The Golden Age of Basketball-Chapter 1556 - 26: No Need for Rest
[1. On Thursday, August 21, 2000.
2. (10:30 AM)
3. Mr. Breto: Can you see me and hear me speak?
4. Sunny Gan: Yes, I can, thank you for the reminder, sir.
5. Mr. Breto: Can you tell me your full name, including both English and Chinese?
6. Sunny Gan: Sure, my full English name is Sonny Bruce Gamp, and my Chinese name is Gan Guoyang.
7. Mr. Breto: Thank you, we greatly appreciate you providing witness testimony to the investigation team. In fact, this is your eighth time being questioned by the investigation team. The reference number for the witness statement is INQ000331845, dated December 11, 1999. Is this statement entirely true?
8. Sunny Gan: Yes, it is entirely true.
9. Mr. Breto: Thank you, you have already provided relevant testimony to the investigation committee, but if possible, I would like to introduce you briefly once again.
10. Question: Are you currently a player for the NBA team Portland Trail Blazers?
11. Answer: Yes, I am.
12. Question: Are you the chairman and majority shareholder of Carl Gan Construction Company in the Portland region?
13. Answer: Yes, I am.
14. Question: Are you the chairman and majority shareholder of Knight Gan-Soul Peaceful Funeral Company?
15. Answer: Yes, I am.
16. Question: Are you the chairman of Sky Tower Basketball Sports Equipment Company?
17. Answer: Yes, I am.
18. Question: Since July 1996, have you been the president of the National Basketball Players Association and also once served as the union president?
19. Answer: Yes, I have.
20. Question: Thank you very much. As you know, we are investigating a US National Secret leak incident and espionage issues, and we suspect you played an important role in it, possibly even a crucial link in the leak, in other words, we suspect espionage activities from you. I want to ask, do you admit to such allegations?
21. Answer: No, I deny it.
22. Question: Okay, in January 1998, did President Clinton voluntarily admit on television to having a relationship with intern Lewinsky? Did you inform him in advance that Starr Lawyer had crucial evidence of the president’s sexual harassment crime?
23. Answer: No, I did not.
24. Question: On May 6, 1999, Pacific Time, at 2:36 PM, where were you and what were you doing?
25. Answer: That afternoon, I was at the training gym at Willamette University, preparing for the playoff games.
26. Question: On May 7, 1999, Pacific Time, at 8:45 PM, where were you and what were you doing?
27. Answer: That night, I was playing a game. It was the first round of the playoffs against the Seattle SuperSonics.
28. Question: On May 6, 1999, did you make a phone call to the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia?
29. Answer: No, I did not.
30. Question: Was the basketball invitational held in Belgrade from May 5 to May 8, 1999, hosted by you?
31. Answer: It was hosted by Avia Company in my name, but I was not aware of it, afterward, I filed a lawsuit against them for using my likeness rights.
32. Question: Between April 1 and May 8, 1999, did Bill Clinton provide you with any information about military actions? Or any related hints?
33. Answer: No, he did not.
34. Question: Okay, thank you very much, next we’ll proceed with a detailed inquiry to confirm detailed issues, please prepare, you can take a brief break.
35. Answer: Thank you, I’m ready. I don’t need a break, I never do.]
—— Excerpt from the eighth hearing inquiry transcript in New York, August 21, 2000.
Time was approaching February 1998, and the Trail Blazers were still undefeated, unbeatable.
The Trail Blazers’ winning streak brought tremendous attention to the NBA, with many sports fans in America, the sports industry is enormously lucrative.
Even though the NBA has become globally popular over the years, gradually becoming one of the most influential professional leagues in America and worldwide.
However, in competition with the NFL and baseball, the NBA often fell short.
The NFL suits the Americans’ taste better, and baseball’s history in America is too long and rich.
While the NBA appears to be expanding globally, in reality, it’s a "curve to save the country" strategy born out of necessity.
Founded relatively late with a short history, it couldn’t compete with other professional leagues at home, so it went for an outward expansion, hoping to return for the domestic throne once it gained significant power.
For the NBA, there remains substantial untapped potential in the lucrative American sports market.
The Trail Blazers’ winning streak can be said to have thoroughly broken through barriers for the NBA, breaking into a larger circle, and the impact was beyond imagination.
As the victories continued, more and more people started paying attention to the Trail Blazers’ schedule.
It’s like in the movie "The Story of Ah Gan," where people started running with Ah Gan. If you only run a little, no one notices you.
But if you keep running, eventually others will follow, and over time, more people will join, not knowing why they’re running, but they’ll keep following until you stop.
The Trail Blazers are like the running Ah Gan, when they reached 20 consecutive wins, even sports fans who don’t watch the NBA began to take an interest.
Even if Gan Guoyang is so famous and accomplished in America, there are still "slip-through-the-cracks" who don’t know or watch basketball games.
Moreover, every year many kids grow up, and the past basketball stars’ achievements, no matter how great, are just history to them; they focus more on the present.
At the 20-game winning streak: "Oh, that guy named Ah Gan, my dad always says he’s the greatest basketball player, I don’t know what’s so great about him, but they’ve already won 20 straight games, might as well check it out."
