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It didn't take long for the world to know two key facts. The first was that Billy Carson was multiplying his wealth like an endless rice supply—his coffers growing larger by the day. His new ventures had led him to acquire three teams, forming what was being called the "San Jose Triangle." If he was known before, now he was practically a wealthy tycoon, holding the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL, the San Francisco Giants of MLB, and the San Jose Sharks of the NHL. It was nothing short of remarkable, buying three major sports teams as easily as one would pick up a piece of candy at the store.

-I think tonight's press conference, at such an unexpected hour, makes everything clear, - Billy said, standing at a podium while all the sports teams were represented at the table.

>>>I want to make my position as owner clear. My primary goal is to promote sports among young people, teenagers, those with disabilities, women, and, of course... I want these teams to keep winning titles. I will continue to believe in the coaches, the advisors, and the sports consultants. This is just the beginning, and my investment has been considerable, along with the support of San Jose, San Francisco, Fremont, Modesto, and Stockton. We will cooperate with schools and sponsor free lunches for children in elementary and middle schools.>>>

>>I've created a foundation called Lux Sports Child Foundation, aimed at supporting underprivileged classes. I want to promote women's sports, and we're planning to address more needs by building two ice rinks for figure skating, along with youth and women's teams," - Billy stated, loud and clear.

Camera flashes went off, media capturing every moment, as Billy calmly answered a few questions, nodding as he spoke. From the very start, he knew that everything he did had to be grounded in action—it was a rule he always followed. With just his movie earnings alone, he could cover most of the operations, and building new stadiums was just another reason. San Jose had plenty of empty spaces, along with Fremont, and there was even more room in Berkeley, only a two-hour drive away, or one if traffic wasn't an issue.

He had already purchased a significant amount of land and had begun developing sports projects.

-Mr. Carson, while I must say your attitude towards sports is commendable, it still comes across as a corporate move. Don't you think purchasing these entities is a bit premature? - asked an ESPN reporter.

-Not at all. We always want to improve the quality of life, and I think the best way to do that is through sports. We'll always be open to those who have ideas in this direction. I'm looking for talent. I want to modernize sports, not just in the traditional sense. I'm talking about better facilities, better apparel, improved training methods, medicine, and treatments, - Billy said with a smile. In front of so many people, America once again felt the tremors of a movement spreading through California and beyond. There were strong signals of approval. Would Billy involve himself in politics? Were sports teams really that profitable? In simple terms, yes they were, but their value wouldn't double until the 2000s, when the intensity of sports would reach new heights.

Billy didn't intend to stop there. He would buy the LA Galaxy, a volleyball team, second-division basketball teams, and he planned to support academic improvements as well as a rugby team. It didn't matter what sport it was—he wanted to focus on creating more spaces for sports. His grand plan was to create a sports complex. For instance, the space around San Francisco was large enough to build smaller fields for youth categories, along with another nearby tennis stadium and a training facility. The San Jose Sharks could set up a headquarters there, while the baseball and basketball teams remained in San Francisco.

The next day, the American press had a field day. Billy was mentioned everywhere, and his arrival in Los Angeles caused a storm. However, he took refuge in his meetings and his mansion, hidden behind tall walls that blocked any view from the outside. Monica was busy with her filming schedule but returned home after long days, while Billy, meanwhile, continued sketching and writing without rest.

Five days were all it took before the phone calls started coming in, each one more intriguing than the last, given the captivating proposals on the table.

His book "Mistborn" was now complete and ready for publication, as was "Altered Carbon," two of his newest works, conceived with the intent of giving free rein to some ideas that could be further developed shortly.

***

-I don't think there's anyone better when you consider popularity. People are always talking about him. And secondly, every one of his movies has been a box office hit, securing massive initial earnings. Se7en and Jerry Maguire both exceeded $150 million, which, in my opinion, is something we need to consider, - James Cameron said to the producers during a confidential meeting.

Matthew McConaughey, Jeremy Sisto, and Billy were the top contenders for the role, and no other actors seemed to appeal to the studios quite as much. But James had a soft spot for Billy. Ethan Hawke, Macaulay Culkin, Christian Bale, Stephen Dorff, and Billy Crudup were also in the mix.

However, the name making the rounds most often was Brad Pitt. While Pitt had the necessary charm, he wasn't as famous as in his earlier days. Even though he had just won a Golden Globe, James felt he wasn't right for the kind of roles he envisioned. He preferred the young Leonardo DiCaprio, a handsome actor who had just taken on the role of Romeo in the upcoming Romeo + Juliet, set to be released on October 27, 1996. A total of twelve producers from various studios were listening to Cameron's pitch, with many nodding in agreement. It was becoming evident that Billy was the real deal.

Billy was hugely popular, not just among women for his symmetrical face, confident aura, and perfectly tailored suits. He was quickly becoming a household name. As for the female roles, actresses like Jennifer Aniston, Uma Thurman, Angelina Jolie, Madonna, Nicole Kidman, Drew Barrymore, Milla Jovovich, Rachel Weisz, and a young Charlize Theron were all in the running.

But Billy wasn't concerned with any of that.

-Do you think this needs to be handled with extra care? - Sharon Mann asked.

-His audition wasn't bad, - John Landau replied.

-We need to be careful in selecting the right roles. For now, I think we should use different filters and see if the pairings have the right chemistry. We're trying to sell a love story that needs to hit at least $500 million to be considered profitable, - Grant Hill added.

Everyone nodded in agreement. But James's campaign relied on the budding talent of a young actor who, despite his distance and mystery, was rapidly becoming the face of America.

-We still have the financial matters to address. Life does offer us many opportunities,- Rae Sanchini concluded.

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