Chapter 923: Chapter 2 Magic Out
Although the Portland Trail Blazers won the championship in 1991, the NBA entered Portland’s second dynasty period.
Near sports facilities across America, you could see posters of various sizes featuring Gan Guoyang’s portrait.
During broadcasts of sports games on TV, commercials related to Gan were frequently interspersed. In a Gatorade commercial, the advertisers paired the ad with a catchy tune: "I want to be Gan."
Gan Guoyang became a symbol of championship and success. From 1981 to 1991, over the course of ten years, he garnered seven championships, each of them monumental.
He had won every honor that could be achieved in American basketball. His performance at the center position brought unparalleled brilliance to this ancient role.
Compared to the 1980s, basketball in the 1990s was more intense, stronger, cooler, and more vibrant.
Gan’s yellow skin, amid the black and white construction of the league, was undoubtedly the most unique and striking color.
Many critics believed that if Gan were to retire now, he would unquestionably be regarded as "the first man in American basketball."
In the eyes of Americans, Gan was the product of American basketball, a premium creation nurtured by the U.S. high school and college basketball training systems.
Of course, people did not want Gan Guoyang to retire. He was only 28 this year, standing at the pinnacle of his prime.
With his astonishing duel against Jordan in the Finals, it marked the official advent of the Golden Age belonging to the Class of 1984 in the NBA.
As for the preceding era, the brilliance of the 1970s players and the white Bird officially came to an end with Larry Bird’s retirement announcement in July.
The legendary rivalry of the black and white pairing came to a close. White was departing; plagued by injuries and defeats, he couldn’t accept running on the court in such a condition.
Magic Johnson, both rival and friend, was deeply shocked upon receiving the news and immediately called Bird to ask why he had made such a decision, why he was retiring so quickly.
Bird replied with a question of his own: "When you kept losing to Gan, didn’t you ever think about retiring?"
This blunt and cutting remark left Johnson speechless. Bird then added: "If I don’t retire, I might lose to him a few more times."
"Haha, not necessarily. We’ll win this year," Johnson replied confidently and informed Bird that he would attend his retirement ceremony.
For Johnson, the most important personal event of the summer was marrying his girlfriend Kelly—after countless years of indulgent revelry, he decided to give himself a real sense of belonging.
Of course, this process was far from simple. Kelly had rejected Johnson’s proposals multiple times; she couldn’t leave him but was all too aware of the outrageousness and infidelity he’d shown over the years.
For any woman, these things were tough to endure, even if Johnson was a celebrity, a basketball hero, and a super-rich millionaire.
It wasn’t until Johnson brought Kelly along to Portland during the playoff series against the Trail Blazers and introduced her to his teammates that Kelly realized Johnson was genuinely making up his mind to commit to a stable relationship.
This was the first time Johnson had done such a thing. In the past, he would never do this because bringing a girlfriend along to away games would interfere with his ability to chase excitement in other cities.
This time, Johnson not only brought his girlfriend but also invited his parents to join them—a promising sign that this playboy was settling down.
Although he lost the series against the Trail Blazers, Kelly finally accepted Johnson’s proposal, and the two planned to hold a grand wedding later this summer.
Of course, before the wedding, Johnson made a stop at the Bahamas, hosting a rousing bachelor party and having an exceedingly enjoyable time.
It was only after this that he called his girlfriend and said, "I’m absolutely sure we can get married now. One hundred percent."
Everything was finally set; Johnson began planning the next Chapter of his life—the second half of his journey.
Larry Bird retired, the black and white dual dominance was no more, and memories of 1980s basketball would gradually fade away.
At just 32 years old, Johnson, as a point guard, was now at the peak of his physical, experiential, and technical abilities.
He planned to represent Team USA in the 1992 Olympics and continue playing in the NBA for at least another five seasons—despite stating back in 1989 that he intended to play no more than two more years.
In five seasons, Johnson envisioned leading the Los Angeles Lakers in regrouping. As long as the Portland Trail Blazers fell into decline, they could, as in 1989, once again overturn the Trail Blazers, charge into the Finals, and capture another championship.
Johnson was already prepared for this scenario, firmly believing that within five years, the opportunity would surely arise. Gan and the Trail Blazers couldn’t maintain their dominance forever.
This summer, his most pressing challenge was wedding planning. Johnson vowed to give Kelly an unforgettable, lifetime-lasting feast.
Of course, Magic Johnson had no idea at the time that the greatest nightmare of his life was just beginning to unfold.
Because he had to travel to Europe in October for the McDonald’s Open and begin preseason training camp in November, the wedding had to be completed in September.
He had only one month to prepare, and Kelly, after all the ups and downs she’d had with Johnson over the years, already carried a broken and battered heart due to her famously promiscuous boyfriend.
As the wedding approached, the immense pressure and reminiscence of old wounds tore Kelly’s emotions apart.
Kelly suffered from persistent insomnia and an inability to eat, which caused her weight to drop steadily. She endlessly questioned whether she should marry Johnson.
Nonetheless, as the wedding day drew near, Kelly finally agreed to Johnson’s plans. They obtained their marriage certificate and hosted a simple ceremony.
