Houston, the largest city in Texas, was named after Sam Houston, the president of the Republic of Texas, and is also known as the 'Space City'.
This nickname doesn't come from the NBA Rockets team, but because it is one of the United States' space centers, with the headquarters of NASA located here. The team, in fact, took its name from the city's hot spot.
Thanks to Yao Ming joining the Rockets as the first overall pick in 2002, and his performance proving many doubters wrong, especially the donkey-kissing Barkley, a Yao Ming documentary is still being filmed this year.
Yao Ming's excellent performance has made the city of Houston increasingly familiar to more and more Chinese people.
However, Yao Ming was both its making and its undoing. After Yao Ming's retirement, coupled with the NBA's own political leanings, not to mention the Rockets, the NBA as a whole entered a period of decline in China.
Houston is also an important port city, and it is a wealthy, first-tier city on a global scale, standing out among the relatively poorer cities in the South.
Reliant Stadium, Houston's largest sports event center, can accommodate over 50,000 spectators.
Today, it will host the NFL 2003 season Super Bowl, featuring the AFC champions New England Patriots against the NFC champions Carolina Panthers, attracting fans from hundreds of cities across the United States to watch.
Not only were the game tickets expensive, but flight and local hotel costs and other expenses also increased severalfold.
At Houston Airport, a medium-sized plane slowly landed, and Eric and Michael stepped out.
After MGM went public again, Eric bought this plane for work.
For someone like him, flying around is as frequent as going home from school, and in the future, he will fly all over the world. Taking public flights is too slow, so buying a private jet became the most cost-effective option.
It wasn't expensive, around 45 million USD, and with various redecorations and equipment costs, it came to 48 million USD.
It can carry 20 people excluding the crew, and flying from Los Angeles to Houston only takes over two hours, which is very convenient.
Carol made phone calls and communicated as they walked. Soon, three Lincoln business vehicles carried them and their accompanying bodyguards towards Reliant Stadium.
"Boss, the game still has over an hour before it starts, we can definitely make it."
Eric nodded: "Michael, besides Janet and Justin Timberlake, which other stars were invited for this Super Bowl Halftime Show?"
Michael shook his head slightly: "I'm not sure, I've been busy with The Voice recordings and this year's concert, so I haven't paid much attention to that."
"Boss, there's also Jessica Simpson, Diddy, Nelly, and Kid Rock," Carol said, turning her head.
Her large breasts were so eye-catching that even if Eric didn't want to look, he would inadvertently catch a glimpse, unintentionally.
"Six people were invited this year! It seems the NFL is paying more and more attention to the Halftime Show," Michael said, somewhat surprised.
"Michael, I remember you also participated in the Halftime Show, didn't you?" Eric suddenly asked with interest.
Michael shyly covered his face: "Yes, I participated in 1993. At that time, the Halftime Show wasn't as popular as it is now; it was more just a embellishment for the game."
"But you made it popular. Now everyone acknowledges that you made the Halftime Show what it is, but it's a pity that you only started it halfway."
"What? Why only halfway?" Michael looked at Eric in confusion.
"Because the attention went up, but the appearance fees went down. There's still some compensation now, but if this trend continues, in another ten years, it will probably become a charity performance."
Carol laughed: "Boss, actually the current situation is already very awkward. Even if many stars are willing to perform for free, the NFL isn't willing to invite them if their star power is too low."
"At least they need to be like Kid Rock, with a decent level of fame, otherwise, even if you kneel at the league's doorstep, they won't even give you a second glance!"
Compared to Chen Xing, Carol was clearly more adept at socializing, speaking well but not speaking carelessly, which was very good.
The situation she described reminded Eric of "Sisters Who Make Waves" on Hunan TV before he transmigrated, where He Jie, despite her many scandals, volunteered every year, but they simply ignored her.
It wasn't because they disliked her bad reputation; after all, what reputation does Hunan TV have? Can a TV station called "Toilet TV" have any reputation to speak of?
The real reason was that the spots were already decided internally; the so-called self-nomination process was just a cover-up to project a good image, something many in the industry were well aware of.
