How the Heck Can You Boo Derek Fisher?
‘Fish: Now Chopped Liver?’ (M. Majchrzak - NBAE/Getty Images)
Ridiculous, absurd, sad, shameful, embarrassing. These are some of the adjectives I screamed out loud at my television last night as I watched the Jazz whoop up on the Lakers. But they weren’t directed at the Lakers poor interior defense, although they could have been. Instead, they were directed at the Jazz fans. I can not believe that Jazz fans booed Derek Fisher. If you were at the game and booed him, you should be ashamed of yourself. He should have been cheered in his return here. Instead, he was booed incessantly. I couldn’t believe my ears.
I’m a season ticket holder, so normally I would be at a big game like this, but I was flying home from a business trip and missed the game. Luckily, I had it Tivo’d up from the ESPN feed. When I turned it on, I thought for sure that Fisher would be applauded. Imagine my surprise.
How could you do this Jazz fans? I just don’t get it. Believe me, I’m not some super D Fish fan or something. In fact, I was happy to see him leave so the Jazz aren’t paying him to play 8 minutes a night at point guard or 20 minutes a night at the 2 guard keeping Ronnie Brewer on the bench. If you booed him last night, you apparently don’t understand that it is a good thing he’s not in a Jazz uniform anymore. They are a better team without him, debatably right now and definitely in the long term.
Even if you think the Jazz should not have released him, he still deserves better than the treatment he got last night. The guy is making less over the next three years to play in LA than he would have made here. If you think his motives for leaving the Jazz and signing with the Lakers are misgiven, you are flat out stupid! I would just say you are wrong, but no - you are stupid. There was no NBA conspiracy to get him back into a Laker uniform. If you believe this, you probably believe that our government was behind 9/11 too. Get a clue and stop pretending everything you read on the internet must be true.
The only argument you should need to be convinced that Fisher left the Jazz with good intentions is this. Had he stayed here - he had a guaranteed $21M left to be paid on his contract. He now is only guaranteed $14M by the Lakers. Show me another player in ANY professional league who has gone from one winning team to another one for less money? It does not happen. He left to take care of his daughter. Simple as that.
One more thing, if you booed him, you should boo the Jazz brass at every game too. They let him out of his contract. Do you think he “tricked” them into doing this? Don’t be a fool - he isn’t that clever. For that to be the case, he would have had to have gotten his daughter sick, convinced thousands of reporters and league officials into believing that she couldn’t be cared for in Utah, and found some endorsement deal to recoop the $6 million dollars in salary he left on the table. All to join a team that lost in the first round of the playoffs last year while the Jazz went to the Western Conference Finals.
Mr. Fisher, on behalf of Jazz fans everywhere that booed you last night, I sincerely apologize. I hope your daughter is doing well. I hope that the actions of a small but vocal few do not reflect the sentiment of most Jazz fans that would and do applaud you for your professionalism and courage as a basketball player and father. The next time you play here, I will be at the game and cheer for you as loud as I can. Hopefully, others will follow suit.
17 Comments to “How the Heck Can You Boo Derek Fisher?”
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Thank you Keith for posting this. I was ashamed of all of the people booing. Utah prides itself for having such loyal fans but after last night I don’t think that we can call ourselves that anymore if we boo someone who played his best for us and then left to help his family (and lost a few million to do so).
I totally agree. I was so disgusted that I couldn’t watch the rest of the game after the first quarter. I’ve never been less proud to be a Jazz fan in my entire life. I respect and admire Fisher, I always did. Even before he came to play for the Jazz. My love and respect for him as a person and a player, increased when he came here. And even more when he bowed out of his contract to put his family first.
