Shaking the World Again: The Greatest Player in NBA History?

At 10:01 a.m. New York time, the NBA's official announcement landed like a nuclear bomb dropped into a still lake, instantly unleashing towering waves that swept across the globe.

The major media outlets reacted with astonishing speed, as though their copy had long been ready and they had only been waiting for the official button to be pressed.

On the TNT Sports Channel website, an enormous headline in bold, bright red dominated the front page:

[A miracle! The cornerstone of a dynasty! Li Fei sweeps MVP and Defensive Player of the Year for five straight years—a creation myth becomes reality!]

"We are witnessing history—no, we are witnessing the birth of a myth! When Mr. David Stern's name appeared alongside Li Fei's for the fifth time on the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards, every doubt, every comparison, and every debate became meaningless. What words do we have left to describe him? Sovereign? Conqueror? No, those words are far too pale for Li Fei. He is the very embodiment of basketball itself. 48.5 points, 17.2 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 2.1 steals, 5.5 blocks... those numbers are not cold statistics, but the epic chapters he wrote night after night throughout the 1998–99 season. On offense, he is the unstoppable ultimate weapon; on defense, he is the no-fly zone that leaves every opponent in despair. San Antonio Spurs, his opponents in the NBA Finals, are you ready? You are not challenging a player. You are challenging an era!"

ESPN, TNT's rival, likewise exhausted its supply of grandiose language:

[The fifth dimension: Li Fei redefines "value" and "defense"—the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards have become his exclusive thrones!]

"Before Li Fei, when we discussed the MVP, we talked about Magic Johnson's passing, Bird's tenacity, and Jordan's game-winners. When we discussed