The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 864 Madman
"I believe in America. America has given me the honor and status I have today."

“I, Sonny Gan, a citizen from China, came to the United States in 1981, and my life has revolved entirely around basketball. I am grateful for the excellent basketball education environment provided by the United States. My motherland gave me flesh and blood, soul and personality, while the United States gave me survival skills and a stage to showcase myself.”

"In the nearly 20 years I've been in the United States, I've met many people who have helped me a great deal, such as Mr. Cap LaVine and Mr. Nate Thurmond in San Francisco, my high school and college coaches, Mr. Bellman, the Gonzaga University basketball coaching staff, the Portland Trail Blazers' general manager Inman, Coach Bob Knight, and so on, too many to count. For every achievement a person has, there are as many people who have helped them behind the scenes, and the vast majority of them are Americans."

"Therefore, my father always taught me not to forget my roots, but also to respect the environment I live in and the country that gave me everything, and to be grateful to and repay those who have helped me. This is the Chinese philosophy of life, and it is my life motto, as well as that of many Chinese people."

"Similarly, over the past 20 years, I have been subjected to constant slander and harm, but I have not taken it too seriously. This happens in any society, and helping them is only a small part of it. The higher you stand, the more people will attack you. But this time, the U.S. Congress, in an investigative report, not only launched a massive attack on my country, but also used a serious accusation to defame my character. This is the greatest insult and harm to me, and this harm exceeds the sum of all the attacks in the past."

"The report didn't name names, but anyone with eyes can see that it was me. Who else could it be pointing at but me? I won't turn a blind eye or cower like a coward. I hereby declare that I have absolutely not done anything to harm the United States, nor have I leaked intelligence or secrets. I am just a basketball player. My job is to provide dreams and joy to people who love basketball. I have no need to do anything beyond my job responsibilities, nor do I have the ability to do so."

"Thank you, please begin asking questions."

On May 27, 1999, the day after the "Coaster Report" was released, Gan Guoyang immediately held a press conference in Portland.

Before the relevant public opinion and issues could ferment, Gan Guoyang took the initiative to deny the "slander" in the report at the press conference, thus clarifying his position.

In the subsequent Q&A session, Gan Guoyang provided detailed answers to a series of questions from reporters, denying various speculations and inferences.

Gan Guoyang, who was well-prepared, even turned the tables, pointing out: "The report states that a sports star leaked information about the relevant military operation. Does that mean that the US bombing of the embassy on May 7 was planned and premeditated, rather than, as the president explained, a pure accident, an unexpected misunderstanding? I ask you, Congress, the members of Congress, and the president, how do you explain this contradiction?"

The Cox Report was released at this time with the aim of finding a reasonable explanation for the "accidental bombing" on May 7, diverting the attention of the American public, and portraying the country across the Pacific as an "evil empire" and the successor to the Red Soviet Union.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War in 1991, and after nearly 10 years of development, they realized that they needed an enemy that would unite them against a common foe.

Otherwise, how would the enormous defense spending be approved? What would happen to the large number of intelligence personnel? Who would the military-industrial complex built during the Cold War be aimed at?

The livelihoods of millions of canal workers depended on them, and the inertia of the Cold War forced the Americans to find an adversary to keep this massive aircraft carrier moving forward.

Gan Guoyang, as the most well-known Chinese person in this region, seems like a good starting point.

But for some reason, the Cox Report, which was supposedly meticulously compiled with evidence, actually had many flaws.

Besides the "anonymous attacks" against Gan Guoyang, many of the accusations are based on insufficient evidence, are contradictory, and are exaggerated.

Of course, this report has just been released, and its more than 700 pages have not yet been thoroughly explored.

The House of Representatives is eager to use Forrest Gump, a god-like figure, as a sacrifice at this crucial juncture of the Finals to ignite the flames of public opinion.

Unexpectedly, Forrest Gump not only did not shy away from the situation, but also took the initiative to launch a counterattack, clarifying his own position while attacking the loopholes in the report.

This press conference immediately sparked a huge media storm across the United States.

Discussions on various aspects, including Sino-US relations, the mystery of Forrest Gump's identity, and the Kosovo War, have all been drawn into the vortex.

The vortex will visibly grow larger and larger, and the water will definitely become more and more turbid.

Shortly after the press conference ended, a statement was immediately issued from across the Pacific.

The statement mainly contains two points:
First, the contents of the Cox Report are utter nonsense!

Secondly, the state supports Comrade Gan Guoyang's basketball activities in the United States and praises him as a peace ambassador promoting friendship between the two countries.

The United States did not respond immediately, but chose to remain silent.

However, the relevant investigation is proceeding intensively, and the matter will obviously not end so simply.

