Without any live sports to cover in the last two months — something of which I get reminded about every time somebody emails us a story suggestion nowadays — I have frequently found myself going down the rabbit hole of YouTube as I watch sports highlight clips.

A montage of the greatest college football plays tips over the first domino that eventually leads to a video of the worst (non-fatal) NASCAR wrecks.

I was in the middle of one of those binge sessions this weekend when I came across a game recap video of a Minnesota high school girls basketball game. The title caught my attention: “D’Angelo Russell & Karl Towns Watch Paige Bueckers GO OFF In Championship Game & Drop 33 Points!!”

I had heard of Paige Bueckers before, being the top-ranked player in the Class of 2020, and obviously having a pair of NBA stars in attendance for a high school girls basketball game was intriguing to me.

I clicked on the video made by Ballislife and glanced at the view counter to see a staggering 435,000 views. No wonder YouTube was recommending this video to me.

The nearly 14-minute video posted on March 6, 2020, starts with a preview clip of Bueckers draining a 3-pointer and the camera panning off into the crowd to show D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Following a brief title card, the video resumed with the opening jump ball to start the game. I should have noticed right then, but I didn’t. Then, at the minute and a half mark, I was able to make out the school name on the opposing team’s jersey: Wayzata.

It clicked, and about 40 seconds later, I watched the mechanics of a 3-pointer I had seen roughly three years ago. Shooting over top of her defender at the top of the arc was none other than former Bishop Ryan forward Annika Stewart.

The now-senior couldn’t miss. The comments section took notice, with the top comment being: “30 and 10 on white tuff too.”

Stewart will trade in her No. 30 white Wayzata jersey for red University of Nebraska gear as she follows in her older sister’s footsteps and joins the Big Ten this fall. Her sister Hannah Stewart found success at the University of Iowa after winning three consecutive Class B state championships at Bishop Ryan (2013, 2014 and 2015).

Annika Stewart last played with the Lions when she was a freshman before moving to Minnesota. Her mother and long-time Ryan coach Julie Stewart accepted a new teaching job.

Fast-forward three years later, and there was Annika Stewart — the once reserved freshman who would rather not be interviewed — balling out on a highlight reel meant for the top recruit in the country that has been seen by more people than half of the population of North Dakota.

That’s the power of the internet.

At the other end of the spectrum is a viral video that was circulating social media this past week and even found its way on to mainstream news channels, ESPN and even The Late Late Show with James Corden.

I first saw the video on ESPN’s Twitter feed, and then it was shared with me in a Facebook group chat I have with my family.

If you haven’t guessed it by now, it was the video of the amazing cat goalie stopping close range indoor soccer shots with acrobatic saves.

I’m sorry if I have to be the one to break the news to you, but that video is fake. It was part of five heavily edited Instagram posts by YouTuber Chris Dixon, who goes by ChrisMD, to raise awareness about photoshop and, alternatively, altered videos.

When I first saw it, I’m not going to lie, it was convincing enough to be real. But, I also knew right away that it was ChrisMD in the video. He isn’t known for being a deceiving YouTuber, but it was a big enough red flag that I didn’t share the video on my social media platforms. Call it a hunch.

On Saturday, ChrisMD released a video called, “I Faked My Instagram for a Week and The World Believed It…” and it showcased how he pulled everything off. It’s quite impressive, and I give props for the effort he put into it.

The part I found most concerning, however, was when he said: “When networks and stuff started to ask me if they could use the clip, I told them, ‘Yes, but it is fake.'”

It circulated regardless, and some networks used it anyway. Other networks and websites just went with the flow and didn’t bother fact-checking at all.

That’s also the power of the internet.

Sure, it’s only another meaningless cat video. But the fact a fake video like that can spread so quickly scares me. We saw the same thing happen when the YouTuber group Yes Theory fooled the internet in 2018 with a Justin Bieber impersonator eating a burrito unconventionally.

At least these YouTubers came clean and were only trying to show us the dangers of what is possible.

While I wish my internet experience was full of clips like finding Annika Stewart showcasing her talents, I also have to remind myself (and my family in a Facebook group chat) to not “believe everything you see on the internet.”

Trust credible sources, and stay vigilant.

Now, with this column wrapped up, back down the YouTube rabbit hole I go.

This is the opinion of Alex Eisen. He covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.