The Golden Age of Basketball

[Jimmy (with a curious expression): "You've played in so many finals, which was the most wonderful? I know this question has been asked by many, but I think everyone still wants to hear the answer now, because the answer should change over time as people's memories and perceptions of the past evolve."

Gan Guoyang (touching his chin): "Uh... no, actually the answer hasn't changed. Of course, what you said is correct; as time goes by, our feelings for many past things and people will change. However, there are things that remain unchanged, like gold, forever shining. Those are my golden memories. So regarding my finals, the most wonderful is of course the first one, in 1986, defeating the Celtics. I still remember every detail even after so many years. I broke the basket at the Boston Garden Arena, walked through the dark corridors of Memorial Coliseum with Jack, Bill returned injured in the last moments of the fifth game, we won the championship in Boston and enjoyed champagne in the shabby locker room... Jimmy, I can smell the champagne again."

Jimmy (laughing heartily): "The first time is always the most wonderful, so that's why so many others can't surpass it?"

Gan Guoyang (shaking his head): "Yes, it can't be surpassed. Precisely because it can't be surpassed, can never reach that level of beauty, I keep chasing the championship, always, always... and before you know it, I've won too many..."

(Everyone laughs, then gradually quiets down.)

(The two continue talking a lot on the beautiful finals topic.)

Jimmy (pausing for a moment): "We've talked about many beautiful memories, so... the worst finals experience, it seems we don't need to choose, we should all know."

Gan Guoyang (with a relaxed manner): "Young people probably don't know or understand now, it's actually been over twenty years, many major events blur with time, let alone an NBA finals."

Jimmy (with a very serious expression): "So, in 1993, when everything happened in succession, what kind of... situation was it?"

(Long silence, the atmosphere on site is very stagnant, Jimmy is very tense)

Gan Guoyang (with a relaxed tone): "I think we can chat about the weather first, it's a good choice when things get awkward or progressing poorly."

(Someone laughs softly, the atmosphere becomes lighter, Jimmy is less nervous.)

Gan Guoyang (calming down): "You know, Portland is a rainy city, it's always rainy or overcast there. Miami, on the other hand, is located in Florida, in June it's always sunny, making people feel very comfortable. In 1993, Miami was just as warm and sunny, while Portland kept raining, non-stop, as if the sky had a leak. That rain's dampness stretched on until now, never drying, it was Portland's longest rainy season..." ]

————Excerpt from a conversation between Gan Guoyang and the host on the "Jimmy Fallon Tonight Show" interview program in 2016.

"Today is June 6, 1993, this is Portland Radio's 'Direct Strike' program, today we will go to remote southern Mexico Cancun, to see what kind of terrible events hide behind this calm, pleasant scenery. While Americans enjoy the sun and beaches, here is full of murder, violence, rape crimes, someone gets a knife through the chest, someone gets raped in the parking lot, let's understand everything happening here..."

Terry Porter tugged off the headphones hanging on Jerome Kossie's ear, asking: "I asked you what the weather would be like in the next few days, what are you listening to?"

The two sat side by side on the soon-to-take-off "Pioneer One" jet, at this time Portland had a clear sky, the crew was waiting for the signal to take off.

The Portland Region belongs to a Mediterranean climate, less rain in summer than in winter, June being the dry season, with an average of only 4 to 5 days of rain in a month. By December, January, rain and snow weather would exceed half, the whole winter would be wet.

Kossie shrugged and said: "I'm listening to the radio program, the program broadcasts weather forecasts in between, but 'Direct Strike' just started, need to listen for a while."

"Damn 'Direct Strike', it's always America doing well, foreigners in hot water... Xie Te, let's hope it doesn't rain during the finals."

Porter's calf muscles still faintly ached, especially when the weather was damp, ligaments, joints, and muscles would experience some problems due to environmental changes.

"Hey buddy, you should have focused on the weather when you were home these days, instead of asking me once you're on the plane, I'm not the damn weather forecaster."

"I did focus, the weather forecast says it's all sunny recently, till the 15th, 16th those days there's rain. That should be the fourth game of the finals, while Miami damn is raining too. If we played the finals against the Bulls it would be great, could start in Portland, in between go to Chicago."

"You better forget it, in your state how could you confront Jordan, Pippen? You might as well try Clyde, to be honest, many times I still think of him."

"I called Clyde yesterday, he was a bit nervous about going back to Portland to play the finals."

"He might get badly beaten by Ah Gan, of course nervous, hahaha. But to be serious, Clyde sometimes is a bit soft, in that aspect I admire the Prince more."