The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 96 Groundhog
At the end of the four-day training camp, Knight called me into his office, and that's when I knew my happy days there were coming to an end. John Stockton, Maurice Martin, and Terry Porter were also cut along with me (Porter was cut because of chickenpox).

But in the office, I saw Knight's face contorted with pain, genuine pain, and suddenly this tough guy softened. I thought he would be happy to get rid of me, but in reality, he was saddened by his decision.

I think firing any one of us hurt him; he's actually compassionate, but he had to do it. It was then that I finally developed respect for Knight, and I realized how similar we were.

I left quickly, but John didn't. He was furious because his competitor was Alford. To be honest, Alford was nowhere near his level, but what could he do? Alford was Knight's student. John wanted to gather the non-selected players and pit them against the regulars; he really cared.

Forrest Gump persuaded him and took him back to Spokane.

—Excerpt from Charles Buckley's 1992 autobiography, *Outrageous!*

Gan Guoyang's advice ultimately had no effect on Knight, who still chose Alford, eliminating Stockton from the competition.

Stockton was furious, but Gan Guoyang calmed him down and then went back to Spokane with Stockton.

Unfortunately, due to a time conflict, the two returned late and missed the graduation ceremony.

On the way back, Stockton seemed very downcast. He had failed to make the Olympic national team and missed the important moment of ending his college career. It was a double blow, so it's no wonder that he was so angry after learning that he had been eliminated from the training camp, even though he was usually calm. He even wanted to drag the eliminated players to play against the regulars.

He knew that Gan Guoyang had done his best to recommend him, but Knight was still stubborn, which made Stockton feel even worse.

Stockton was in a much better mood after arriving at Spokane Airport because there were so many people there to greet him.

His parents, girlfriend, Fitz and Bellman, as well as his basketball teammates, classmates, and close friends, all came to greet him after learning that he had not been selected.

They went to Jack and Dan's bar together to give Stockton a belated graduation ceremony, and Stockton finally had a smile on his face.

To Gan Guoyang's surprise, Wang Fuxi also came to Spokane and attended Stockton's graduation celebration as Gan Guoyang's girlfriend.

When Bellman, Fitz, Stockton, and others learned that Wang Fuxi was the girl who hugged Gan Guoyang after the finals, they all sent their blessings to the couple.

In this way, Wang Fuxi officially appeared in front of Gan Guoyang's teachers and friends, and the relationship between the two took another step forward.

After Stockton's personal graduation ceremony, Dan Fitzgerald stood on the stage, quieted everyone down, and said he had an important announcement to make.

"Yesterday I received a call from Washington. We have received a formal invitation from President Ronald Reagan to visit the White House next week as NCAA champions!"

The moment the news was announced, the entire Jack and Dan bar erupted in excitement: Gonzaga the Bulldog was going to the White House!
The presidential meeting, which was originally scheduled for April, was delayed until June with no news, causing everyone to feel uneasy. Now, the matter has finally been settled.

Gan Guoyang didn't really care about this; what was so special about meeting the US president?

The White House? It's been blown up countless times in movies.

While everyone was cheering, Gan Guoyang found Fitz and asked, "Dan, can I not go? I have to go back to training camp next week to be a sparring partner."

Fitz shook his head repeatedly, saying, "No, the president specifically requested that Sonny Gan be there. You're our MVP, how can you not go?"

"I'm a foreigner."

"Even if you're an alien, you still have to go!"

Gan Guoyang had no choice but to agree. After returning home, he called Bob Knight to ask for leave, saying that he couldn't go to the training camp for the time being because he had to go to the White House to see the president.

Knight was furious when he heard this and yelled into the phone, "You're a foreigner, what right do you have to meet with the President of the United States! You've ruined all my plans!"

"Then you can talk to your president about it. I don't really want to go."

"Forget it, I don't dare." Knight was honest. He then told Gan Guoyang to return to Indianapolis as soon as possible after his trip to the White House, as they still had several warm-up games to play.

"It was Fleischer who arranged it. You must remember to come, otherwise his efforts will be wasted."

Upon hearing Fleischer's name, Gan Guoyang thought to himself that this agent was really good, with extensive connections and great abilities. With him around, he wouldn't have to worry too much about various matters when entering the NBA.

So Gan Guoyang called Fleischer again and explained the situation.

Unexpectedly, Fleischer said, "Yes, I know, I was the one who pushed for this arrangement."

Gan Guoyang thought to himself, "Damn, if you can arrange this, what can't you arrange?"

Fleischer said, "This is an election year, and you are Chinese. Reagan was considering the political implications, so the meeting was supposed to take place in April but was delayed. However, I lobbied the presidential team, saying that Gonzaga is a high-quality team with a Catholic background, and that meeting you would be no problem at all, and might even be beneficial to his election campaign."

1984 was an election year, and it has always been a sports tradition in American society for the president to meet with champions.