As they spoke, they arrived at the stadium, and the group went to the stands through a special aisle.
There are no strange VIP boxes for you; it's all just stand seating, even if you're a president or a prince, you still get stand tickets.
The difference is that you can buy all the surrounding seats to create a vacuum zone, or have your bodyguards fill the seats, as long as you have money.
There's no need for makeup on such an occasion, because makeup is completely useless.
When you get tickets, the organizers already know your information. They constantly monitor big stars, photographers are on standby, and cameras are always capturing and serving.
With tens of thousands of people present, let alone makeup, you would be recognized even if you turned to ashes.
Instead of trying to hide, it's better to openly watch the game; once the final starts, fewer people will pay attention to you, the big star.
"Michael! Michael!"
"OMG! Michael! It's really him!"
"Hi! Michael, you're here too! I see you!"
"Oh my goodness! My eyes seem to be failing me, they seem to be drawn to him, I see Michael Jackson."
"Look over there, Chandler, it's Jackson, he's also here to watch the game. He must be here to cheer on his sister. Wait, the person next to him also looks a bit familiar."
"Joey, are you out of your mind? You're an actor, how can you not know him? Oscar, the Oscar just a few days ago! Have you forgotten so quickly?"
"OMG! OMG! Eric Cooper! It's Eric Cooper! The CEO of MGM! No, I have to go over and see him."
"Wait, don't run around, what are you trying to do? Can't you see all those burly plainclothes bodyguards around him?"
"Ross, don't hold me back, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! I need to show off a bit, what if he gives me a role? He's known as the director who's best at promoting new talent."
"No, don't be impulsive, what are you planning to show?"
"Chandler, of course, it's my specialty, the 'fart-smelling' acting method. He'll definitely be shocked."
Of course, if the game had started, the number of people paying attention to celebrities would naturally decrease, but the problem was it hadn't started yet.
The two were immediately surrounded by many fans asking for photos and autographs.
It wasn't until Beyoncé performed a song that the audience's attention was drawn away.
Then, the players from both teams walked onto the field, the game officially began, and the audience's attention returned to the intense collisions.
Oh!
Oh!
Yeah!
As one strong man after another fell and was knocked flying, the audience at the scene cheered excitedly, as if they were all pumped up.
"Boss, don't you like American football?"
But seeing Eric's expressionless face, Carol asked curiously. In her mind, almost all American men were crazy about American football.
Eric shrugged: "Compared to American football, I still prefer soccer."
"English football? That's a surprising answer. My husband used to say when he was alive that English football was too boring, the movements were soft and mushy, almost like a women's sport compared to American football."
"Heh heh, it's normal for him to think that way, after all, most American men think like that. But I still think American football is too barbaric, even though my brother also plays American football, I would still say that."
Carol smiled slightly: "I understand, for upper-class individuals like you, perhaps elegant golf is your first choice."
"No, actually, the Lingerie Bowl is my first choice."
"Hahahaha, then you should be in Los Angeles. There are 26 sexy lingerie models fighting there. If you're lucky, you might even see a wardrobe malfunction, at least that's what the commercials say."
The Lingerie Bowl, a new creation by the major league this year.
They recruited 26 sexy models, including Playboy Playmates and other contestants with a certain level of fame and fanbase.
These girls would be divided into two teams to compete, wearing only bikinis during the game.
They would tear, collide, run, jump up and down, and it was possible that some coverings might fall off, revealing things that shouldn't be revealed.
Moreover, compared to the thousands of dollars for a Super Bowl ticket, the Lingerie Bowl only cost 20 USD, which was incredibly reasonable, though the game only lasted a little over twenty minutes.
When the major league announced this event, men across the United States went wild, eagerly awaiting it!
Many die-hard fans hesitated, wondering, should I watch the Super Bowl? Or should I watch the Lingerie Bowl?
The difficulty of this question was no less than choosing between one's wife and mother both falling into the water.
Eric chuckled: "The league should really stagger the Lingerie Bowl and Super Bowl times. Holding them simultaneously makes many people face Sophie's choice."
"But for me, it doesn't matter. Anyway, I'm indifferent to the Super Bowl. I'll definitely go to the Lingerie Bowl next year to observe and learn."
