The Golden Age of Basketball-Chapter 546 - 48 Chicken Blood

Gan Guoyang’s dream of having a little wife shattered in an instant.

Then, he realized that he was going to be a dad.

The two had talked about it before, deciding to have a child after winning the championship.

However, Wang Fuxi’s persistent soft and hard tactics wore them down, and as the playoffs approached, they stopped taking contraceptive measures.

After all, pregnancy takes ten months, and if they waited any longer, it would be next year’s championship.

He just didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. Could it be so accurate?

Considering both of them were young and healthy with compatible genes, getting pregnant naturally came quickly.

Gan Guoyang felt a mix of emotions. He was happy, but also a bit lost.

Men always find it a bit elusive when facing the reality of becoming fathers, especially since it’s not happening to their own bodies.

But overall, the earlier gloom and dejection were swept away.

He immediately called Larry Weinberg to find out if he was really selling the team.

Weinberg suggested they meet for a discussion at the golf course in Lake Mountain Park.

When Weinberg said they should meet in person, Gan Guoyang guessed that the rumor was probably true, otherwise Weinberg would have simply denied it over the phone.

At noon at the golf club, Weinberg told Gan Guoyang that the Portland Trail Blazers were like his children, whom he had cherished and watched grow since their inception, but children eventually grow up and leave one day.

"You’re really going to sell the team? We’re still in the running for the championship," Gan Guoyang said.

"I don’t know who leaked the news. I was planning to announce it publicly this summer, after you guys finished the playoffs," Weinberg replied.

"No wonder you’ve attended almost every game during the latter half of the regular season and the playoffs. It turns out you’re leaving and wanted one last look."

"Sonny... I’m not... Thank you for bringing me the greatest joy in basketball these past few years. I still remember when I first bought the team. I was very busy with work and often had to travel to Europe. Once there, with no television broadcasts available, I would listen to the commentary on a shortwave radio for two hours. If we won, I would be happy; if we lost, I’d be upset for a long time. I miss those days. Now our team keeps winning, but I can’t find the passion I had back then in Europe, listening to live broadcasts of the games," Weinberg shared his feelings for the Trail Blazers and his reasons for selling the team.

His passion for basketball was fading, and at the same time, he expressed that the original Trail Blazers he knew had disappeared during the pursuit of the championship.

"You shouldn’t have revealed the news about selling the team at this time. Winning the championship would get you a better price," Guoyang said.

"I’ve always been strict about keeping the sale confidential. I don’t know who let it slip. I guess it’s a tactic to drive down the price," Weinberg said.

"Whether it’s a tactic to drive down the price doesn’t matter. You need to come forward to clarify this matter and give everyone an explanation," Guoyang urged.

"But I can’t tell the fans that I am selling the team now. I... I can’t face them," Weinberg expressed his concern.

Weinberg spoke of his worry. The bond between Portland and the Trail Blazers was deep.

There were no other professional teams around, and the hearts of all Portland people were closely connected with the Trail Blazers.

The Trail Blazers were very important to this city and its fans. Weinberg didn’t want to be scorned and pointed at.

Weinberg was a businessman, but not one solely driven by profit. If it were Sterling, clutching such a money tree, he would never let go.

He had a sentimental and soft side to his personality, he had loyalty, and as the years aged him and the world changed, he wanted to retire with dignity but not hurt the feelings of Portland fans.

"It’s only if the team loses the championship because of this news that you won’t be able to face everyone. Anyway, the news has already leaked, so just bravely acknowledge it. You’re selling the team, not disbanding it. The new owner will take over, and the Trail Blazers will still be the Trail Blazers; they won’t leave Portland. That way, you can preserve a good reputation. Larry, hold a press conference and explain the situation. As for the championship, leave that to me; I’ll take care of it," Guoyang encouraged.

After pondering for more than ten minutes, Weinberg finally nodded reluctantly and said, "I’ve been looking for a buyer all season. My first requirement is that the new owner must love basketball and be a true fan. Only such an owner is worthy of a player like you and won’t disappoint your passion and talent. I can’t do it anymore. I’m retiring, and I can no longer support you."

