Chapter Twenty-Two: The Chinese and Basketball

Gan Guoyang and Gan Guohui concluded their 10-day basketball camp with significant gains. Over these ten days, the program covered almost every facet of basketball technique, serving as a comprehensive remedial course for Gan Guoyang. Supplemented by personal coaching from Bellman, the foundation of his skills was thoroughly solidified. Previously, he had only played 3v3 streetball, a format that makes relatively monotonous demands on technique and tactics. Stepping into real 5v5 competitive games, however, requires a much more well-rounded skill set from a player. Gan Guoyang achieved his goals for this camp; the 150 dollars were well spent, and he was overall satisfied.

The only drawback was that the skill level of his fellow campers was quite lackluster, as they were merely hobbyists. Many of Gan Guoyang’s techniques lacked a chance to be tested in a competitive setting; during the final 5v5 scrimmage, he barely had to exert any effort before his opponents collapsed. It was only natural, of course: a group of 13 and 14-year-olds, all under 180 centimeters, stood no chance against a 16-year-old, two-meter-tall center who was both comprehensive and formidable.

Upon returning to the Gan Family Restaurant that afternoon, the two found the place had undergone a drastic transformation. The steam table previously used for displaying dishes in the lobby had been dismantled and replaced by a wooden platform. The shop was now equipped with speakers, microphones, and laser lights. Where the statue of Guan Gong once stood, a wine cabinet had been installed, filled with neatly arranged bottles. It hardly resembled a Chinese restaurant anymore. Gan Guoyang nearly thought the place had gone out of business and been renovated under new ownership, but a quick glance at the sign outside confirmed it was still the Gan Family Restaurant.

It seemed Gan Bingguang and Gan Youtang had fully embraced the live music performance model to attract the vast number of music lovers and marginalized groups in San Francisco. They had even expanded their thinking, hiring two pretty Chinese-American waitresses and adding a dishwasher in the kitchen. From then on, Gan Guoyang no longer needed to deliver takeout; his task was to focus on school and basketball. Because of his presence, the Gan Family Restaurant began to gain fame within the Chinese community. People would say, "That's the restaurant owned by the basketball kid, the one whose team beat the top streetball team in San Francisco." In any society, fame is often accompanied by wealth and status; no wonder Eileen Chang said that one should become famous early.

At 16, Gan Guoyang had made a name for himself on the streets, and he was not the only one besides Cap Lavin who wanted to provide a boost to his basketball career. On the 15th, Chen Yaoming, the landlord of the Gan Family Restaurant, arrived for a visit with his son, Chen Xing, and an energetic, elderly man.

Chen Yaoming, shedding the arrogant, high-and-mighty demeanor he had displayed when collecting rent, smiled and poured tea for Gan Bingguang, claiming that the restaurant’s recent success was half due to the prime location. Gan Bingguang couldn't be bothered with Chen, but the old man had a real background: he was Huang Shaohua, the vice chairman of the San Francisco Chinese Overseas Advancement Foundation.

Chinese people have a history of over a hundred years in San Francisco; the Pacific Railroad was laid with the flesh and blood of Chinese laborers. To survive in a distant foreign land, they had clung together for warmth, leading to the formation of various chambers of commerce and organizations. As time passed, some faded away, while others became formalized and financialized. The Chinese Overseas Advancement Foundation was one of the largest of its kind in San Francisco. When the Gan family first immigrated to the United States, they had received aid from the Foundation, and the restaurant’s opening had also been supported by them.

Huang Shaohua’s purpose was clear: he wanted to sponsor Gan Guoyang’s basketball career. All his expenses—food, clothing, housing, transportation, training, and school fees—would be fully covered by the Foundation. He also promised to bring more people to dine at the restaurant, having heard that there was a highly skilled chef there.

Huang’s generosity, of course, came with a condition: Gan Guoyang had to represent the Chinatown North Overseas High School basketball team in next year’s CIF tournament. "This is my only request. As long as you help North Overseas High compete in the California tournament and win glory for us Chinese, I will cover all your college expenses as well!"

Gan Guoyang asked, "And what if I don't win any glory?"

Huang Shaohua laughed. "I watched your game against Cancer. I don't think there are many high schoolers in all of San Francisco better than you. With you there, at the very least, our new team's performance won't be too embarrassing. North Overseas High used to have a basketball team, but it disbanded due to poor records. The CIF has an expansion plan this year to increase the number of qualifying teams, so we have a chance to make a name for ourselves. You’ve come at just the right time; you are the talent our team desperately needs."

