The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 697 Spy
The match between the Dream Team and the Cuban team was a foregone conclusion. The score difference between the two sides widened, and in the end, it completely became a show for the American team.

As Berman said, his primary task is to make substitutions at the designated times, just like an All-Star head coach. He doesn't need to devise any tactics; he just needs to ensure that all his players can get on the court.

The Cuban team showed little resistance from the start of the match; they were just hoping the game would end quickly so they could take photos with the Dream Team stars.

Being able to play against a team like this is enough for these players to brag about for a lifetime, and to talk about this legendary experience with future generations in the next 10 or 20 years.

The point difference has already reached over 50 points, but the American team is not letting up. Although they are not going all out, every player on the court is playing very seriously.

This is a sign of respect for the opponents and the fans in the arena; everyone is giving it their all and using their best skills to attack the basket.

This wasn't an exhibition match, but it was even more exciting. Neither side was under pressure, and the audience wasn't nervous either; all they had to do was enjoy the show.

The team is arguably the most powerful men's basketball team in history, a true dream team.

The final score was 136-57, with the United States defeating Cuba by a whopping 79 points at the Memorial Stadium.

The 79-point difference doesn't really reflect the gap between the two teams; the US team ultimately held back.

If they play with all their might, it's not impossible for the point difference in a game to exceed 100.

Cuba is the weakest team in Group A. Cuban basketball has had a glorious past, winning a bronze medal at the 1972 Olympics and finishing sixth at the 1980 Olympics. It can be said that they have had a prosperous past.

If Cuba were to play against the Chinese team without Gan Guoyang, the Chinese team wouldn't dare say they could escape unscathed; the two teams are evenly matched.

Gan Guoyang was aware of this, which is why he felt a little sweaty after watching the whole game from the sidelines.

If the Olympics really go to the US, these guys might just cause a complete disaster, and that would be incredibly embarrassing.

After the game, reporters' flashbulbs were mainly focused on Larry Bird, who had an outstanding performance tonight after his comeback from retirement.

He made 7 of 8 shots, only missed one, and scored 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals. FIBA's short three-point line allowed him to make every three-point shot.

He played with ease throughout the game, barely breaking a sweat, which made reporters very concerned about whether he had any plans to make a comeback.

"A comeback? Unless the Celtics can assemble half of the Dream Team roster, I won't consider a comeback," Bird laughed.

Bird knew very well that he was able to play so easily because his teammates were just too strong.

Only on this dream team can he be so at ease, enjoying the game during his ten or twenty minutes of playing time.

Once back in the NBA, teammates won't be as strong, and the NBA's long home-and-away schedule is much more painful than a tournament where games are played in one place.

On the evening of the day after the first game, Gan Guoyang invited the Dream Team to dinner at a seafood restaurant in Portland—a place frequented by Jack Ramsey and Bellman.

Gan Guoyang originally only planned to invite a few friends: Stockton, Barkley, Ewing, Jordan, Bird, and Drexler.

Stockton wanted to bring Malone along, Jordan brought Pippen, Bird said it would be best if Magic could come, and then Gan Guoyang thought he had a good relationship with Mullin, and David Robinson was also a good guy...

After thinking it over, he decided to treat everyone and have a party, eat, and chat. Gan Guoyang had done his best as the host.

In addition to the players, the US team also boasts a star-studded coaching staff.

The team is led by Berman, with assistant coaches Chuck Daly, Lenny Wilkens, and Coach K from Duke University.

Of everyone, Lightner had the lowest status; as a college student, he seemed very uncomfortable at the party.

In the NCAA, Laettner was the number one star, Duke's tyrant, a grumpy, ruthless white center who would do anything to win—he looked a lot like Laimbeer.

But if Laimbeer were on the Dream Team, he would be a perfect fit. He wouldn't be afraid of players like Jordan, Bird, or Johnson; it's the others who should be afraid of him.

Laettner is no good. He hasn't even entered the NBA yet, has zero experience, and has no status in front of these big shots. He has the halo of being the only college player on the Dream Team, but in reality, he's just a pretty face.

He was a bully in the NCAA, but in the Dream Team he became someone everyone could bully. Anyone would find that unbearable.

Originally, Lightning didn't want to come, but since everyone else was going, and the whole team needed to act together, Lightning reluctantly came after Coach K's persuasion.

Bird and Jordan approached Laettner and said, "Christine, how about we make a trade?"

The speaker was Bird, the oldest and most senior member of the team, and like Laettner, he was white.

"A deal? What deal?"

"When we eat later, find Forrest Gump and tell him, 'I'm going to beat you to a pulp at the Olympics.' In the later games, we'll pass you the ball more often and give you more opportunities to shine, okay?"

Upon hearing this, Lightner thought, "This is an order to kill me."

Although he never played in the NBA, Laettner couldn't possibly be unaware of Forrest Gump's reputation.

The NBA's first Undertaker, number one tyrant, fighting king, wrestling master, challenge him?
Leitner's little tricks in the NCAA were nothing compared to Forrest Gump's.

