Bielebe It

J.J. Watt hangs out with Justin Bieber, seriously: The NFL star and tween idolshare a bond

Justin Bieber and J.J. Watt got together in Houston.
J.J. Watt/Twitter
J.J. Watt in a more familiar, non-Bieber moment.
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CultureMapSNAP.com
J.J. Watt's tweet about his Bieber experience.
J.J. Watt/Twitter

Pigeonhole J.J. Watt at your own risk.

The Houston Texans' defensive star loves to surprise. How's this for a Devil's Night?

Watt spent his Halloween eve hanging out with Justin Bieber. Yes, the international pop star from Canada knew who he needed to seek out in his Houston visit: Watt, the game-changing, almost folklore figure from the Texans' Bulls On Parade defense.

Watt tweeted a picture of himself having a moment with Bieber for all you non-Bielebers.

So there is Watt hanging out backstage with Bieber before the tween idol's concert at the Toyota Center. Watt tweeted a picture of himself having a moment with Bieber for all you non-Bielebers.

It turns out the football star wasn't drawn as much by the lure of hearing "Baby" belted out to an arena full of adoring tweens (as shocking as that may be) as he was by a common cause. Watt and Bieber were both moved to act by the tragic story of the Berry kids, who were orphaned when their parents were killed in a horrific car crash.

Watt has spent time with Peter, Aaron and Willa and Bieber is one of the leading figures in the international Show Your Hearts campaign that raised money for the kids' recovery and immense medical bills.

Before his Toyota Center show, Bieber tweeted:

in Houston a year later. still havent forgotten. #ShowYourHearts @berrychildren twitter.com/justinbieber/s…

— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) October 30, 2012

Watt tweeted his own thanks at Bieber for helping the Berry kids.

And it's not like Watt and Bieber couldn't talk a little sports too. Bieber fancies himself as a good basketball player, frequently playing in celebrity games. He won the MVP at the NBA's 2011 All-Star Celebrity Game and he could be back at Toyota Center in February when NBA All-Star weekend rolls into town.

Watt — who is on a regional cover of the new Sports Illustrated, which hits newsstands today — has a pretty good future in sports as well.

And he loves to represent H-Town. Watt wore a Houston Astros hat that seemed to have a version of the team's "new" star logo on it (hey, it's not like everyone else hasn't seen the leaked merchandise by now, why shouldn't Watt have it?) to the Bieber concert.

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it's about time

Astros and Rockets finally launch streaming service for Houston sports fans

Houston Astros/Facebook

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Houston sports fans finally have a way to watch their favorite teams without a cable or satellite subscription. Launched Wednesday, December 3, the Space City Home Network’s SCHN+ service allows consumers to watch the Houston Astros and Houston Rockets via iOS, Apple TV, Android, Amazon Fire TV, or web browser.

Available at SCHNPLUS.com, a subscription to SCHN+ allows sports fans to watch all Astros and Rockets games as well as behind-the-scenes features and other on-demand content. It’s priced at $19.99 per month or $199.99 annually (plus tax). People who watch Space City Network Network via their existing cable or satellite service will be able to access SCHN+ at no additional charge.

As the Houston Chronicle notes, the Astros and Rockets were the only MLB and NBA teams not to offer a direct-to-consumer streaming option.

“We’re thrilled to offer another great option to ensure fans have access to watch games, and the SCHN+ streaming app makes it easier than ever to cheer on the Rockets,” Rockets alternate governor Patrick Fertitta said in a statement. “Providing fans with a convenient way to watch their favorite teams, along with our network’s award-winning programming, was an essential addition. This season feels special, and we’re committed to exploring new ways to elevate our broadcasts for Rockets fans to enjoy.”

Astros owner Jim Crane echoed Feritta’s comments, adding, “Providing fans options on how they view our games is important as we continue to grow the game – we want to make it accessible to as large an audience as possible. We are looking forward to the 2026 season and more Astros fans watching our players compete for another championship.”

SCHN+ is available to customers in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and the following counties in New Mexico: Dona Ana, Eddy, Lea, Chaves, Roosevelt, Curry, Quay, Union and Debaca. Fans outside these areas will need to subscribe to the NBA and MLB out-of-market services.

The announcement couldn’t have come at a better time. Spurred by its offseason signing of superstar Kevin Durant and second-year guard Reed Sheppard, the Rockets are off to a strong, 13-5 start to the season that’s has them currently ranked third in the Western Conference.

The Astros are looking to bounce back after missing the playoffs in 2025. The experts at the Stone Cold Stros podcast predict the team will looking to add pitching to bolster its prospects for 2026.

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