Facebook has a section called Reels, which posts short video clips on your news feed based on its inscrutable algorithm. I understand some of the choices of what’s shown on mine: clips from “Cheers,” “Seinfeld,” and the “West Wing,” lessons from the Lubavitcher and Rivnitzer rebbes, and amazing baseball plays. I can’t figure out, however, why I get Trump press conferences answers, risqué female comediennes, football touchdowns, and golf holes in one.

But the algorithm does what it does, and none of us can ask any questions or, if we do, expect any answers.

One type of video that recently appeared a few times on my feed are the final seconds of NCAA Final Four championship games that follow a similar story line. With less than two seconds to go in a tied game, Player A on Team X sinks a field goal to put his team ahead by two points. Half the stands erupt in screams of joy while the other half is stunned into silence, and Team X’s cheerleaders turn cartwheels as their players on the bench jump for joy. And then Team Y takes out the ball, a quick pass to midcourt, and Player B heaves a hail Mary three-pointer that goes swish as the buzzer sounds. And suddenly it could be Purim; ve-nahafoch hu (Esther, 9:1) — everything is overturned. The previously subdued half of the arena starts screaming while the other half is silent, tears appear on a cheek or two, and Team X’s shellshocked players slowly walk to the locker room, heads hanging low.

What interests me most in watching these scenes, however, is a question the videos ignore: how does Player A handle all this? When his two-pointer went through, seemingly winning the game, he immediately became a hero, with........

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