Duke Hauser sat in a plush armchair in his Tokyo hotel suite, wrapped in a smooth silk robe.
He held a delicate porcelain cup of coffee in one hand and a copy of the Japan Times in the other.
A bold headline on the page, "Sierra Leone President Executes 14 Officials for Conspiracy."
He read the first few paragraphs with interest, this was the year that a lot of african countries had finally gone independent.
Mozambique, Cape Verde, Comoros, and São Tomé and Príncipe by now had all gone independent.
The story was grim coming from Sierra Leone, offered a glimpse into the mechanics of maintaining control.
The article detailed the rise of President Siaka Stevens, a former trade unionist who had studied at Ruskin College in Oxford before returning home to seize power.
Stevens had built his political base by establishing loyal patronage networks and centralizing power.
Stevens distributed resources and state privileges to buy loyalty, rewarding his allies while crushing any opposition to secure his grip on power.
Duke set the newspaper down on his knee, as he wondered if he should be more ruthless in regards to his means, he had been very hands off in politics.
Yeah, he had collaborated with the Republicans, but the FCC Newspaper/Broadcast Cross-Ownership rule had passed.
The Cross Ownership rule barred any single corporate entity from owning a daily newspaper and a radio or television station that serviced the same local market.
He was not able to influence laws in the same way that others could. Duke shook his head, this was a though for later, when he was back in America.
The president Stevens was undoubtedly brutal in his methods, but his results were there to see.
"Different continent, different era, same playbook," Duke murmured to himself, taking a slow sip of his coffee.
Identify key players, distribute rewards, and eliminate the serious threats before they could organize against you.
The door to the suite opened, and Simpson walked in, carrying a folder under his arm.
Simpson had gone back and spent the last week in London, conducting meetings with club officials, local fans, and municipal authorities.
"Good morning, Mr. Hauser," Simpson greeted him, looking slightly tired from the international travel. "I completed the report."
Duke gestured with his free hand toward the empty chair across from him. "Take a seat, Simpson. Let's get right into it. Tell me what you found."
A short time later, the dining table in the suite was covered with colorful maps of England.
"After my time in London, I advise against buying Chelsea Football Club," Simpson stated, getting straight to the point.
He began to lay out his reasoning. "First, the hooligan problem is significantly worse than Mr. Shankly reported during your meeting."
"The Chelsea Shed Boys are not just a rowdy guys, they are organized and violent, they coordinate their attacks."
"Corporate sponsors are terrified of being associated with that kind of regular violence," Simpson continued, tapping a photograph of the recent stadium riot after relegation.
"And wealthy families simply will not buy premium tickets if they feel their physical safety is at risk on match day."
Simpson flipped to the financial section of his report. "Second, the construction of the East Stand cost far more than projected, and the club is currently bleeding money at an unsustainable rate."
"Finally," Simpson added, "the playing squad itself is aging. They were relegated down to the Second Division because the team is well... mediocre on the pitch."
Duke listened and nodded, "Alright, Simpson. You killed Chelsea. What is your alternative?"
Simpson slid a folder across the smooth table.
"Nottingham Forest," he said confidently.
"They are currently in the Second Division, carry a manageable debt load, have a strong youth academy, and they just hired a manager named Brian Clough who is apparently good."
Duke opened the file, glanced briefly at the location on the map, and pushed it back across the table. "I'm not interested in Nottingham Forest."
Simpson blinked in surprise, pulling the folder back.
He had spent hours compiling the data on the club. "May I ask why, Mr. Hauser? The fundamentals are sound."
"Geography, Simpson," Duke answered, leaning back in his chair. "London is the only city in the United Kingdom that truly matters in the grand scheme of things."
"In America, I can buy sports teams in places like Dallas because it boast a growing population and economic growth. They can sustain a major franchise."
"But over in the UK, the overall population is relatively small, and London is the only city that will continually experience growth over the coming decades. The real wealth, the national media, the global attention, it all flows through London."
He reached out and tapped a finger right on the London map spread across the table. "I want to own a club located inside London. That requirement is non-negotiable. Find me a team there."
Simpson sighed, and rubbed the bridge of his nose, "Ok so... The major London clubs are Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Queens Park Rangers, West Ham United, and Crystal Palace."
He added a quick dose of reality to the list. "Realistically speaking, only Crystal Palace and Arsenal would actually be available for a sale right now. The other clubs are either expensive, not for sale by their current owners, or locked in ownership disputes."
Duke raised an eyebrow, "Tell me a little bit more about Crystal Palace."
Simpson laid out his case for the lesser-known team. "Crystal Palace essentially holds a near monopoly in South London. Their potential catchment for local fans is huge."
"Furthermore, they are very cheap." Simpson explained, showing the financial summary. "They are currently struggling down in the Third Division and carry a fair bit of debt. A full purchase of the club would cost a mere fraction of what you would have to pay to acquire Arsenal or even Chelsea."
"But they possess potential," Simpson finished, "With an influx of cash, they could climb back up the leagues very quickly."
Duke considered the points, weighing the risks against the potential rewards. "And what about Arsenal? They are a historic name."
"Arsenal is undoubtedly the more prestigious club," Simpson agreed. "But they are also more expensive and established... Also their team colours are Red and White."
Duke tried to remember Arsenal shirts in his past life, and didnt like them. At least he knew Crystal Palace had good looking colours from playing them in FIFA.
