Chapter 4 Treason

...Coach Dan Fitzgerald is a legendary figure and one of the most interesting people I have ever met. Every practice, he would bring his vast knowledge and irrepressible Irish personality to the court. His mouth never stopped moving, even when he was driving... While driving, he would constantly look back at the backseat and gesture instead of watching the road. I believe the coach drove using Braille, listening to car horns with his ears and relying on bumps in the road to keep the car in its lane... When I first arrived at school, I heard one of the "Fitzisms" at the training ground: "The best thing about being a freshman is that you become a sophomore!" However, when Gan first walked onto the training ground, Fitz didn't say that.

---Excerpt from *Assisted*, the autobiography of John Stockton, published in 2012.

On July 5th, Dan Fitzgerald, head coach of the Gonzaga University basketball team and athletic director of the school, accompanied by Steve DeLong—assistant coach, nurse, psychologist, bus driver, carpenter, and mechanic all in one—along with Terry Kelly, the legendary star of G-Prep (Gonzaga Preparatory School), and two staff members from the board of education, visited Gan's Chinese Restaurant located in the Tenderloin district.

Also accompanying them was "English teacher" Cap Lavin, who had acted as the matchmaker for the meeting.

In March of this year, after the 1981–1982 NCAA season officially concluded, the University of San Francisco announced the closure of its basketball program.

As a powerhouse in the Bay Area, the University of San Francisco suddenly turned into a clearance sale grocery store, with many universities along the West Coast coming to San Francisco to scout and recruit players.

Dan Fitzgerald was born in San Francisco, had studied and played basketball at San Francisco State University, and later transferred to UCLA, where he graduated.

Learning from a UCLA classmate that a Chinese player named Gan had turned down an invitation from the Golden Bears, he immediately contacted Lavin to arrange a meeting.

These basketball figures along the West Coast were intertwined in countless ways, and Cap Lavin was far more than just an ordinary English teacher.

The moment Gan Guoyang first laid eyes on Dan Fitzgerald, he was deeply impressed by his broad Irish chin, prominent nose, and hearty laughter.

Gan Youwei prepared a lavish spread of dishes at the restaurant to host the group, and everyone showered Gan Youwei's culinary skills with praise. Fitzgerald joked, "We should hire Gan's father as the head chef for the school cafeteria; that might dramatically boost our appeal to students, ha-ha-ha-ha!"

After the meal, they got down to business. Fitzgerald offered Gan Guoyang quite generous terms, including a full scholarship, living stipends, the promise of being the core of the team, and care for his family.

"However, our school has a limited budget, and this year the disciplinary committee is auditing things very strictly, so certain expenses might be restricted."

Fitzgerald spoke candidly; the University of San Francisco and UCLA were prime examples right before their eyes. (More than a decade later, Gonzaga was indeed penalized with a postseason ban due to financial issues, for which Fitzgerald took responsibility.)

Gan Guoyang felt the sincerity of Gonzaga University. After the meal, they went together to the YMCA gym, where Steve DeLong and Terry Kelly conducted a simple tryout for Gan Guoyang.

The session included basic skill tests, as well as evaluations of physical strength, speed, explosiveness, coordination, and balance.

DeLong was a white coach with a mustache and a sharp appearance, looking very much like a retired Marine Corps officer.

Unlike the talkative Fitzgerald, DeLong had a cold expression and rarely spoke; his expression remained unchanged from start to finish.

The first thing he said to Gan Guoyang upon entering the gymnasium was, "I heard your strength is exceptional. That's great—too many people don't value strength."

Gan Guoyang nodded and said, "Strength is the foundation of skill, and it can reduce injuries."

A look of surprise flashed in DeLong's eyes for the first time; he had not expected Gan Guoyang to have such awareness.

In the basketball world of that era, many players avoided strength training like the plague, believing that building muscle mass would impair shooting touch and bodily agility.

Steve DeLong was among the very first batch of coaches in college basketball to implement professional strength training for players.

However, Gonzaga University was an obscure basketball school in the United States, so naturally, its coaches did not carry much influence.