Weinberg stood up and embraced Gan Guoyang, tears welling up in his eyes. He said his goodbye to Guoyang in advance.

Gan Guoyang to Weinberg: "Stay with us to the end, until we win the championship and achieve the three-peat. That will be the best gift you could give to the Portland people."

Weinberg nodded, then in the afternoon at the Memorial Coliseum, he held a press conference to confirm the veracity of the rumors.

He announced that he would sell all his shares of the Trail Blazers after the season, ending his tenure as the owner of the team.

"In my last days at the helm of the Trail Blazers, I hope they can win a championship trophy and achieve the great feat of a three-peat. By then, I will end my Trail Blazers career without any regrets and become the purest of Trail Blazers fans. I will always love the Portland Trail Blazers, always. Thank you all, thank you."

Weinberg shed tears once again at the press conference.

This press conference turned the Trail Blazers’ passiveness into activeness, and people’s hearts were calmed.

Because the Trail Blazers with a new owner are still the Trail Blazers, an iron camp with a flow of different owners.

For instance, the Celtics, who have won the most championships, have changed hands 11 times since 1951.

From 1965 to 1983, in just 18 short years, the Celtics changed owners 10 times.

Three owners only lasted a year, and two others endured just two years—it wouldn’t be an overstatement to call the Celtics a graveyard for owners.

Yet this didn’t affect the Celtics from winning championships and becoming one of the most iconic teams in the NBA.

Larry Weinberg belonged to the traditional group of NBA owners, those who bought franchise rights with partners in the early years and gradually acquired all the shares to have full control.

Although real estate was his main business, he wasn’t a boisterous wealthy man; he had a considerable family fortune but couldn’t compare to those industrial magnates.

In recent years, traditional owners like Weinberg have been progressively leaving the NBA, handing over their teams to the truly wealthy.

With the birth of the new collective bargaining agreement, player wages will continue to rise in the future, and the investments will grow even larger.

Weinberg made quite a profit from the Trail Blazers, but in the future, the Trail Blazers will definitely need to build a new arena, extend the contracts of Gan Guoyang and Drexler, and spend more to sign better players to maintain competitiveness.

Weinberg felt overwhelmed and thought it would be better to sell the team to those super-businessmen, allowing them to spend big and help the Trail Blazers continue chasing championship dreams.

For Weinberg, three championships were enough for him to cherish for a lifetime.

After the press conference in the afternoon, the panic caused by rumors quickly subsided.

In the evening, the Trail Blazers played at home against the Dallas Mavericks.

Weinberg attended the game and received applause from the fans.

Last year, he hardly watched any playoff games, but this year, he was there every step of the way.

When he decided to leave, he began to cherish the team even more.

It was like spending time with a loved one, thinking there was plenty of time ahead, and being casual about it.

Only upon learning that time was running short did he become inseparable, wishing to make up for past neglect.

Of course, even after selling the team, Weinberg could still go to the Memorial Coliseum to watch games.

But his status would be different, and his mood would definitely change significantly.

Weinberg wanted to support the Trail Blazers as a pure fan.

Being an owner involves many worries and great pressure; watching the games isn’t as pure.

That night, having resolved the rumors and learning of his wife’s pregnancy, Gan Guoyang played as if energized.

The revenge-seeking Mavericks encountered a fully-prepared Gan Guoyang, and the outcome was predictable.

Gan Guoyang scored 21 points in the first quarter alone, dominating the offense as if no one could stop him, leaving Sam Bowie and Rambis’ interior duo dizzy and lost.

They had come in full of confidence, hoping to intimidate the Trail Blazers.

But Guoyang was in such extraordinary form that no matter how many players tried to guard him or how well-defended he was, he just kept sinking the ball.

Mid-range hook shots, turnaround three-pointers, under-the-basket no-look tosses—it was as if the basketball had a mind of its own.

The Memorial Coliseum was brought to a frenzy by these miraculous shots, with the roaring cheers gradually demoralizing the Mavericks.

With a 53-point performance, Gan Guoyang helped the Trail Blazers take down the Mavericks in the first game of the series, leading 1:0 in the score.