On May 28th, Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals was held in New York, with the Pacers visiting Madison Square Garden.

The frenzied New York fans nearly engulfed the stadium, and the two sides engaged in a fierce battle.

The first quarter was another low-scoring defensive battle, with the Pacers leading the Knicks 15-13 by 2 points.

The second quarter brought a turning point for both teams, with the Knicks launching a counterattack, scoring 31 points in the quarter and taking the lead into halftime.

The two teams were evenly matched in the third quarter, with the Pacers gradually catching up and the two teams entering the fourth quarter with the same score.

In the fourth quarter, Allan Houston came alive, hitting consecutive shots from beyond the arc, and the Knicks gradually built up their lead.

Conversely, Reggie Miller struggled in this game, missing numerous three-point attempts and scoring only 8 points throughout the match.

When your key player, your main scorer, only scores 8 points in a game, it's very difficult for you to win.

Finally, the score was 92-83, with the Knicks defeating the Pacers by 9 points at home.

They defeated their opponents 4-2 to win the 1999 Eastern Conference championship and reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1973.

Madison Square Garden became a sea of ​​joy. The people of New York had been waiting for this day for a long time, and it could even be said that the NBA league had been waiting for this day for a long time.

As the largest sports market in the United States, the birthplace of professional sports, and the home of the NBA, New York's inability to reach the Finals and win the championship year after year is very detrimental to the expansion of the NBA's market influence.

That evening, David Stern personally visited Madison Square Garden to present the Knicks with the silver Eastern Conference championship trophy and congratulate them on their return to the NBA Finals.

It's foreseeable that this NBA Finals will spark a frenzy in New York.

Even if the ratings don't reach the phenomenal success of the 1998 Gan-Joe rivalry, they won't drop too much.

The decline in overall NBA viewership after Michael Jordan's retirement has been a major headache for David Stern.

A new superstar has yet to emerge, and Forrest Gump, the monster, is clinging to the throne and refusing to step down.

If Michael were still alive, people would still want to see stories of heroes and dragons.

Without Michael, Forrest Gump and the Trail Blazers' dominance made the season's story less suspenseful.

Fortunately, it was the Knicks who made it to the Finals this time; if it had been the Pacers, it would have been a ratings disaster.

Even the Knicks lacked a heavyweight superstar to anchor the team and couldn't directly confront Forrest Gump.

To make matters worse, the Cox Report on May 26th presented the league with a huge challenge.

This was a more serious, more sensitive, and more devastating event than the "Moonlight" Rauf flag incident.

If not handled properly, its impact and destructive power on the entire NBA will be nuclear-level.

Even with his extensive experience and ability to weather many storms, Stern couldn't sleep well all night due to anxiety.

As a result, when he watched the game at Madison Square Garden on the 28th, his eyes were swollen, clearly indicating that he hadn't slept well.

However, Gan Guoyang's statement at a press conference on the 27th gave Stern a slight sense of relief.

Because he knew that he absolutely could not admit to this, whether it was true or false, he had to distance himself from it.

The first skill a qualified member of the public should learn is to deny everything, and the second is to endlessly shift blame.

(That's why when Clinton immediately admitted his mistake after the scandal broke, it was immediately assumed that he had been guided by a mastermind or had obtained crucial intelligence.)
Gan Guoyang's press conference was timely, with a clear statement, perfect answers to questions, and very insightful critiques of the report. It was clear he came prepared.

Before the press conference, Stern tried to contact Gan Guoyang by phone, but the call went unanswered.

That night, Gan Guoyang cut off all contact with the outside world, making many people nervous, thinking that Agan was going to run away.

Soon after the press conference, some manufacturers came forward to express their belief in Agan, with Avia being a representative among them. They claimed that this was all a Republican conspiracy.

David Stern convened an emergency meeting that night, gathering all vice presidents and executives to discuss countermeasures. At the meeting, Stern overruled objections and decided to publicly support Forrest Gump.

Stern said, "To stand against Forrest Gump at this time is to betray the NBA brand and the entire league of players. We must stand up and support Forrest Gump."

"Espionage cases rarely involve substantial evidence. Even if they do, we must find a way to make it disappear, dragging the matter out indefinitely until it's completely forgotten."

At this moment, Stern's assistant, a young man named Adam Silva, asked, "So...we're just going to be tied to Forrest Gump like this? Isn't that a bit too risky?"

Stern said, "Forrest Gump is 35 years old, has eight championships, and has already achieved great success. He has no regrets in his career. It's no problem for him to retire at the end of this season or next season, understand?"

Silva nodded to indicate that he understood.

Gan Guoyang is a superstar in the twilight of his career and could leave the league at any time.

His honors, reputation, and NBA status are deeply intertwined, so Stern must protect him.