"Young man, I know you are very talented, and many high schools will be coming to you soon. I will be honest: North Overseas High has very weak basketball resources and no strong athletic atmosphere; it is not an ideal place for development. But I will provide you with the most favorable conditions and the greatest support I can! I hope you will consider it carefully and give me an answer before school starts."

Despite his age and the age spots on his face, Huang Shaohua spoke to Gan Guoyang with great respect and sincerity. He did not resort to moral blackmail to force Gan to join the Chinese school’s team.

Gan Guoyang replied, "Mr. Huang, there is no need to wait until school starts. I can give you my answer now. My father has already completed my enrollment paperwork for North Overseas High, and I will certainly join their basketball team."

Hearing this, Huang Shaohua was visibly moved, grinning from ear to ear. "We have a sports star now! Haha, we finally have a sports star!"

Huang then decided to host a banquet at the Gan Family Restaurant the following night, inviting the North Overseas board of directors, teachers, key members of the Foundation, and prominent figures in Chinatown to celebrate Gan Guoyang joining the team. This very Chinese method of celebration left Gan Guoyang feeling flattered and a bit overwhelmed. He was just a high schooler who hadn't achieved anything yet; was it really worth such fanfare?

Seeing Gan Guoyang’s confusion, Chen Yaoming said, "Young man, you don't understand, do you? Old Mr. Huang and I both have ancestral roots in Dongguan. The passion for basketball in Dongguan is unique in all of China."

"In 1949, when I was nine, my parents and I were in Guangzhou. After all of Guangdong was liberated, the government organized basketball games every night at the Guangzhou Cultural Park lighted court. Wow, the teams formed by the People's Liberation Army from the north were all tall and strong; our Guangdong teams couldn't beat them."

"Then, a Dongguan team called the Huaqing Team volunteered to challenge the northern squads. The leaders in Guangzhou didn't think much of them and wouldn't let them play. But they were persistent, and when they got a chance due to another team's absence, they took down the Central-South Military Region's team. After that, the Guangzhou municipal representative team, the Beijing garrison team—none of them were our match!"

"Haha, they won over a dozen or twenty games in a row, turning the Guangzhou lighted court into the home court for the Dongguan team. That atmosphere, that sense of pride—thirty years have passed, and it’s still fresh in my memory." As Chen Yaoming recounted the past, his previously somewhat sleazy face actually shone with radiance. Beside him, Chen Xing held his chin in his hand, looking utterly helpless; clearly, his father had told this story countless times.

Huang Shaohua added, "In the 40s and 50s, there was a famous Chinese-American basketball player in San Francisco named Huang Xianhu. He wasn't very tall, but he played brilliantly and was a very accurate shooter. In 1946, we organized a Chinese-American all-star team, and he led them to beat American teams twice in a row. Wow, we Chinese were so proud back then."

"Huang Xianhu was also the first Chinese-American to play at Madison Square Garden. He played for the University of San Francisco, and his shooting percentage was 60%! By the way, he and that Cap Lavin were college teammates. Cap thinks very highly of you."

"But later, more and more Black players appeared on the court. You look at the streets now, they are everywhere, and fewer and fewer Chinese kids play basketball. Everyone wants their children to be doctors or lawyers; no one wants them to be athletes."

"The United States is a sports powerhouse. Every place attaches great importance to sports, especially team sports like basketball, which are tied to the glory of the local community. You can't emphasize it enough."

To many Americans, the NBA is just a high-level professional league, and watching it is for fun. But local high school and college basketball teams hold a more sacred status—they are worth supporting with everything one has. The United States has the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, and locally, every high school and college has its own hall of fame to pass down their unique history, for future generations to commemorate, pursue, and strive for.

Gan Guoyang understood the deeper meaning and realized the weight now on his shoulders, but he did not fear it.

"By the way, Mr. Huang, Huang Xianhu shares your surname. What is your relationship?"

"Xianhu is my nephew. The first basketball he ever owned was a gift from me."

Gan Guoyang turned to Chen Yaoming and said, "Mr. Chen, since Mr. Huang has been so generous, and you love basketball so much, aren't you going to show some support?"

"Support? Support how? Whatever you want, just name it!"

"Could you reduce the rent for the Gan Family Restaurant? It’s getting a bit expensive."