By Brian A. Lester

No one shot the president, life wasn't found on Mars and Mike Tyson was not named the world's nicest guy, but boy, it sure seemed like this world was turned on its head earlier this month in Chicago.

In one meaningless AAU basketball game between the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars and the Chicago Rising Stars, all-world prep basketball star Lebron James broke his wrist and sent this sports-mad society into a state of panic.

My first reaction was to alert CNN, call up the FBI and stop the presses at every major newspaper in America.

James getting injured is major news because the future of a millionaire is at stake.

A little extreme? Of course. Make no mistake, if this had been any other high school baller playing AAU hoops in early June, little mention would even be made of it.

But James is different. He has been placed on a pedestal high above his peers and everything that happens to him is a big deal, especially when it's something that threatens his future on the basketball court.

The details of the whole incident in Chicago prove as much. James was merely soaring to the basket for a dunk, something he has done plenty of times before, and C.J. Wallek was just trying to play defense. He attempted to draw a charge, but instead, bumped the best high school player on the planet to the floor.

Wallek said it was an accident and was upset that it even happened. The officials didn't think so and ejected him from a game that was canceled anyway after James was sent off to the hospital.

The good news for James is that he will be fine, although he will be out of action for six to eight weeks.

Come the start of James' senior season at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, though, all will be right in the world again. James will torment opponents just as he has done the past three years, the school's athletic department will cash in on the sellout crowds at games and college and pro scouts will be able to drool over James' talents like teen-age boys do whenever Britney Spears is on television.

Yet, what if James had not been fine? What if his injury had been more serious and threatened his future as an NBA superstar?

They are questions worth considering because the hype surrounding James is so thick you can cut it with a knife.

He has won two state championships. He has won Ohio and national player of the year awards. Shoe companies are at war over him. H is projected to be the No. 1 pick in next year's draft and heck, even Sports Illustrated dubbed him as the "Chosen One" when it placed James on the cover of its magazine this past winter.

Yet, if James' injury had been far more serious than a broken wrist, none of the hype or accolades would have mattered. Fame is often fleeting, and in the snap of a finger, the fan base would have dwindled significantly, the shoe companies would have stopped fighting over him and pro scouts would have found someone else to label as the next great player in the league.

For now, though, CNN does not need to be alerted, no one needs to call the FBI and the presses can keep on running because our sports-mad society will rest easy knowing James will indeed play again.

Brian Lester is a sportswriter in Ohio and can be reached via e-mail at BAL4@hotmail.com.