Big news that only 200 years ago took nine weeks just to cross the Atlantic Ocean now travels everywhere in the world at the speed of light, and gossip travels faster. David Stern, center, and the NBA brass could learn plenty from Larry, Curly and Moe. Any geek with a cheap computer can log onto the worldwide Web and spread terrifying rumors about Anthrax bombs exploding in Dallas or half the population of San Francisco being killed in three days by a brown fog of Ague Fever that blew in on a vagrant wind from Mongolia. And never doubt for an instant that these things might be true. That is the wonderful perversity of gossip in the 21st Century.
Nothing is impossible.
Some things are more impossible than others, however, and the collapse of the NBA is one of these. There is no Mystery about it, and no need to change any rules. Floating around in the middle of a nice cool Lake was the smartest thing they could do on a sizzling summer day. There were other boats on the Lake, and young couples were drifting around happily in the shade of wide sun umbrellas. It was just another idyllic day in the American Century.