It was obvious to me how much he came to love us here, and how much he came to love Jerry Sloan and the rest of the team. He friggin’ loved it here. And that playoff game when he came late because he was with his daughter; I’ll never forget the support, as I’m sure he won’t. The crowd went wild, clapping for him and clapping in support for his family. Fisher has said that he’ll never forget it either. And then, not even a year later; that same crowd to be booing him? It totally made me sick to my stomach. I could not believe that people could sink so low as to boo Fisher. If I had been at that game, you can be sure that I would have given him a standing ovation, and I would have been sorely tempted to whack the booers on the head.
I miss Fisher. We have a great team without him, but I still miss him. But I know that he did the right thing. And I’m disgusted that people could boo a guy who put his family first. It made us look really bad last night. It shows me that the booers have no respect for family. That’s what you made it look like, booing a guy as classy as Fisher. Booing him was totally uncalled for and not classy at all. In the future, I hope all you booers just stay home, cause none of us want to hear that kind of crap again. So if you wish to be angry at Fisher still and boo him, do us a favor and don’t buy tickets to the next Laker/Jazz game when they play us at home. Or if you already have tickets, give them to somebody else who would appreciate going to the game and clapping for the player and kind of man Fisher is.
Thank you for expressing my thoughts exactly. I was at the game and disgusted with the booing. I expected to hear that for Kobe. I even thought a few might boo in the beginning for Fisher, but not every time he touched the ball!
I really didn’t even hear much booing for Kobe.
I felt even worse following the game, when I heard on the post game show Fisher’s response and his disappointment in the booing as well.
It would be nice if you could somehow send your remarks to the papers in LA where hopefully Fisher could read how the real fans feel about him!
I wonder if maybe some read JR Stewarts entry here?
“Sorry you needed to be closer to your daughter’s medical care, in New York, and had to move 700 miles further away, to LA, to get it.”
http://www.jazzbots.com/web/2007/11/24/thanks-derek/
But should have taken the time to actually digest the full meaning of the comment.
“Those who mourn the passing of Fisher, should look to the future with Ronnie. He’s only going to get better! So, the Jazz win too…BIG TIME.”
*********
The booing was a display by, not just a few, of ignorance and intolerance. I’m sure the same type of display was not universal in Cleveland a few games ago either, when the same was directed at Boozer. It really is too bad when fans can’t respect a former player whose contributions were GREAT!
I like Derek, even when he was slapping us on the court over the years past, he was then and remains a real sportsman and that is one reason why he was so very welcome in Utah. Derek proved his mettle last year with the Jazz and his unselfishness both on and off the court as well. All the while taking care of his family at the same time.
His leaving was not initially good news. I had my own thoughts about it at the time, but it’s actually really possible that Derek knew more about Ronnie then than we did and made a decision that in reality could be a magnanimous gesture rarely if ever delivered by a professional athlete.
I refuse to apologize for the behavior of a few to anybody, those offended are big enough to identify it for what it was. I was disgusted by it and feel bad for those who had to endure it.
I agree. Derek Fisher conducted himself with the utmost respect and dignity during his year in Utah. I’m sorely disappointed that the fans in attendance did not return the favor.
Hey! Fish is a GREAT guy! There were only a few fans who booed, but it was in poor taste. Fish did nothing, while he was here, to warrant it.
If you want to boo, how about the former accused rapist, who settled out of court to avoid a felony conviction and prison time. Just because he’s the best player on the planet, you could justify direct your boos in that direction and no one would argue.
I contend that not only are the Jazz better without Fisher, his salary and the roster spot he occupied, but HE IS BETTER OFF with the Lakers and the triangle offense. Fish’s numbers are up and he’s back home with his family. He’s happy and the Jazz are happy.
My take on Fish is that he, as stated, wanted to be closer to his New York physician, and hoped to hook up with a team in the North East, but nothing opened up, and the Lakers wanted him back. There was NO evil deception or intent, it just ended up 700 miles FURTHER away from his NY physician, instead of closer, which evokes the suspicions.
