THE MORNING ACCORDING TO US

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Scene of the crime.

You've seen it by now. Millions have. It's amazing. A London streetballer, Stuart Tanner, in a V-neck sweater and jeans, taking on the Nets' Devin Harris in a game of one-on-one. (We also mentioned it here.) Tanner first pump fakes and nails a jumper over Harris, and then, the piece de resistance, dribbles through his legs for a layup. It is pure joy to watch, perhaps the funniest thing we've seen on the Intertubes since Tony Romo's try-out as Steve Perry. But the sinking feeling we had about the video two days ago, upon first viewing, is now part of its discussion:

The game might have been rigged.

The Nets' teaching clinic in London was sponsored by adidas. And Tanner—if we can steal a line from True Hoop's Henry Abbott—is a London streetball legend, to the extent there are any and to the extent that they matter. So, okay, we get it. Going viral is a way to get eyeballs in an increasingly balkanized media landscape. Tanner himself is amazed his clip has recieved close to 3 million views. But this is also the most rapacious form of marketing. It leaves its audience doubting everything it sees. (Admittedly, we have a tough time being this cynical about the video. Harris already plays for the Nets. Isn't selling out like that humiliating enough? Then again, Bob Dylan once appeared in a Victoria's Secret ad.) Even the Wii underwear girl was staged. If this is viral, adidas, this is also evil. Say it ain't. But then, is your word any good? Eh. The world at the moment is letting us down in so many other ways.

But, there may be hope for humanity. Moments before the game, Devin Harris repeatedly failed to impress with his dribbling tricks.

Elsewhere…

If you jeer dear Marseilles, President Sarkozy is going to be mighty mad at you.

Valentino Rossi's home town is changing the speed limit to reflect the number on his bike. The number? 46. Weird.

This is video footage of an 86-year-old grandmother going skydiving. Hang on to your dentures.

A bus carrying a bunch of Peruvian soccer players falls into a ravine, with multiple casualties.

Well, the economy hasn't killed off the demand for Super Bowl tickets just yet, apparently. They are sold up front at over $1,000 in some instances now.

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