However, in order to reduce the risks and for the future of the NBA, Gan Guoyang must retire for the next two seasons.

In terms of physical fitness, Gan Guoyang could easily play like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar until he's 40.

However, Stern had already made up his mind that Gan Guoyang needed to land safely and smoothly, which would be the best outcome.

After the Eastern Conference Finals were decided, David Stern immediately flew to Portland on the 29th to meet with Gan Guoyang.

The meeting was kept secret, taking place in a private room at a Greek restaurant to ensure there was no eavesdropping. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Stern got straight to the point: "Sonny, I support you on behalf of the league. However, you must retire by next season at the latest."

Gan Guoyang remained expressionless, paused for a few seconds, nodded, and said, "I agree. Next season will be my last NBA season."

Stern didn't expect Gan Guoyang to agree so readily. Then he thought that Gan was always a smart man and he must have thought it through from all aspects.

Those few seconds of pause weren't about contemplating whether or not to retire, but rather a moment of silence for the answer he was about to utter—his illustrious basketball career was coming to an end.

After receiving Gan Guoyang's promise, Stern's tone softened, and the two had a deep conversation. Gan Guoyang firmly denied engaging in any espionage activities.

"That's simply impossible. Why would I do that? What reason would I have? They wouldn't choose someone like me as a spy."

"You've been getting too close to the White House, which is a problem. Focus your energy on the field from now on, and we'll try to find solutions off the field together."

Stern comforted Gan Guoyang, but Gan Guoyang didn't believe Stern would come up with any solutions; he just wanted things to take their course.

If things get out of control, it's not too late for the NBA to cut ties; Gan Guoyang never harbors any illusions about that.

He was confident and mentally prepared to deal with the current situation, and he was even a little excited because it undoubtedly made his path to the championship more difficult.

He certainly wouldn't tell anyone about this idea, not even his closest wife. This kind of mentality is too perverse and inhuman, and it's easy to cause a commotion. It's better to keep it to himself.

After the secret meeting, Gan Guoyang devoted all his energy to preparing for the finals.

The first game of the Finals will kick off in Portland on June 3, with the opponent being the New York Knicks led by Jeff Van Gundy.

The matchup between the two sides is still incredibly newsworthy. Two years ago, Van Gundy suffered a humiliating defeat in Portland and didn't dare utter a single word.

Now that he has the opportunity to redeem himself on the biggest stage, no matter how humble Van Gundy may appear, he must be eager for revenge.

The New York media went absolutely wild; they had waited far too long for this day, and they hadn't tasted the sweetness of a championship in far too long.

Twenty-six years have passed since 1973. The New York Yankees, from the same city, have just won the MLB World Series. Now it's the Knicks' turn.

Especially since their opponent is the Portland Trail Blazers, the NBA powerhouse and eight-time champion, led by Forrest Gump.

Forrest Gump was caught in a "spy scandal," and the Knicks seized the opportunity to set things right.

The true NBA tradition is in New York, in Madison, not in Portland, not in the Rose Garden.

From the East to the West, Portland and New York engaged in a war of words, arguably the most intense exchange of attacks between two teams and cities before the NBA Finals in history.

The entire state of Oregon remained firmly on Gan Guoyang's side. Since 1988, Oregon has turned to firmly stand with the Democratic Party and is considered an iron-blue state.

Located on the Pacific coast, this area has a large East Asian immigrant population, the vast majority of whom are fans of Forrest Gump, naturally supporting the Trail Blazers and Gan Guoyang.

Gan Guoyang's proactive response and insightful answers to reporters' questions further solidified the confidence of his supporters, who believed this was a persecution by the Republican Party.

Especially those Texans, Gan Guoyang scored 74 points on the head of the US Air Force base, which angered the American white conservatives, who used the Cox Report to frame Gan Guoyang.

This logic is airtight and can be clearly explained. In fact, this is part of the reason. There are many people who can't stand that Gan Guoyang, a Chinese, has become the number one basketball player. They are all waiting for an opportunity to kick someone when they're down, given the prevailing trend.

I just didn't expect Gan Guoyang to hold on, and hold on very well.

The NBA Finals took place as scheduled on June 3rd. The New York Knicks arrived in Portland two days prior to prepare for the Finals.

This Knicks roster is undeniably impressive, featuring Alonzo Mourning and Shawn Kemp in the frontcourt, Latrell Sprewell at small forward, Houston at shooting guard, and Chris Childs at point guard.

With Kurt Thomas and Charlie Ward on the bench, the Knicks may not have an MVP-caliber superstar, but they do have four All-Star caliber starters.

Alonzo Mourning was a strong contender for the regular season MVP this season, but ultimately lost to second-year Tim Duncan in the voting, finishing second.

