Chapter 947: Chapter 10 Hope
During the two days following the All-Star Game, Gan Guoyang gathered players like Charles Barkley, Drexler, and Jerome Kossie, along with Richard Escinas and Jordan, to play golf together at Oswego Lake Golf Park.
This golf match was private and secret, with no outsiders allowed, for a simple reason: they were gambling on the game, with each hole worth thousands to tens of thousands of US dollars.
Richard was initially reluctant to join because he knew it was a setup. Once he got involved, he feared he’d lose more than win, and Jordan’s $1.2 million debt might not be reduced by much.
Gan Guoyang, however, told Richard Escinas, "This is an opportunity, a way to let Michael save face, reduce the debt a bit. I’ll pitch in too, so you won’t lose money. But if you don’t go, you can try hounding Michael for the money, or expose the issue and see how much you actually get back."
"I know the $1.2 million is what Michael owes you, but you must understand, it’s a gambling debt. He didn’t really borrow $1.2 million from you. If that were the case, I’d make sure he pays you back every penny. And honestly, is the figure really that exaggerated? Don’t answer me, just tell me, are you in or out?"
Richard hesitated for a second, then nodded in agreement to join the golf meetup.
He knew what Ah Gan said was right; it was already good enough to recover some money from this setup.
Moreover, he could later write a book about this experience and earn some money from publishers.
In fact, he did just that later, writing a book titled "Michael & Me: Our Gambling Addiction... My Cry for Help," exposing the secrets of Jordan’s gambling addiction back then—although by the time it was published, Jordan had already retired.
In the book, Richard mentioned the golf gathering in passing, "Ah Gan is the luckiest and most powerful golfer I’ve seen; he should turn professional."
They played from morning till dinner, enjoying both the game and the gambling thoroughly.
After a day of play, after all deductions, Jordan ended up owing Richard more than $200,000, which he promised to pay off in one go later.
Barkley, on the other hand, lost $10,000 to Richard. Gan Guoyang won the most, but he dismissed it all with a word, treating everyone to Chinese food that night.
Jordan was quite satisfied with this outcome, but during dinner, Gan Guoyang still reminded Jordan, "You should quit gambling, Michael. Of course, I know money isn’t the issue; the problem is that if you spend too much energy on gambling, you’ll never beat me in basketball."
Jordan shrugged, saying, "Sonny, if I didn’t use gambling to relieve my emotions, I fear I’d go crazy. Honestly, I often feel like I have a split personality. I live two kinds of lives: sometimes I have to play a role like a 38 or 39-year-old mature person—someone who’s experienced life fully, now needing some stability and caring about traditional things."
"But the other side of me is like a 28 or 29-year-old guy who has never really had the chance to experience success with friends, to do the crazy things people in their twenties do. Sometimes I have this strong urge to do it, but it’s difficult... Gambling is one of the few ways to experience that feeling, you know, Sonny?"
Gan Guoyang shook his head, then nodded, saying, "Partly understand. But why do you say you haven’t had the chance to experience success with friends? Why don’t you come to Portland, and I’ll let you experience what success truly is."
Jordan waved his hand with a laugh, saying, "Not that kind of success, Sonny, nothing to do with basketball. You know, basketball... it’s given us a lot, we’re immersed in it, but it is so mature, so commercial, about success on the court there’s a clear path, everyone revolves around you, but you’re just a small part of the wave, a very small part..."
Gan Guoyang understood what Jordan was talking about. He was expressing the confusion about life that everyone, rich or poor, cannot escape, regarding success, free will, and the road to life.
Many athletes, in their youthful years, have spent a lot of time and sweat on training grounds and courts, achieving much recognition, gaining money and applause early on, but also lost a lot, enduring many hardships and sufferings.
"Michael, I want to tell you, it’s right for you to think about these things. However, you should first think about how to win a championship, follow a clear path once, then think about these issues properly."
"Fack you, Sonny, I knew you’d say that. I’ll be waiting for you in the finals this year."
Charles Barkley, who was eating intently on the side, looked up and said, "Are you two ordering the finals again? Do we not exist?"
Jordan and Gan Guoyang exchanged a glance, sneered together, and continued chatting, completely ignoring Barkley.
Because of the Richard Escinas incident, the relationship between Jordan and Ah Gan improved somewhat, allowing them to understand each other better.
However, their positions remain unchanged. The competition between the Bulls and the Trail Blazers is fiercer, and the hostility between Chicago and Portland will only grow more intense.
Jordan bears the enormous pressure of winning a championship. Losing to the Trail Blazers in the 1991 Finals is understandable, as the Trail Blazers are the reigning kings, not easy to dethrone.
The Bulls and Jordan are like leveling up in a game; they first defeated the Detroit Pistons step by step, and the next step is the Trail Blazers.