He knew perfectly well that these two big shots were just playing around with him, making fun of him for their own amusement.

But he didn't know how to refuse, so he gritted his teeth and agreed.

The party that evening was attended by Gan Guoyang and his wife, along with Trail Blazers players, Avia, Nike management, Portland officials, and others.

This frustrated Gan Guoyang. He had only intended to hold a small private gathering where a few friends could chat and exchange information.

Gan Guoyang wanted to get some information out of Bellman and Stockton, and also to further deepen their relationship so that they could be a little more considerate of each other when things got tough later.

As a result, the invitations turned into a large banquet. After all, Portland was a hub for basketball elites and media reporters from all over the United States during this period, making it difficult to hold a private gathering.

Everyone gathered like sharks drawn by a scent, hoping to uncover some news and tidbits at the party. During the offseason, Forrest Gump and the Dream Team were the absolute focus.

"Charles! Charles!"

Gan Guoyang stopped Barkley, who had been eating everywhere.

He seemed to be intentionally avoiding Gan Guoyang, but was eventually caught.

"Charles! How's the food here?"

"Oh, Sonny. This is... not bad, but not quite as good as your cooking. You look very handsome tonight, Sonny!"

“You’re handsome too, Charles. I heard you’re going to beat me up.”

"Who's spreading rumors? We're best friends, how could I possibly beat you up?"

Barkley is playing dumb; he looks simple-minded, but he's actually very shrewd.

Gan Guoyang didn't expose him or dwell on the matter; instead, he was concerned about Barkley's love life.

"Why didn't your wife come? Is there really something wrong with your marriage?"

"Oh, a little bit... but it's not a big problem. I won't make hasty decisions. I will focus more and more on basketball. I still have a lot to improve."

Barkley suddenly became humble.

He wasn't being falsely modest; Barkley genuinely felt the gap after training with these Dream Team superstars.

He was far behind Jordan, Bird, and Johnson, not to mention Forrest Gump.

In the past, Barkley was somewhat resentful, always feeling that he was just a little unlucky.

The more you interact with truly top-tier experts, the more you discover your own weaknesses.

The two started talking about children again when Lightner suddenly came up to them with a wine glass in his hand.

Barkley glanced at Laettner; he had overheard the bet between Bird, Jordan, and Laettner.

Barkley stepped back a few paces and went to chat with others, ready to watch the show.

Gan Guoyang thought Leitner was coming to toast him, and had already raised his glass. Unexpectedly, Leitner walked straight up to Gan Guoyang and said, "Sonny, I'll beat you one-on-one in the game and kick your ass to pieces."

Lightner's voice wasn't loud; the restaurant was crowded, and everyone was talking noisily, so no one else heard what Lightner said.

Gan Guoyang was taken aback. It turned out that the person who came was not there to offer a toast, but rather had ill intentions.

However, Gan Guoyang reacted quickly. He glanced around and noticed Barkley, Jordan, and Bird looking in their direction from a distance.

He knew that given Lightner's status, there was no reason for him to come and provoke him for no reason. "I invited you to dinner and introduced you to some big shots in the industry, and you come here to challenge me?"
Gan Guoyang stepped forward. He was slightly shorter than Lightner, but his overall presence completely overwhelmed Lightner, who immediately felt a strong sense of pressure.

Lightner took a small half-step back, but Gan Guoyang grabbed his arm to prevent him from retreating. The force in his hand was astonishing, and Lightner almost cried out in pain.

"Larry, or Michael?" Gan Guoyang asked in a low voice.

"What?" Lightner didn't react.

"Larry, or Michael?" Gan Guoyang asked again.

Leitner realized that Forrest Gump had actually guessed that Bird and Jordan were behind it all.

His carefully constructed defenses crumbled quickly, and he nodded, saying, "Larry, and Michael..."

Gan Guoyang loosened his grip, smiled, and said, "So you stupidly came over to provoke me, thinking it's cool? Like you did in the NCAA, making your opponents suffer so you can benefit."

Laettner may look like a handsome white player, but he is infamous and is the least popular player in the NCAA.

Lightner wanted to say, "That's exactly what I want to do," but faced with Forrest Gump's sharp gaze, he couldn't bring himself to say it. He could only nod and shake his head stammeringly.

"You must have had a tough time on the Dream Team, right? Those guys were all jerks, every single one of them. I know them better than anyone. I'm friends with them, but I'm Forrest Gump, so I can be friends with them. If I were an ordinary person, or a player with no talent, I would never want to be friends with them. Do you agree?"

Gan Guoyang's words seemed to have a magical power; Lightner felt they had struck a chord with him and nodded in agreement.

This time, his nod was much more firm.

"You want to fit in, but you're not qualified. They all look down on you. Unless you can kick their asses. But that's impossible. You don't have that ability, and they won't give you that opportunity. So they let you provoke me, promising you a pass to qualify, right?"

Leitner nodded again.

The two went to a corner and started talking.