During the subsequent tests, Steve DeLong and Kelly worked in tandem, setting specific movement completion requirements for Gan Guoyang to test his physical fitness. Afterward, Kelly even engaged in a one-on-one offensive and defensive matchup with Gan Guoyang.

Twenty minutes later, Steve DeLong walked over to Fitzgerald holding a clipboard. Fitzgerald asked in a low voice, "How was the test? It looked like it went very well."

DeLong said softly, "We've struck gold. Those guys at UCLA must be complete idiots."

"Don't put it that way, I'm a UCLA graduate too. Though they certainly are acting a bit foolish right now."

Fitzgerald took the evaluation sheet handed to him by DeLong, glanced at it, and his eyes widened instantly. He muttered, "Is this fucking high schooler real? With these numbers, playing in the NBA wouldn't be a problem."

"It's more than enough. Plus, his fundamentals are quite solid, and his stamina is abundant. Furthermore, I'd bet my life he's a guy with an iron will."

"How can you be so sure?"

"It's a feeling among a certain kind of people. You don't have it."

"What the hell does that have to do with me? Why bring me into this?"

Fitzgerald and the others were thoroughly satisfied with the test results, yet Gan Guoyang was still undecided about whether to attend this obscure school located in a small northwestern city.

Fitzgerald's recruitment efforts did not end there. He subsequently invited Gan Guoyang and Gan Youwei to visit Gonzaga University in person, allowing them to experience the campus environment firsthand before making a final decision on whether to study and play basketball there.

Gan Guoyang thought to himself that ever since coming to America, he had never taken his old man out for a trip. His father had been constantly busy at the shop, dealing with cooking fumes all day without taking a single day off.

Perhaps he should seize this opportunity to take Gan Youwei out for a walk while taking the chance to inspect Gonzaga University himself.

Gan Youwei initially didn't want to go, but realizing this concerned his son's future prospects, he decided to make the trip together to take a look.

Thus, after making brief preparations, Fitzgerald and the others flew with Gan Guoyang and his father to Spokane, the small city on the border of Washington and Idaho where Gonzaga University was located.

To Gan Guoyang's surprise, the moment his plane landed at Spokane International Airport and he stepped out into the arrival hall, he was greeted by a welcoming committee dedicated entirely to him.

The welcoming party consisted of representatives from the university's athletic department, officials from the city of Spokane, and Gonzaga students dressed in blue-and-gray apparel. They held up a massive banner with red lettering on a yellow background that read: "WELCOME TO SPOKANE AND GONZAGA UNIVERSITY, GAN."

The warmth and grandeur of the scene left both Gan Guoyang and Gan Youwei feeling deeply flattered.

Gan Youwei even blurted out, "Son, just study right here. It would be too embarrassing not to come after this."

Amidst the massive welcoming crowd appeared a familiar face to Gan Guoyang. He walked straight forward and firmly grasped Gan Guoyang's hand.

"Welcome to Spokane, Gan."

Gan Guoyang wore a look of utter astonishment. Isn't this fucking Coach Bellman?

How on earth did you end up here at Gonzaga University in Spokane?

"Bobby, did you jump ship again?"

"What the hell are you talking about? My contract with North Overseas High School was only for one year anyway. Gonzaga University invited me to be an assistant coach for the team."

Only then did Gan Guoyang realize just how much preparation Gonzaga University—and indeed the entire city of Spokane—had undertaken to secure him.

A Spokane city official even read out an official proclamation declaring the day of Gan Guoyang's arrival as "Sunny Gan Day."

At that very moment, Gan Guoyang made up his mind: he would stay in Spokane and bring victory to this place.

---Excerpt from *Tales from the Gonzaga Hardwood*, written by Dave Boling, published in 2004.

[Beside the library, a statue of Bing Crosby stands in perpetuity, aptly representing for decades the essence of this Jesuit school nestled in a tree-lined neighborhood along the north bank of the Spokane River as its most famous alumnus. Yet beside the university's gymnasium, the sculpture of Ah Gan lifting the championship trophy better represents the spirit of Gonzaga University today.]