is not a smooth road. If someone simply likes me, admires me, and only wants to enjoy sweet moments with me, I don't think I'm a good choice, and that doesn't align with my vision for the future."

"So please think this through carefully."

Gan Guoyang explained his requirements and thoughts to Wang Fuxi in detail.

Most girls would probably back down if they heard this. This isn't dating, it's signing a contract!

Wang Fuxi remained expressionless, finished his coffee, and said, "That's all?"

"Um...that's all for now. What, not enough?"

"Forrest Gump, how long have we known each other?"

"Well... if we start counting from that time we played basketball at school, it's been two years."

"Yes, I've known you for two years, and we've exchanged so many letters. How could I not know what kind of person you are? And don't you know why I like you?"

"Because I'm handsome."

That's only a small part!

"But I like you, simply because you are beautiful."

"..."

"You can't scare me. I've already told you I love you."

"Loving me isn't easy."

"That's what makes love special, it's not easy... What do you know..."

(End of this chapter)