The Golden Age of Basketball

() Gan Guoyang did not expect that after the game, he would sit in Magic Johnson's Lincoln car and drive on the Los Angeles Avenue at night.

In the last 5 minutes of the fourth quarter of the night game, Gan Guoyang wanted to rush forward and knock down Magic Johnson with a punch, and then both he and Johnson could end the game, and the Blazers might be able to win the game.

It's just that this is a basketball game after all, not a boxing game. Facing the magician's omnipotence and taking over the game in the last 5 minutes, Gan Guoyang tried his best to respond to his opponent on the offensive end, but Gan Guoyang, who was attacked by the Lakers inside and outside, still didn't A way to turn the tide.

Watching Johnson accept the cheers of the fans in the Great Western Forum like a king in a golden jersey after the game, Gan Guoyang felt like a prisoner in a red criminal uniform who was escorted back to the player channel, in the locker room Sentenced to death.

Therefore, after Gan Guoyang received Johnson's call, he couldn't believe that the magician would invite him out for dinner. His first reaction was that the magician was uneasy and kind, because he was the enemy of the Blazers.

It was only after hearing what Johnson called an "old friend" that Gan Guoyang agreed to him. He also thought that Johnson would not have any malice.

Gan Guoyang still remembers that when he participated in the training of the Lakers in Palm Springs and had a conflict with McAdoo, it was Johnson who helped him.

But sitting next to Johnson, Gan Guoyang still felt uncomfortable, maybe he was not used to this kind of relationship change.

"You did a great job today, you know what, Kareem praised you after the game, saying you were unstoppable, I rarely hear Kareem praise someone, especially a rookie." Johnson said while driving the car.

The magician off the court is completely different from the one on the court. He likes to smile and speak nicely. Almost no one can refuse Magic Johnson’s enthusiasm, just like they can’t stop his passing—Gan Guoyang is no exception.

"Thank you, I have always used him as a benchmark, and one day I will surpass him." Gan Guoyang said looking at this different magician.The last time I met Johnson, when he was in Palm Springs, he was still so serious and cold, and now he has returned to the state familiar to the public.

"Karim must be very happy to hear you say this. He has been feeling that no one is willing to practice and use the hook anymore. Everyone is jumping, and your hook gave him hope. Maybe he will. Play ten more seasons for it!" Johansson joked with a laugh.

"I'm still far behind him. From this game, I can feel that I'm still far behind." The magician's joke couldn't erase the depression of Gan Guoyang's defeat.

"Yes, you and you guys, there is still a long way to go, this is just a regular season. You know, I won the championship in my rookie season, and I won the MVP, which makes me think that the NBA is also But that's it, the first year I got everything, the championship, the MVP. But soon, in the second season, we lost to the Rockets in the first round, and it was a very bad year. , We regained the championship in 82, but we lost everything in 83 and 84. Especially last year, we lost to the Celtics, which was a fatal blow to me and the Lakers."

"That's why in Palm Springs, we practiced so hard, so hard, and even fought a few times. The conflict between you and McAdoo was just one of them. I think you must have been very, very happy after training that day. Tired, let me tell you, we do that every day. Because we know the pain of failure, we have to use countless sweats and struggles to avoid failure and win."

Johnson also talked a lot to Gan Guoyang at once. He really saw himself in Gan Guoyang, and saw the unparalleled strong competitive spirit deep in his heart. This competitive spirit brought Johnson a lot of pain, but it also made him what he is today. Achievement.

Gan Guoyang nodded after listening to the magician. He was ready to target Johnson and the Lakers, and one day he would completely defeat them.

"Okay, here we are, the beautiful Four Seasons Hotel. You must know that I didn't even dare to think about this place in the past, but now coming here is as easy as going to the McDonald's on the street to eat a hamburger. This is the reward after success."

Johnson said he put the car at the entrance of the hotel and asked the waiter to park the car in the parking lot. Johnson generously tipped the waiter a hundred dollars.

Four Seasons Hotel is a hotel brand founded in Toronto in 1961. After more than 20 years of development, it has occupied a place in the world's luxury hotels and is famous all over the world for its personalized service.

Not to mention later generations, Gan Guoyang came to the United States in 81, and all the hotels he stayed in were not as luxurious as the Four Seasons Hotel near Beverly Hills.

This kind of luxury is not about the splendor and splendor on the surface, but the delicacy and elegance reflected in the details, exuding a strong atmosphere of luxury without appearing vulgar.

"What kind of big man wants to invite me to such a place?" Gan Guoyang couldn't help asking as he walked along the long corridor of the fourth-level hotel after Johnson and the waiter.

"A few friends of mine, and an old friend of yours. Of course, I was able to meet him only because of you, otherwise it would be difficult enough for me to meet him." The magician replied with a smile.

Gan Guoyang was a little confused, what kind of big shots did he know in Los Angeles?

Although the Four Seasons Hotel is a luxury resort hotel, of course there are also restaurants here, and there are dishes from all over the world.

The waiter brought the two of them to the restaurant marked with Chinese food. It was obvious that the inviter chose this place for Gan Guoyang.

"Hi, Gan!" When Gan Guoyang entered one of the private rooms, a white figure came up to greet Gan Guoyang.

"Michael!" Gan Guoyang was too tall. He lowered his head and took a closer look, only to find that this "old friend" was the "suicide" he knew in Santa Barbara, Michael Jackson.

Since Michael Jackson met Gan Guoyang near the Santa Barbara Hospital three years ago, inspired and encouraged by him, he decided to devote himself to the production and recording of his new album.

