Dominate the Super Bowl-Chapter 980 - 979 Fifth Avenue

"Ladies and gentlemen, viewers at home, I’m Kate Paul. Right now, I’m hovering above New York Manhattan…"

Buzz buzz buzz, buzz buzz buzz.

The cacophony of helicopter rotors fills the audio channel as a blonde woman donning a beige long dress clutches the handrails inside the cabin. She’s live streaming directly into the camera positioned in front of her—

Fox Television.

In North America, morning news shows fiercely compete for viewership. NBC’s "Today Show" and ABC’s "Good Morning America" have vied for the ratings championship for over forty years, establishing an unbroken monopoly no one has been able to dismantle.

Precisely because of this, Fox Television relentlessly sharpens its news instincts to capture the market. Even if it can’t change viewing habits, it strives to dominate online traffic and seize opportunities through social media platforms.

Today is no exception.

Among the major networks, Fox was the first to smell the sensational story brewing, and decisively sent a helicopter to the scene, circling above Fifth Avenue.

Kate Paul, gripping the handrails as though she were a circus acrobat performing aerial stunts, leans out of the cabin with the camera in hand, overlooking the scene below.

"This morning, or more precisely, thirty-seven minutes from now, last season’s NFL regular season and Super Bowl MVP Li Wei’s limited-edition collaboration with Nike and Louis Vuitton is set to launch. Enthusiastic fans arrived early to secure their purchases and collectibles."

"Though both brands anticipated a frenzy and opted to release the collection separately at flagship stores, the overwhelming response of fans has vastly exceeded expectations."

The intensity climbs higher and higher.

Even for the seasoned and worldly journalist Kate Paul, who has witnessed numerous spectacles, the palpable excitement right now is unmistakable.

"No official statistics are available yet, but according to New York’s traffic department, estimates suggest at least fifty thousand people are currently congesting Fifth Avenue."

"Additionally, even more fans are steadily flocking towards Fifth Avenue. From the air, the flow of the crowd is clearly visible…"

The camera pans from the bird’s-eye view down to Fifth Avenue—

Teeming, surging, overwhelming.

A dense sea of humanity streams like flowing rivers, connecting the Nike and Louis Vuitton flagship stores, completely filling the grandiose Fifth Avenue. The jostling crowd creates a spectacle of impressive magnitude.

Awe-inspiring. Stunning. Breathtaking.

In New York, the annual Halloween parade is one of the city’s grandest events, rivaled only by the Times Square New Year’s Eve countdown, celebrated as the biggest public spectacle across the North American continent.

The scene at hand evokes the vivid chaos and fervor of a Halloween parade.

Of course, the Halloween parade spans one-third of Manhattan and stretches endlessly into the distance. This spectacle pales slightly in comparison. However, just this segment along Fifth Avenue easily holds its own.

Thirty thousand? Fifty thousand?

Or possibly even more?

Numbers have lost their meaning as the sight of densely packed human bodies, enough to incapacitate anyone with claustrophobia, fills every visible corner. Even from the height of the helicopter, the sheer force of the crowd’s movement and magnitude is unmistakable. A curse escapes involuntarily in astonished disbelief.

Even Kate Paul isn’t immune.

The shock of this scene feels distinct from the New Year’s countdown or the Halloween parade, events marked by universal exhilaration and annual tradition.

But now?

"It’s merely" the release day for a football player collaborating with two brands on a limited edition collection!

How did this turn into the grandest celebration of the summer?

"Since debuting in the NFL during the 2018 season, Li Wei has delivered a phenomenal performance, solidifying his status as a generational superstar within the league. He has showcased dominance on the field while extending his influence far beyond the sport."

"Today, Li Wei is pushing his impact further into the realms of fashion and culture. In fact, he’s become the third player capable of such an accomplishment, following Michael Jordan and David Beckham."

The winding queue coils tightly around the flagship stores, turning Fifth Avenue’s spacious grandeur into something resembling a cramped double-lane street packed to the brim with no room to breathe.

Even with live footage streaming directly into millions of homes, it’s still hard to believe this event is truly unfolding. Waves of questions surge uncontrollably—

Why?

It’s just a collaboration between Nike and Louis Vuitton inspired by Li Wei, right? Why are so many people lining up like this—as if they’ve gone insane?

Could it be we’ve missed something, overlooked a detail, or misunderstood entirely? Even if the collection is limited edition, isn’t this level of madness excessive?

What’s going on?

Kanye West’s collaboration with Adidas on the Yeezy series sparks market frenzy every launch.

But even Yeezy doesn’t seem to elicit reactions quite of this magnitude...

The entire world appears swept up in a storm.

August 1st, morning, football indisputably dominates headlines, consuming social networks and taking over trending topics forcefully, stirring the entire league.

The Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons both seem startled.

Though the NFL commands attention, the Hall of Fame Game primarily marks the season’s opening act. Preseason games are designed for warm-ups more than competitive fervor. Outside hardcore fans, social media buzz rarely escalates significantly—interest tends to remain lukewarm among casual observers.

Could this year be different?

The truth arrives, crashing into locker rooms like an icy bucket of water, extinguishing their initial excitement. Expressions of disbelief and frustration fail to stay concealed.

A moment ago, they brimmed with confidence and anticipation, preparing to put on a show to repay loyal fans.

The next moment, everything collapses.

Li Wei?

It’s Li Wei again! Damn Li Wei! His incessant presence throughout the offseason hasn’t been annoying enough—now his specter continues to linger!

And it’s not even football-related news, but fashion branding news?

This… this is all such nonsense!

The Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons locker rooms sink into stifling silence. Muted exasperation weighs heavy as no one dares speak—each player swallowed by their bitterness.

"It’s all Li Wei’s fault!"

Li Wei: ???

Whether Li Wei accepts or denies responsibility, the reality is glaringly clear. Beneath the envious stares lies a swelling undercurrent of animosity and exclusion.

During the offseason, voting Li Wei high in the Top 100 Players poll was one thing. But that hasn’t stopped them from despising the way he monopolizes attention completely—

Much as Beckham was once loathed for the same reason.

At least the NFL acknowledges Li Wei’s abilities. No one dares dismiss him as a mere pretty face, knowing backlash might ensue.

It still stings, though, to watch a running back—Li Wei, of all people—command the kind of spotlight reserved for quarterbacks year-round.

And now, once again, just as all the focus gathers around the Hall of Fame Game, Li Wei overpoweringly seizes the spotlight for himself.

...Damn.

In Canton, Ohio, it feels as though a shadow has temporarily cast over the festivities, leaving them forgotten.