Six degrees of The Fort, p. 1

Like most who have lived in Fort Wayne, Ind., I feel myself constantly trying to defend its value to the world.

Today, consider this:

Basketball legend George Mikan, who died this week, led his Minneapolis Lakers in a clash with the Fort Wayne Pistons in 1950. The result, because of the Pistons' slowdown tactics against the giant Mikan, was the lowest-scoring game in NBA history. Pistons won, 19-18.

Soon after, the shot clock was born. Because no one wants a basketball game with a baseball score.

So there you have it.