At the end of 1982, Jackson's new album "Thriller" was released, which caused a music frenzy in the United States and the world. He himself also won the Grammy Award and was softened.

Gan Guoyang also heard Jackson's new album and the song "beat-it" in UCLA, so he decided to leave UCLA to find a new environment.

It's just that Gan Guoyang didn't expect that Michael Jackson had such great achievements and honors in the American music and entertainment circles, let alone that he still remembered himself and invited him to dinner in Los Angeles.

"Sorry Gan, I haven't seen you for a long time, and I haven't been able to contact you. I happened to come to Los Angeles to meet my brothers, but I couldn't go to watch your game live. It can only be at such a late hour, please magic I invite you to come over."

Michael Jackson obviously wanted to surprise Gan Guoyang, so he didn't let the magician tell Gan Guoyang who was the inviter.

In the private room besides Michael Jackson, there are also Jackson's two older brothers, Jermaine Jackson and Marlon Jackson. <-five" (Jackson five brothers), they have been releasing albums since they were young, and they have performed all over the United States.

Later, Michael Jackson chose to fly solo and achieved great success. The Jackson Five Brothers also slowly fell silent and eventually disbanded.

The two brothers Michael Jackson and Magic Johnson are also very good friends. In the summer of 1984, the magician who lost the championship toured around the world with the five Jackson brothers and saw the charm of music.

In this way, Gan Guoyang had supper in the Chinese restaurant of the Four Seasons Hotel with Michael Jackson, the pop star of the American music scene, and the superstar of the NBA, his future greatest enemy, Magic Johnson.

In addition to chatting about some interesting things that happened around them, the few people talked more about music and basketball. After all, there are three musicians and two basketball players here.

"Hey Gan, your performance in today's game seems to be the best among rookies so far, 39 points, my God, many players will never get this score in their lifetime." Although Michael Jackson did not attend the game, But also listened to the TV news reports.

"That's right, I think you are now the most powerful contender for the best rookie." Said the magician who was struggling with his chopsticks.

Gan Guoyang's performance of 39 points in a single game is already the strongest performance among rookies this year, but Gan Guoyang is very clear that in this year's rookie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, a few games can't explain anything at all.

Then, several people began to discuss the ownership of this year's best rookie. Except for Gan Guoyang, several people were unanimously optimistic about Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets. He is also Gan Guoyang's strongest competitor this year.

The competition between the two of them in the NCAA will also continue to the NBA.

…………

The supper was very pleasant, and the Chinese food in the Chinese restaurant of the Four Seasons Hotel is also very authentic. It is the most common Cantonese food in the United States.

After the meal, Magic Johnson originally arranged other special activities, but Gan Guoyang thought of Wang Fuxi who was still in the hotel, so he tactfully rejected Johnson's offer.

Michael Jackson would take the initiative to drive Gan Guoyang back to meet his old friends, which made Jackson feel extremely happy. After becoming a superstar, he rarely had such an opportunity.

"Gan, I really didn't expect to meet you here and under such circumstances. Looking back on the period from three years ago to now, it seems like a dream, and you are the beginning of the dream." Jackson said while driving.He seldom drives now, but this time he insisted on sending Gan Guoyang back in person.

"Yeah, I never thought that you would be such a great singer. Of course, I thought at the hospital that you would be successful."

"But I want to say that tonight is one of my happiest nights, not worse than my concerts, and there are always many surprises when chatting with you." No matter who chats with Gan Guoyang deeply, he can always get some unexpected things thing.

"The reunion of old friends is probably one of the most emotional and moving things in this world." Gan Guoyang looked out of the window at Los Angeles, which had begun to quiet down, and thought of all the things that happened after returning to the past these years, and the people he met make peace.

"What you said sounds like a mafia boss who is about to quit, but your NBA career has just begun." Jackson said.

Gan Guoyang smiled, but soon he couldn't laugh anymore. When he said that old friends reunited, he couldn't help thinking of his old friend Johnny Stockton.

The undefeated champion team and the exciting dark polo team have also become people's memories with the passage of time.

Although this team won the highest honor of NCAA without losing a game, except for Gan Guoyang and Stockton, the others in the team are really limited in talent, and in the end only the two of them entered the NBA.

Although Stockton changed his fate in the NCAA due to the arrival of Gan Guoyang, he still failed to escape the fate of going to Salt Lake City in the 1984 draft, and exchanged clubs with Kevin Willis.

This also made Gan Guoyang feel a little palpitating. Perhaps history is not so easy to change.

Soon, Jackson drove Gan Guoyang to the hotel where the pioneers lived. Due to his status, Jackson couldn't get out of the car to see him off, and the two said goodbye in a hurry.

In the hotel, Wang Fuxi had already fallen asleep soundly like a pig, and seemed not worried that her boyfriend would go to some messy place to fool around.

Early the next morning, Gan Guoyang followed the Trail Blazers and got on the plane back to Portland. Tomorrow, November 11, they will play against the Phoenix Suns at home.

This will be the second confrontation between the two teams this season. The two teams experienced three overtime battles in the last game, which can be described as an exhausting battle.

"I'm going to play Phoenix again. I'm worried that there will be another overtime game?" Drexler sat on the plane and "complained" while looking at the schedule.

"If we are still one point behind at the last moment, you can choose to throw the ball into the audience, so that we don't have to play overtime." Gan Guoyang said while listening to music.

"Why are we behind by one point? Or we can lead by one point, and then they miss the shot, and then we win."

"Then we shouldn't lead by one point, but by [-] points, so no matter how many they score, it's useless."