In the training hall of the New York Knicks, players stroked their fingers with curiously new basketball.

"Is this the new basketball developed by the boss? It feels so slippery to the touch!"

"It's slippery, but I can still grasp it. It should be the small granular dots above that play a role."

"You're right. I think the friction of this ball seems to be greater than the basketballs used to be."

"I heard that this kind of basketball is not afraid of water. After getting water, it will be wiped with a rag. I don't know if it's true."

"We are playing in an indoor stadium, and there is no water on the ground."

"But I don't want the ball to be filled with other people's hands sweat, it's so slimy and disgusting!"

The players are discussing the new type of basketball with one word.

Chen Qiang is the boss of the New York Knicks, so after the new basketball is developed, of course, it must be sent to the New York Knicks for trial. Not only the Knicks, but also the other eight teams have also begun to replace them with new basketballs. Chen Qiang is the chairman of the Basketball League, and the bosses of other teams do not have to have conflicts with Chen Qiang for the sake of using the ball. It can be said that the new basketball has become the official ball use of the league.

The official use of basketball games is definitely a good publicity advertisement. Chen Qiang was not polite and directly used it as a publicity stunt.

Soon, an advertisement appeared in sports stores across the United States:

Outdoor basketball, official basketball game use!

...

When Chen Qiang was an athlete in China, basketball was an expensive sports equipment. After all, China's industrial capacity was weak at that time, and many sports equipment had to be imported. In terms of the income level of the Chinese, the price of a cowhide basketball produced in the United States was indeed very high.

Americans have high wages, so for ordinary Americans, basketball is not an expensive commodity. Even many poor people can afford to buy a basketball as a birthday gift for their children. Perhaps it is because the cost of this sport is relatively low, and many of the future NBA players come from slums.

A wealthy American family will definitely not use a basketball as a birthday gift for their children. For example, the big director Spielberg, who received his birthday gift when he was twelve, was an 8mm camera. Then he used this camera to shoot a war-themed movie and won a small award.

The quality of basketball at that time was also relatively bad. After all, the ball skin was sewn with thread, and the sealing was relatively poor. It was common to leak air. As the ball skin was broken or the ball skin cracked, it was also a common phenomenon. For basketball enthusiasts who often played basketball, basketball consumed very quickly, so buying new balls was common.

In terms of price, Chen Qiang's new basketball is not expensive. Although there is an embossed process, the outer skin of animals is easier to handle than the inner skin. Therefore, Chen Qiang's new basketball price is similar to that of old basketball.

It is precisely because basketball is not expensive that once the new outdoor basketball was released, many basketball enthusiasts bought it.

...

It just finished raining in Chicago.

At DePaul University, George McCann looked out the window, and a trace of depression appeared in his eyes.

At this time, he should have trained in the school's basketball court, but today there are some special situations. The school has to hold an event, and the indoor basketball court is borrowed for rehearsal, and the basketball team's training can only stop temporarily.

"There will be three more days of rehearsal, which means that the indoor basketball court will be borrowed for three more days. It seems that we will have to wait until next week before we can go back to the indoor basketball court for training. I just hope that it will not rain again in the past two days and let the outside ground be run as soon as possible, so that we can go to outdoor training." George McCann said in his heart.

When it rains, athletes cannot go outdoors for training. If they catch a cold, it will be more cost-effective. Even after the rain stops, the wet ground cannot be used for basketball training. It is best not to be used for old-fashioned basketballs. Once they are touched, the elasticity of the ball will be affected, and the ball skin will be more likely to crack.

"George, why didn't you go to training? Shouldn't you be on the basketball team now?" a friend asked.

"The indoor basketball court is occupied and will not be used in the next three days." George McCann replied.

"Then you can go outdoors. Didn't the rain stop?" said the friend.

George McCann shook his head: "The ground is still very wet, and there is even water accumulation. After the basketball is stained with water, it is not far from being scrapped. At this time, going outdoor training is deliberately damaging the basketball."

A trace of doubt appeared on the friend's face, and then he spoke, "But when I just passed by the outdoor basketball court, I saw a lot of people playing basketball!"

