Sydney time at 2 p.m., Beijing time at noon, it should be time for lunch and nap.
But in all enterprises and institutions in China, school auditoriums, large and medium-sized shopping malls, and small shops with TVs, all were tuned to the sports channel.
The gold medal match between the Chinese Men's Basketball Team and Team USA was about to begin, and these units, which were supposed to be on holiday, were packed with people.
This is the second time after the 1992 Barcelona Olympics that the Chinese Men's Basketball Team stands on the world basketball's highest stage to compete for gold.
In 1992, many families and units still didn't have a TV, people listened to sports programs on the radio starting in the 80s.
By 2000, color TVs had entered thousands of households as standard equipment, screens got bigger, and images clearer.
In Gan Guoyang's island hometown, inside the ancestral hall that had been renovated multiple times, there was a new Changhong color TV, and next to it a Sharp TV bought by Gan Guoyang in 1987, both broadcasting the Olympic men's basketball final.
Gan Guoyang's basketball legend started in 1984 and hasn't ended till today.
From newspapers, magazines, radio, to black-and-white TV, then to color TV, Gan Guoyang's image accompanied a generation's growth and progress through text, sound, black-and-white images, and color images, spanning the era of China's great development.
In many rural and town areas, people would decorate their homes with extravagant colored paintings, images of great people, movie and TV stars, and Gan Guoyang.
In the 2000 finals, Gan Guoyang won the championship, which was even more significant personally, his career nears perfection, ten championships all-round.
The Olympics are different, not just individual, not just so-called honors.
In Gan Guoyang's view, honor is not really the most important, honor is often just a vain name.
What truly matters is the deep feelings accumulated over the years behind him.
It is from fans, from the same cultural group's beautiful expectations for collective destiny.
A gold medal can't bring anything, but it can also bring a lot, only standing on the Olympic stage can one truly understand.
The camera kept giving Gan Guoyang close-ups, CCTV even gave him a three-minute long shot.
Until the jump ball competition started, it kept focusing on him.
Gan Guoyang's expression was always serene and profound, but contained immense power, like a deep lake with a hidden monster.
Team USA players could feel Ah Gan's unusual and fearful aura, which is experience accumulated from years of confrontation with Ah Gan.
Not afraid of Ah Gan shouting, not afraid of Ah Gan calling, not even afraid of Ah Gan fighting, just afraid of Ah Gan staying silent.
Those familiar with Gan Guoyang like Payton, Garnett, didn't dare go up to greet Ah Gan.
During the group stage, everyone was joking around, played cards together last night.
Today? Ah Gan wasn't fierce or aggressive, yet no one dared approach him to say a word.
At 36, his muscle lines were more perfect than at 26, after being re-sculpted in July and August, his body was still like a god.
The American NBC TV station also broadcasted the match live, usually known for flashy suits, Craig Sager tonight wore a simple navy blue polo shirt, bringing live reports to the audience.
Sager's expression was much more serious than during the NBA live broadcasts, probably because he knew tonight's game wouldn't be easy.
In America, many of Gan Guoyang's old friends, like Jordan, Barkley, Stockton, were watching the game on TV.
They are Gan Guoyang's friends, but at this moment they all stand on America's side.
This is not only a confrontation between two teams, but also a conflict between two countries.
The young Yao Ming stood at the center circle; tonight he returned to the starting position, while Wang Zhizhi sat on the bench.
Gan Guoyang came to the power forward position, the starting position for small forward was still given to Sun Jun, guards Hu Weidong + Li Xiaoyong.
This was China Team's most reliable, balanced in offense and defense, experienced, and the strongest comprehensive lineup.
The heavy atmosphere and immense pressure made Yao Ming breathless, facing him was Vin Baker.
Tonight Team USA's starters were still doing equal distribution; they seemingly didn't take the game to heart.
Starting center Vin Baker, power forward Antonio McDyess, small forward Joe Smith, shooting guard Vince Carter, point guard Gary Payton.
The most crucial defensive inside Kevin Garnett was benched, Alonzo Mourning due to injury and fatigue willingly served as a substitute.
Rick Carlisle didn't want to fix a starting lineup, the problem was if he did, everyone was dissatisfied.
Because Dream Team I, Dream Team II, everyone rotated as starters, winning was less important compared to personal pride, playing time, and commercial value.
Plus, Carlisle lacked authority, Larry-Brown dragged his feet in the coaching group, so after a narrow win in the semifinals, facing Ah Gan and China in the finals, they still couldn't fully unite.
Jump ball, Vin Baker touched the ball first before Yao Ming, Team USA's possession, the game started, a 40-minute battle began.
Vin Baker hit a mid-range jumper after receiving the ball, scoring the first point for Team USA.
China Team then relied on Sun Jun's mid-range shot to tie the score, the goals came quickly.
Vin Baker, who felt good continued to demand the ball in the low post, attempting to forcefully play against Gan Guoyang.