"I'll teach you how to deal with this bunch of idiots. You don't have to believe me, but you should listen. If you figure it out someday, you can come and talk to me."

"First, get along well with Bobby. Bobby is a very genuine person. I know him well. He's a bit anxious and insecure. He's worried about his seniority, just like you. So you must listen to him. Whatever he says, be the first to do it and support him. Give him some support, and he'll be grateful and give you opportunities. Don't pay attention to Chuck; that guy is a snob. Coach K, you should also ask for his support more often. He's your mentor."

"Secondly, among the players, get along well with Drexler and Stockton. They have good personalities, especially John Clyde, who is rather aloof. If you flatter him a lot, especially by saying that he can be compared to Michael Jordan, he will be very happy. Anyway, he's an easy fool to please."

“Talk to David Robinson more about Jesus, God, and Christ. Believe me, he will become your supporter.”

“Patrick may seem cold, but he’s kind-hearted. He’s not good with words and doesn’t get along with reporters, just like you, right? So, help him out and speak up for him, and he’ll treat you well.”

"Then there's Michael. He's awful, but also kind of naive. You can gamble or play cards with him. Find an opportunity to lose money to him, and he'll be happy and won't make things difficult for you."

"My buddy is a gentle and friendly person, but I'm only talking about part of him. You have to find the right moment to resonate with his smiling side, which is a bit tricky. By the way, I've heard rumors that you're gay, is that true?"

Leitner quickly denied it.

"OK, I bet a reporter will ask this question. Don't deny it outright. You can express some opinions about AIDS and praise Magic. Trust me, he'll give you face."

"Don't worry, Mullin. Have a drink with him. Scotty, that country bumpkin, is too busy to bother you. Karl Malone is an exception. If you're brave enough, you can fight him. I guarantee he'll treat you with great respect afterward, and then everyone will respect you, provided you have the courage."

"Finally, Charles Barkley and Larry Bird. Charles is a nice guy, treat him to a burger. There's a burger place in Portland I recommend, he likes it. As for Larry... if you could find a way to learn some back massage or back therapy, he'd be very grateful. I know a massage therapist."

Like a teacher giving a lesson, Gan Guoyang explained to Leitner the temperaments and preferences of all the other members of the Dream Team.

Leitner was dumbfounded. He had no idea that the big shots in the team had such different personalities and that each of them had their own weaknesses.

Gan Guoyang knows this inside and out. No wonder this guy can dominate the NBA. It seems that his skills are not limited to the court.

"Why?" Lightner asked, expressing his confusion after listening. "Why are you giving me pointers?"

Gan Guoyang said, "There's no reason why, I just want to make friends, and... I want to understand the Dream Team better. If I ever run into you guys, I want to lose less."

Lightner understood; Forrest Gump wanted him to be a spy.

Although I know in my heart that the current Dream Team is terrifyingly strong and the probability of losing is infinitely close to zero.

So even if you reveal some information to Forrest Gump, as Forrest Gump said, it's just a matter of losing a little less.

However, the thought of "betraying" the Dream Team still gave Leitner a mental hurdle.

He did not agree to Gan Guoyang's request, but only said that they would keep in touch, and apologized for his rashness and thanked Gan for his guidance.

Through this experience, Lightner deeply felt the terror of Forrest Gump.

Just as people say, Forrest Gump's greatest strength is his self-control.

Leitner felt completely controlled, unable to break free from the spiderweb of his mind.

Perhaps it's only a matter of time before they "betray".

On the 29th and 30th, the Dream Team played two more games.

In their game against Canada, the US team won by 44 points.

The Canadian team fought desperately and finally lost with a slightly more respectable dignity.

During the game, Stockton collided with Jordan and was forced to leave the court injured.

His Olympic journey was overshadowed.

In the third match against Panama, a small incident occurred.

When it was time to introduce the American players, it was Leitner's turn.

He got up from the bench, and his sweatpants fell down, revealing his white shorts underneath.

Lennart hurriedly pulled up his pants and fastened them again.

This embarrassing scene was captured by the live television broadcast and transmitted to thousands of households.

On the US team's bench, the players burst into laughter, with Barkley, Jordan, and others covering their faces and shaking with mirth.

Needless to say, someone must have played a prank, untying the drawstring of Lightner's sweatpants to embarrass him when he came on stage.

Leitner looked extremely grim. David Robertson, who appeared behind him, laughed and then patted him on the shoulder.

Nobody knows who did it, and nobody will say anything.

After the game, reporters didn't care at all about the match between the US team and the Panama team—the Panama team had borrowed money to buy their plane tickets to the US.

Only one reporter came to interview Leitner, and bluntly said, "Let's talk about the pants."

Leitner said, "I don't know who did it."

The reporter then asked pointedly, "Some people say Brian Davis is your boyfriend, is that true?"

Leitner clenched his fist. Remembering what Forrest Gump had said, he changed the subject and began praising Magic Johnson.

The interview ended awkwardly and in silence. Leitner returned to the locker room alone and decided to call Forrest Gump that night.

(End of this chapter)