"Someone is playing basketball? How is this possible? Are they planning to change to a new ball?" George McCann said.

"It's true, I saw it with my own eyes." My friend paused and then said, "I've been watching it for a while, and I heard from them that the new ball feels pretty good."

"What? It's understandable to use old balls that are quickly scrapped on such a wet ground. They even use new balls. Are they crazy? The new balls will soon break if they are stained with water." George McCann looked incredible.

"I don't understand, why don't you go and see it yourself?" said the friend.

George McCann pondered for a few seconds, then nodded: "Okay, I'm idle anyway, I'll go and have a look!"

George McCann came to the outdoor basketball court.

George McCann, 6-foot-10-inch, was born to play basketball. After a year of hard training, he gradually showed his basketball talent. He was no longer the clumsy, slow-moving stupid man, and he had just learned a hooking technique that allowed him to kill all sides on the basketball court. So George McCann was already a basketball celebrity at DePaul University.

When the school's basketball celebrity George McCann appeared on the outdoor basketball court, he immediately attracted everyone's attention. Someone on the court shouted at George McCann: "George, let's play together? Bruce just bought a new basketball!"

"It's really a new basketball! Using new basketball in such a bad venue is simply a blasphemy to basketball! How can such a person who disrespects basketball deserve the sport of basketball!" George McCann suddenly felt a hint of anger.

After a year of training, George McCann loved the sport of basketball from the bottom of his heart, and George McCann was disgusted in his heart for those who disrespect basketball.

"There is so much water on the ground, how can you play basketball on such a field? You are simply deliberately damaging basketball!" George McCann said angrily.

Several people on the court stopped, and they looked at George McCann with a smile, and then one of them explained: "George, you don't know yet? We are using a new type of basketball, the outdoor basketball mentioned in the advertisement, a basketball specially used outdoors."

"Outdoor basketball? What is that?" George McCann asked in confusion.

"It seems you really don't know. Recently, many sports goods stores have advertisements for outdoor basketball, such as outdoor basketball, and basketball games!" The man repeated the advertising slogan.

Another person then explained: "This kind of outdoor basketball is different from the previous basketball. It is waterproof. If you don't believe it, come and take a look."

"Waterproof?" George McCann walked forward curiously, reached out to grab the new basketball with a big hand.

"This feels really different from before! Why are there small particles on it?" George McCann touched the surface of the basketball and was instantly attracted by the embossed particles on it.

"That should be used for anti-slip." A person next to him continued: "Look, we have been playing for a long time. Although there is some water and mud on the ball, the water and mud will fall off as soon as we finish playing the ball. After we finish playing the ball, we can just find a rag to wipe the ball clean."

As the man said, rubbing his hands on the ball, the water stains were indeed removed from the rubbing area.

George McCann immediately showed a surprised expression: "This kind of ball is really waterproof, which means that I can train in the outdoor court!"

...

When outdoor basketball was launched, it was just as summer was approaching, and most parts of the United States entered the rainy season.

The arrival of rain is obviously an obstacle for sports, and a large number of outdoor sports are forced to be terminated.

The hot climate and excessive rainfall are natural enemies of sports. When you open the medal lists of previous Olympic Games, you will know that the weakest sports are South Asia and Southeast Asian countries. South Asia and Southeast Asia are the most densely populated areas in the world, with a total population of nearly 20 countries, with a total population of more than 2.5 billion, but their performance in sports is not as good as that of a medium-level European country. I am really sorry for this population base.

The sports level in South Asia and Southeast Asia is lagging behind. In addition to the differences in economic development levels and ethnic differences, the main reason is the climate. The climate in these countries is relatively hot, and the coastal countries often rain. Whether it is rainy or hot, it is not suitable for outdoor sports. Therefore, outdoor sports in these countries cannot be developed. Those who can win medals in the Olympics are basically held indoor competitions.

The same is true in the United States. The hot weather and abundant rainfall have hindered outdoor sports, especially in some places along the coast, which has hindered the progress of sports.