Duke did not respond to his assistant yet what his decision would be.
Duke got up in his robe, and picked up a small device called the TV Tennis Electrotennis sitting near the table.
It was the very first Japanese-made home video game console, currently retailing for around 19.000 yen, which was roughly 65 dollars.
He examined the plastic casing, it was essentially a low-budget version of the popular Atari Home Pong console back in the States, but it boasted one incredibly unique, groundbreaking feature.
A wireless connection to a television set using a UHF antenna.
Duke was genuinely surprised by the technology.
"This thing is actually wireless," Duke murmured. "In 1975. The Japanese engineers are already doing this right now?"
Beside him, Simpson continued his pitch regarding the football club, oblivious to Duke's sudden fascination. "Arsenal is a little ugly but in terms of infr-"
Duke waved a hand in the air, cutting his assistant off mid-sentence. He was not really listening to the football talk anymore.
"Look at this little machine, Simpson," Duke said, holding up the console. "It's totally wireless. Japan man. They are years ahead of us in consumer electronics."
Duke placed the console back on the table and picked up another device. This was a table of Japanese Consumer electronics wonders that Atari Japan had collected for them.
The JVC 3050, also known as the Gemineye, was the world's first portable, battery-operated radio equipped with a built-in television set.
The rectangular machine featured a tiny, three-inch black-and-white CRT screen, standard AM/FM radio bands, and could be powered by batteries or a rechargeable pack.
It was a marvel of compact engineering for the era.
Duke held it up for Simpson to see.
"This is exactly what I am talking about," Duke said, "Japan is advancing at a rapid pace that America isn't matching right now."
He let out a sigh, setting the portable television down. "When I get back home to Los Angeles, I am going to have Ampex and Hauser University collaborate on a new R&D initiative. We need to get ahead of this wave."
"Technology is truly the driving force of human progress."
Duke made a mental note to himself.
When he returned to the States, he would push his engineers to develop a personal, portable music player.
___
That evening, Duke traveled to a traditional Japanese onsen, a natural hot spring tucked away in a lush forest.
Duke sat waist-deep in the steaming water, he didn't know the routine, but he had heard from a podcast that people in Japan go to hot springs and get naked, a small white towel resting neatly on his head.
Beside him sat Kōnosuke Matsushita, the founder of Panasonic. They both sat in comfortable silence for a while, enjoying the peace of the hot spring.
Duke had actually met the industrialist before, when Duke was still a young upstart busy building his entertainment company.
Matsushita's tone was noticeably warmer this time around. "You have become a very , formidable businessman, Hauser-san,"
"Thank you, Matsushita-san," Duke replied respectfully.
They smoothly transitioned into discussing the upcoming video format war. Duke made it clear that he was still committed to backing the VHS format alongside JVC.
Matsushita was remarkably direct with his warning.
"The Japanese government wants to block the VHS format from gaining traction," Matsushita explained. "They want a single, unified standard for the entire industry, and they favor Betamax. Sony currently has the inside connections with the powerful ministries."
Duke did not flinch at the news of government interference.
"If the Japanese government tries to block VHS here, it won't stop the format war," Duke stated calmly. "I will invest in VHS with Panasonic, or without Panasonic."
"And I will push for it in the American and European markets. You cannot kill a superior format by burying your head in the sand, you have to win the battle in the marketplace."
Matsushita was silent for a moment, listening to the steady sound of the hot spring water. Then, he offered a slow nod. "You are a stubborn man, Hauser-san. That is a very good, necessary quality to possess in business."
They continued to talk for another hour, discussing the evolution of technology, global trade politics, and the future of consumer electronics over the next decade.
As they eventually dressed in their light cotton robes and prepared to leave the onsen, Matsushita offered one final piece of advice.
"Do not underestimate the power of the Japanese government, Hauser-san," he warned softly. "They are incredibly patient and don't mind attacking foreigners. They will try to slowly starve VHS out of the domestic market."
Duke smiled, "And I will happily outlast them," He had already been fighting the Videogame companies in Japan, who cared if he had another enemy.
Last case scenario, take Atari public and convince pension funds to invest on it. And then use the american goverment to force them to play ball.
"I have the capital and the patience to play the long game."
___
Late that evening, Duke found himself back in his Tokyo hotel suite, unable to sleep, he sat on the edge of the bed and started flipping through the few available television channels on the tv.
He stopped clicking when he landed on a bizarre, colorful show called Himitsu Sentai Gorenger.
He watched in mild confusion as five heroes dressed in colorful spandex costumes fought rubber monsters using martial arts and flashy vehicles.
Duke watched for several minutes, finding himself oddly fascinated by the program.
It was campy, clearly shot on a very cheap budget but it reminded Duke of a show back in America, the Power Rangers.
He reached over and picked up the hotel phone, calling Simpson's room down the hall.
A few moments later, the assistant appeared in the doorway, looking tired in his pajamas.
Duke pointed at the television screen. "Simpson. I need you to find out exactly who makes this show."
"I will contact the local production company first thing in the morning, Mr. Hauser," Simpson promised, scribbling a note. "Is there a specific thing you want to know?"
"Nah, just get me the info."
___
Double chapter tomorrow maybe?
NEXT CHAPTER IS ABOUT ANIMATION.
and he will go back to America
Vote here:
Arsenal
Crystal Palace