The Celtics had just won the 1984 NBA championship on June 12th, and on June 13th they went to the White House. However, Gonzaga's meeting with them was repeatedly delayed, possibly due to Gan Guoyang's Chinese identity, as Reagan was not friendly towards China when he was elected in 1980.

"How do you know people who can lobby the president's team?" Gan Guoyang was amazed by Fleischer's extraordinary connections.

"Fool, Commissioner O'Brien used to be a cabinet member of President Kennedy. The NBA has always had close ties with the higher-ups. You don't need to know too much. Just remember to perform well and don't make any mistakes. Also, after the White House trip, when we go back to the training camp in Indiana, I will organize a game between the Olympic team and NBA stars. You will also have a chance to play, so do your best."

Fleischer has worked in the NBA and the labor industry for over two decades, and his network and resources are quite impressive.

Gan Guoyang said he would handle everything, and the two discussed the talent show again.

Fleischer told Gan Guoyang that the Portland Trail Blazers would most likely select him, there was no doubt about it.

There's no need to do anything unnecessary like a tryout. Gan Guoyang isn't looking for a job; the team needs him.

"If the Portland idiots don't draft you, then go to Chicago. Don't waste your time on tryouts; what you need is to perform well in the preseason and avoid injuries."

"Should I participate in the NBA draft?"

The draft is scheduled for June 19th, which conflicts with the training camp schedule.

"If you want to give up the chance to play with NBA stars and just see Stern's old face and his mustache, then come to New York. I'll arrange a room for you here!"

Fleischer's tone already gave the answer: Gan Guoyang was giving up on participating in the draft, since not going wouldn't affect the team's decision to draft him anyway.

Gan Guoyang didn't tell Wang Fuxi about the possibility of going to Portland, because he was worried that something might happen during the draft and she would be disappointed.

On June 17th, the entire Gonzaga Bulldog team flew to Washington, D.C., and visited the White House, where Reagan received them on the Rose Garden lawn.

Gan Guoyang, dressed in a suit and tie, shook hands and posed for a photo with the president.

Reagan asked Gan Guoyang what it felt like to be at the White House.
Gan Guoyang said, "The security personnel just stopped me from entering; they don't believe I'm part of the team."

Reagan chuckled and said, "It looks like the security personnel need some basic training and an update on their basketball knowledge."

Reagan mentioned that he had just returned from a visit to China in April and told Chinese leaders about Gan Guoyang's amazing performance in the NCAA finals.

He said he hoped that one day you could return to your country and represent your country in a battle.

Gan Guoyang nodded and said, "Of course, I definitely will if I have the chance."

Reagan and Gan Guoyang spent the longest time shaking hands and chatting, and the reporter even took a photo of the two together.

However, the photo later caused considerable controversy because Gan Guoyang appeared too arrogant in the photo, and his tall stature made Reagan look somewhat sleazy.

To Gan Guoyang's surprise, during his visit to the White House in the afternoon, he encountered Michael Jackson, who was also invited to visit the White House.

He was awarded the Presidential Public Safety Award by the president for his song "Beat It," which was used in a public campaign against drunk driving.

Gan Guoyang and the Gonzaga players attended the awards ceremony and then toured the White House with Jackson.

This was the first time Gan Guoyang met Michael Jackson. Gan Guoyang asked Jackson for an autographed album and, in return, gave Jackson his own jersey.

During their conversation, Jackson's voice was soft and gentle. While touring the presidential suite, Jackson suddenly asked Gan Guoyang, "Would you like living in a place like this?"

Gan Guoyang thought to himself, "You must be joking. Me, a Chinese man, living in the White House? At most, I might win a few NBA championships, but I can forget about the White House."

But then he seemed to understand what Jackson meant and replied, "No, I don't like living in a place like this at all, being looked at and visited by people. I like playing basketball, I like playing in front of a lot of people, but if I were to live here, I would just want to dig a hole and bury myself like a gopher."

Jackson nodded slightly, as if whispering, and said, "Me too."

One side effect of the Thriller era was my weariness of being constantly in the public eye, a feeling that peaked during my visit to the White House in June 1984. It was the symbol of the highest power in America, the white building dazzling, and living there meant you were at the top. But the thought of living in a place where I would be constantly watched and observed by everyone sent chills down my spine; that's the price of power and status.

I met Ghana for the first time when the NCAA champion Gonzaga Bulldogs came to visit. Actually, I didn't tell him that I had specifically changed my visit time after learning they were also coming, which wasn't easy, and luckily the president's schedule allowed it. I asked Ghana if he liked living in such a place. He said, "I'd rather live in a hole, like a gopher."

He hit the nail on the head. I also really wanted to be a gopher. From that moment on, I knew we would become friends.

—Excerpt from "Moonwalk," a biography of Michael Jackson published in 1988.

(End of this chapter)