As he spoke, Eric glanced at her large breasts again, thinking that those 26 models probably still fell short of her.
With those two big ones, I wonder if you can even run?
On the field, Eric also saw Chinese media such as CCTV, Sina, and Sohu. CCTV was broadcasting the game live, while Sina and Sohu were still doing their usual text and image live broadcasts.
Since last year, the NFL has been looking to enter the market across the ocean, a terrifying market of supposedly 1.3 billion people.
Once it expands like basketball, it will be enough to elevate American football's influence to another level, making it the second most popular sport in the world within reach.
Unfortunately, there was no Yao Ming in American football, nor was there a "Slam Dunk" for American football that became popular among Chinese teenagers.
China also lacked the land to build stadiums, and parents would be even less likely to allow their children to participate in such a dangerous sport.
If all these conditions were met, plus the leadership's interest, this plan might actually have a chance of being realized.
Watching the game in a daze, Eric couldn't even understand the rules, and he was indifferent to the fervent atmosphere on site.
Even when the camera focused specifically on him and Michael, he only waved symbolically, unable to get excited at all.
It wasn't until halftime, when both teams replenished their energy, that the highly anticipated Halftime Show began.
Eric and Michael exchanged glances, their attention becoming focused.
The performances by several stars were interspersed, each for a period, until Janet took the stage.
The song she sang today was "Someone To Call My Lover," a very sexy song that matched the fiery atmosphere of the venue.
Coupled with the magnificent stage effects and the sexy leather-clad semi-nude male and female dance troupe, it immediately drew cheers from the entire audience.
However, one thing was different from Eric's memory: he remembered Janet should have been wearing a black performance outfit for this show, but what appeared on stage was red.
"Janet's clothes seem to have changed, what is she trying to do?"
Eric thought to himself, only able to pray that nothing unexpected would happen.
"Janet's in great form. I can tell she's very excited, but this is causing the power of her dancing to be a bit imbalanced," Michael whispered, evaluating as he watched.
"Imbalanced? Where is it imbalanced? I can't see it at all."
"For ordinary viewers, it probably has no impact. It's just my personal feeling."
"Uh, Michael, you can't hold everyone to your own standards, even if the person is your sister."
At this moment, amidst a military drumbeat, the scumbag Justin Timberlake appeared, and Eric's attention became even more focused.
On stage, the two began to sing "Rock Your Body" together. They sang and danced, with Janet doing most of the dancing.
She performed some provocative moves in sync with the lyrics, but she didn't engage in close dancing with Jia Renzha (Scumbag Jia), always maintaining a certain distance.
Jia Renzha, on the other hand, showed a fleeting expression of surprise, but then continued to rap and tried to get closer to Janet.
The two moved back and forth, singing as they walked.
They seemed to be coordinating well, but it also felt like a chase.
As the song progressed further, Eric's heart grew increasingly tense.
Oh
Wow Oh
Amidst the thunderous cheers from the audience, Jia Renzha suddenly quickened his pace to catch up with Janet, singing the last few lines of the lyrics.
The moment the last word fell, he suddenly reached out to grab Janet's chest, and then, under the gaze of tens of thousands of people in the audience, he pulled hard.
It was a strong pull; anyone could see the force was considerable.
But!
The bra didn't budge!
The anticipated event did not occur. Jia Renzha's expression was clearly stunned for a moment, then he pulled hard again.
By this time, not only had the song ended, but even the background music had stopped.
However, Janet's mic, which was tucked into her collar, clearly picked up the sound of that pull.
Rip!
This time, the clothing finally couldn't withstand the force and instantly tore open a part.
But!
No nudity was revealed!
The black bra protected her inner companions very well; what was exposed was even less than what the backup dancers showed.
Although it might not be good to say this, there really wasn't much to see; a photoshoot would have been much more impactful than this scene.
Meanwhile, Janet quickly covered her chest and stepped back, looking at Jia Renzha (Scumbag Jia) with a face full of surprise.
Slap!
Another crisp sound, audible throughout the venue, as Janet slapped Justin Timberlake across the face.