The Golden Age of Basketball

Getting up, he glanced at the card calendar by the bed, August 13, 1993, almost two months since the finals.

The impact and repercussions from the finals were greater and more profound than any before.

In just two months, even the ripples hadn't dispersed, Beelman's visit this time must be related to this.

He put on his shoes and went downstairs. The house was empty; Wang Fuxi had taken the kids and three elders to China for vacation and to visit family.

The reason Gan Guoyang didn't go was that if he went, it would change the nature of the trip; the family wouldn't have the time and space to relax properly.

So simply, he stayed in Portland, being a stay-at-home kid, enjoying some quiet time, which was good for everyone.

After going through a lot, he needed a long, leisurely vacation to repair himself.

Quentin was watering the flowers in the yard; he liked tending to the garden's plants, saving Guoyang the expense of hiring a gardener.

"Quentin! Community College Gymnasium!"

"Training today?"

"No, I might be saying goodbye to someone."

August is the driest season in Portland, sometimes with no rainfall for an entire month.

The average temperature is around 21 degrees Celsius, comfortable and pleasant; it's a typical Mediterranean climate similar to Los Angeles.

The main difference is that Los Angeles is at a lower latitude, with summer temperatures around 23 degrees Celsius, more suitable for sunbathing on the beach in shirts and T-shirts, and swimming in the sea in bikinis.

Bobby Berman was wearing a pink and white Hawaiian shirt with a brimmed hat adorned with a colorful feather from an African Grey Parrot, standing on the community college basketball court, dribbling the ball.

Seeing Gan Guoyang arrive late, Beelman put down the ball and spread his arms, twirling around.

"Sonny! How do you like my outfit? Can you guess where I'm going on vacation?"

"Los Angeles."

"Oh no, how could it be Los Angeles? Though the sunshine and beaches in Los Angeles are nice, they can't compare to Hawaii!"

Beelman's attire and voice had a deliberate exaggeration; ever since the finals, he had been like this, as if he had become a different person.

He was always using something to cover the gap in his heart, but it didn't seem very clever.

"Los Angeles, you're going to Los Angeles."

"Hey Sonny, I've already said, I'm going to Hawaii..."

"Not for vacation, you're going to work in Los Angeles."

The two stared at each other silently for a while, and Beelman took off his exaggerated hat.

The two found a place to sit, and Beelman said with a bitter smile, "I was still struggling with how to tell you, and you already knew. You're as omniscient and omnipotent as ever, Sonny."

"I was just speculating, but on my way here, I called Jerry, and he confirmed it. When he planned to return to Los Angeles, I knew there would come a day for you too."

In the 1990 season, Jerry West signed a four-year general manager contract with the Trail Blazers, and in the 1993 season, after winning four championships, he decided to end his collaboration with the Trail Blazers and return to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Before the finals ended, West was still unsure whether to stay in Portland.

After the finals, he knew he couldn't stay because everyone wanted to leave.

West was not a Trail Blazers legend, after all; he came to Portland to prove himself.

He succeeded, and too successfully, four seasons, four championships.

After returning from Croatia to Portland, he said goodbye to everyone, deciding to end the cooperation with the Trail Blazers.

No one blamed him, and after the Trail Blazers officially announced the news to the media, Portland fans sent their blessings to him, thanking West for his tremendous contributions over the past four years.

Jerry Buss immediately extended an olive branch to West, and he returned to Los Angeles, back to his familiar Lakers.

The Lakers needed West to help them restart; in Portland, West proved he was an excellent general manager.

The only person dissatisfied with Jerry West was Jack Nicholson, who angrily scolded West for not bringing Ah Gan to Los Angeles.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"Ah Gan may not even stay in the NBA, let alone come to Los Angeles, but I will still give it a try."

In the summer of 1988, Gan Guoyang signed a five-year, 25 million US Dollar super contract with the Trail Blazers, which was now expiring.

After the 92-93 season, the league's salary cap had risen to 15 million US Dollars, and teams were eagerly waving blank checks, willing to let Ah Gan fill in any price.

But as of mid-August, Gan Guoyang still had no intention of signing with any team.

Including the Portland Trail Blazers, he had not started contract renewal negotiations with the team.

People were speculating whether Ah Gan still wanted to stay in the league and continue playing, whether he might choose to retire this year.

Beelman hung his head in silence for quite a while, then said, "Sonny, I'm a traitor."

Gan Guoyang shook his head and said, "No, it's just a job. I know Amy has always wanted to go to Los Angeles; it's warmer, more comfortable, more suitable for living. You also need to change places to start anew—California suits you, doesn't it?"

Beelman's face was like it was coated with some kind of glue; he responded to Gan Guoyang's understanding and tolerance with an unnatural smile.

"I thought you would shout at me, calling me a traitor, saying 'Bobby, you're betraying again!' Then I would be shocked and tell you, 'You're so harsh; what do you mean by betraying? This is called career planning!'"

Beelman was like an actor playing two roles, reenacting the interesting conversations they once had.