The United States has sufficient sports facilities and countless basketball courts, but indoor basketball courts are a minority after all. Generally speaking, only schools will build indoor basketball courts, such as the basketball courts near parks, communities, and streets, which are all outdoors. Moreover, these street basketball courts do not have very high hardware facilities and building quality. They can have a flat land and a pair of basketball frames are good. Some venues are even paved with soil. When they are dry, they are full of dust, and when it rains, the mud ponds are covered.

Therefore, after every rain, these outdoor basketball courts are always inseparable from mud and water, or ground that takes a long time to dry. Traditional old basketballs cannot be used on such venues at all.

Chen Qiang's new basketball just fills this gap. This so-called "outdoor basketball" is not afraid of getting wet or dirty. Even after being stained with water, the embossed particles on it can prevent the ball from being very slippery. These characteristics are very suitable for the rainy season.

It can be said that outdoor basketball happened to occupy the right time and place when it was launched. The arrival of the rainy season and the poor courts made outdoor basketball quickly become the new favorite in the eyes of fans and quickly occupied a place in the American market.

...

The hot and rainy summer is an obstacle to outdoor sports, and there is one exception, that is water sports.

Summer is the season for playing water, especially for those living north of the Tropic of Cancer. If you don’t play water in summer, there will be no other chance.

Swimming pools, water playgrounds, and outdoor baths all over the United States have become lively. In this era when air conditioners are not yet popular, going to the water for a walk is obviously the best way to escape the summer heat.

It was also at this time that MGM's "Hydroops from the Water" was finally released.

"The Lotus from the Water" is originally a water singing and dancing movie. Of course, this kind of movie must be released in summer so that it can meet the situation. If it is released in winter, the publicity effect will inevitably be greatly reduced.

Movies are very particular about timing. For example, some happy comedy films are often arranged in the New Year and holiday seasons; romance films are best arranged on Valentine's Day or the Chinese Valentine's Day; popcorn action movies can often achieve high box office during the summer vacation; some horror movies will be released on Halloween; and there are naturally more movies with the main theme on National Day. If a ghost movie is used to scare people on the New Year's Day, it will definitely be inappropriate.

As MGM's first water singing and dancing film and a big production, MGM is also full of expectations for "Flower Out of the Water" and has invested a lot in the early publicity, hoping that this type of film can be accepted by the audience.

The audience really likes this kind of water singing and dancing movie, which can be reflected from the box office perspective. Historically, this movie earned more than 3 million US dollars in the United States and more than 3 million US dollars overseas. Considering the special period of World War II, this is already a very successful commercial film.

Of course, in terms of production costs, this movie is not low, but "The Water Fuchsia" brought MGM a profit of more than 2 million US dollars, far exceeding the investment in the movie.

With this trend, water singing and dancing movies became popular. This wave of water singing and dancing movies will continue until the early 1950s and then quickly decline. The singing and dancing movies have lived for more than ten years, and will not gradually disappear in the 1970s.

The release of "Hydroops from the Water" also made Esther the goddess in the hearts of countless men. As a color movie, Esther is really beautiful and shining. MGM even erected a six-story billboard for Esther in Times Square. The news media also talked about whether Esther could win another Oscar for "Hydroops from the Water".

But Esther himself knew very well that it was impossible for the Oscar Little Golden Man.

Although the box office of "The Lotus from the Water" is very good, it is a war period after all. In this special era, only the main theme movie that conforms to the background of the times can win the Oscars.

For example, "Madame Minnifer" back then was a politically correct movie. This year's Best Picture was awarded to "Casablanca", a main theme film dressed in the guise of a love movie.

Moreover, before the release of "The Water Lotus", a very successful movie appeared on the big screen, that is Paramount's "Walk With Me", which is also a song and dance movie. Although it is not very dramatic, because it tells the story of the church priest, there are naturally bonus points when judging awards, and will inevitably become the big winner of next year's Oscars.

In comparison, pure commercial films like "The Water Lotus" are not politically correct, do not involve religion, and are not considered a main theme film. It is impossible to win an award. We can only wait for future directors to pay tribute.
Chapter completed!