The league had high hopes for Duncan and the Celtics, but unfortunately they were still too inexperienced. Duncan couldn't sweep the league early like Forrest Gump did, and they were eventually eliminated in the semifinals.

The Knicks carried all the hopes of the East as they arrived in Portland, the Eastern Conference's nightmare of the Finals – a place where no team had won Game 8 or the Finals in the last eight Finals appearances.

"This is Portland, which will never fall."

Local fans welcomed the New York Knicks with this banner.

In response, the New York Knicks said, "Sorry, no comment."

The entire Knicks were unusually quiet, with no noteworthy remarks made during the pre-game media day.

Even the notoriously arrogant Sprewell, known as "Madman," simply stated in a formulaic manner: "We will do our best to win in Portland. To win the championship, we must win on the road. That's something we have to do."

The incident that made Sprewell famous, but also infamous, was the chokehold incident in 1997.

At the time, Sprewell was still playing for the Warriors, whose head coach had changed to PJ Carlesimo—who had found a job in Oakland after leaving Portland.

Like the Heat, the Warriors also like players from the Trail Blazers, but one likes the players and the other likes the coach.

Carlesimo remained unpopular with the Warriors; he was too demanding and harsh, and liked to yell at the players.

His relationship with Sprewell was particularly bad. Before the incident, the two had had many conflicts, including arguments during matches and mutual accusations and backtalk during training.

The incident occurred when the two argued over a passing issue during training. PJ Carlesimo ignored the players' attempts to stop him and rushed over to challenge Sprewell.

Carlesimo's behavior was clearly irrational, and he also underestimated the player's ferocity and madness. Sprewell grabbed him by the neck and threw him to the ground, a process that lasted about 15 seconds.

Carlesimo was nearly strangled to death, partly because other players didn't intervene immediately when the conflict occurred, as most Warriors players also dislike Carlesimo.

The incident severely impacted Sprewell; the Warriors suspended him and prematurely terminated his $3200 million contract, leading sponsors and advertisers to terminate their contracts with him.

David Stern subsequently imposed additional penalties. Stern, known for his ruthless approach, suspended Sprewell for the entire season and deprived him of all his salary.

At the time, Gan Guoyang, as the vice president of the players' union, also stepped forward to negotiate and litigate with the league and the Warriors, doing his best to reduce the punishment for Sprewell.

Of course, Sprewell had a bad record and committed many offenses during his years with the Warriors, including being arrested and having his license suspended for speeding, and being investigated for threatening police officers.

This guy is quite abstract; he's very private about his personal life and rarely gives interviews. It's said that he keeps several vicious dogs at home, and one of them bit off one of his four-year-old daughter's ears.

Later, in an interview, Sprewell was asked by a reporter how this incident had affected him.
He said it had no impact.

But that's your daughter.

But it happened, it just happened.

But...it happened at home after all...

People die every day, that's nothing. If it gets worse, it might affect me.

He later said that he would continue to raise those dogs, which left a very bad impression on the fans.

In the eyes of most ordinary fans, a player can be rough and fierce on the field, but off the field he must be good enough to his family, his mother, wife and daughter.

Your daughter's ear was bitten off, and you're saying it's nothing?

Later, Sprewell admitted that the vicious dog that bit his daughter had been killed.

As for why he didn't explain clearly during the interview, nobody knows; nobody knows what he was really thinking.

This player from the small town of Milwaukee has been protecting his fragile, insecure soul with an incomprehensible behavioral logic.

However, it is particularly important to point out that Sprewell has clearly stated that his favorite player in the entire league is Forrest Gump.

In interviews before the Finals, Sprewell received the most screen time and exposure; this season has been his comeback year.

His performance was particularly outstanding in the playoffs, making him a key figure in the Knicks' transformation this season.

He formed a backcourt duo with Allan Houston and took on the most offensive shots for the team, serving as the spearhead to tear apart the opponent's defense.

When asked about his thoughts on Forrest Gump and how he would face him in the Finals, Sprewell's answer was once again unexpected.

He said, "Forrest Gump has always been the player I admire most. He truly understands me, and I mean it. I was beaten up by him during my rookie season, which made me lose confidence. He's practically a San Francisco native, and he comes back to San Francisco every summer for a period of time, so I had the opportunity to train with him. I would say I benefited a lot from that; he's a true king, the most amazing person I've ever met."

"So what's your take on this espionage incident? Could Forrest Gump be a spy?"

"No, I don't believe this accusation at all; it's a frame-up. Between America and Forrest Gump, I choose to believe Forrest Gump."

The madman lived up to his name, uttering the most astonishing words in the calmest tone.

After saying that, he didn't think much of it and went back to preparing for the competition.

(End of this chapter)