The Golden Age of Basketball-Chapter 1757 - 46: Stepping Onto the Main Stage (Part 3)
Gan Guoyang didnโt wear a diaper; he emptied himself before going on stage and took a good rest, starting an 18-hour long self-narration. ๐๐ซ๐๐ฒ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐ฏ๐๐น.๐๐จ๐บ
During the narration, he demanded that Cox must sit there and listen to him speak. After repeated confrontations, Cox finally collapsed in his seat, was carried out of the town hall on a stretcher by medical staff, and taken to the hospital.
In the end, only two people stayed to accompany Gan Guoyang through the speech, enduring possibly the longest afternoon and early morning of their lives.
Coming out of the town hall, Gan Guoyang felt a bit dazed. His physical energy was extraordinary, but standing and speaking for 18 hours was still a huge challenge.
In an interview with reporters, he said, "If I were ten years younger, I could speak for another 18 hours."
At this hearing, the committee still got nothing, and the prosecutors and the FBI started to waver, postponing the next hearing to April.
This meant that in the regular-season closing stages, Gan Guoyang would have complete time to train and participate in games without worrying about the hearing.
On February 11th, the All-Star weekend kicked off at The Warriorsโ home stadium in Oakland, and Gan Guoyang was selected as a Western Conference starter as the All-Star vote leader.
His popularity remained unmatched. Without Michael Jordan in the East, all the starlight seemed to gather on him, and no one could take away even a bit of his glory.
Considering this might be Gan Guoyangโs last All-Star game, everyone was discussing how to give Ah Gan proper recognition.
However, in an interview with reporters, Gan Guoyang said, "First, Iโm not sure this is my last All-Star game, so donโt think about bidding me farewell or giving me an MVP or anything like that; I really donโt need it. Secondly, Iโm not the brightest star; my shine is not at the All-Star. This is a stage for the young people, itโs their place to perform; my shine is not even a fraction of theirs."
Reporters thought Gan Guoyang was being modest, but when the various competitions began, they realized he wasnโt.
This yearโs All-Star game truly was a stage for the young players. At the slam dunk contest, which returned to normal, Vince Carter amazed everyone with a stunning dunk.
Afterward, performances by Tracy McGrady and Steve Francis were equally spectacular, but Carter eventually sealed the slam dunk contest victory with an unbelievably elegant between-the-legs dunk.
This slam dunk contest arguably saved the slam dunk contest itself. After Kobe won in 1997, the league had canceled the contest because everyone found it too boring.
The All-Star games in 1998 and 1999 didnโt feature a slam dunk contest, and they couldnโt find a good replacement, so it was brought back in 2000.
As a result, the performances by Carter and others revived the contest and breathed new life into it, something Gan Guoyang couldnโt achieve. Carter was the brightest star.
In the All-Star game, Gan Guoyang was the only "80s draft" amongst the starters from the East and West; all the remaining players were 90s rookies.
Gan Guoyang had no intention of competing for the MVP; he handed the stage over to OโNeal, Duncan, Garnett, Allen Iverson, Jide, and Carter.
They wore their team uniforms, freely showcasing their talents on the court with dunks, alley-oops, and dazzling dribbles that left the audience in awe.
From a spectacle standpoint, the current All-Star games are way better than those of the โ80s; everyone has special skills and a strong desire to perform.
This All-Star game was undoubtedly a great success, achieving extraordinary ratings and critical acclaim, marking the outset of a new peak period for the All-Star game.
The Silver Generation has stepped onto the leagueโs main stage, taking more and more spotlight and presence in fansโ memories.
