Chapter 1: Not Easy

Two weeks after the finals between Gonzaga and Houston, everything gradually returned to calm.

On April 8, the City of Spokane held a grand parade, with all members of the Gonzaga Bulldogs on board a boat, departing from Gonzaga University and circling around the city along the Spokane River.

April 8 was also designated as Championship Memorial Day, with the city taking a half-day off to celebrate this hard-won, magical undefeated championship.

Gan Guoyang spent a week in a daze, and although he did not drink alcohol, he felt almost drunk every day.

Countless blessings, letters, and phone calls, ceaselessly arrived from groups, advertisers, and individuals offering congratulations and invitations; he had become a hero of Gonzaga and Spokane.

The mayor and university president said they wanted to erect a statue in front of the gymnasium to commemorate his great contributions to Gonzaga basketball.