Also, his salary is, as far as I can google, only $400k less this year and next. He still will have another year, just not a guaranteed contract, yet. So, it’s not that big a hit, in NBA terms, ie, about a 6 or 7% pay cut/year. So, his family will not go hungry.
But, it turned out great for both sides, a true WIN-WIN solution!
Jazzaholic
GAWD forbid I ever defend Kobe but for the sake of our rule of laws…
“If you want to boo, how about the former accused rapist, who settled out of court to avoid a felony conviction and prison time.”
That is not the facts of the case at all!
But of course his horrible behavior and that of his handy trollop which caused so many challenges for so many speaks for its self. He is no saint but she should be re classed as sub human!
I have to agree with all that has been said against the fans who boo Fisher. He could be falling on his face when he played and I would still have to say that he is one great professional athlete!! I finally get to go to a game in the arena (got to use my son’s ticket when he was out of town) and I wanted to get on the floor somehow and give that group of fans hell. Are we professional fans or a bunch or rednecks that everyone can laugh about? I wish I had the power to make the situation better. Now it is like shutting the gate after the horse is out.
I agree as well. I was ashamed of the fans for booing Fisher. I admit when I first discovered he would be playing in a Jazz uniform I was not pleased. I mean face it he was a Laker, the enemy. I couldn’t believe how impressed I was with how well he fit the Jazz. I was saddened to see him leave but believe that he was doing what he felt is best for his family and that IS the right thing to do. Was absolutely proud of the classy way the Jazz organization handled the situation. I did feel a little “betrayed” to see him back in a Lakers uniform, but somehow in my mind he will always be a “Jazzman”. God Speed Derek! Wishing the best for you and your family, even if that means your wearing the hated Laker uniform.
Linda,
You asked th correct question; “Are we professional fans, or a bunch of rednecks?” Unfortunately, I believe the answer is that a fairly large portion of the Utah Jazz fan base ARE rednecks. I am not a season ticket holder, but I attend more than a few games each season. I attended 3 of the playoff games last year. I thought last year during the playoff, the collective fan behavior was juvenile to say the least. Chanting “Houston Sucks!” at every time out, and basically turning into a bunch of whiny children at the last San Antonio game was really pathetic.
I love the game of basketball, but it seems to me that more than a few fans attend games only to jeer the opposing team and boo every call that goes against the Jazz. It is pathetic.
Thanks to everyone who posted a comment regarding this blog. It is a relief to know that I wasn’t alone in being dumbfounded at the crowd’s reaction to Fisher.
As a Laker season ticket holder for over 20 years, I have booed many players that well deserve it. However, the lack of class and brain matter by Jazz fans takes the cake. I don’t want to get personal with Utah natives or the team itself, but all in attendance Friday night were losers. When Derek paid his first visit to L.A. after he signed with Golden State, he was given a standing ovation. I guess basketball class comes with winning 14 championships.
Geno Apicella
Geno,
Did you happen to read the other comments made here by people that were at the game? They share your view, making your broad comments very tough to defend.
Let’s not forget, surely some of those boo’s were for Kobe.
Derrick
IM not sure where else to leave this message.. but im on my way to watch the Utah Jazz play the La Lakers.. and just watched Derek Fisher complaining about how the Jazz fans boo him.. and he feels hurt.. what did Sir Charles say.on TNT just say… grow up… Fisher.. you choose to leave Utah.. you choose to go to the Lakers.. why didnt you choose to go to Miami.. they have just as good as doctors.. why didn he choose Seattle… the Jazz fans put there heart in Fisher.. and he decided this is not where he needs to play.. and he all along wanted the lakers. so I will boo him again.. and as Charles said.. deal with it Fisher.. you were the one that took it away from the Jazz .. so what if we boo you… we boo better players then him all the time… thanks Charles for telling it like it is !!
and by the way…. BOOO Fisher Boooooo
I booed the hell out of everyone of them lakers. I hate the LAKERS! So does everyone else in Utah. We hate the lakers!
The Lakers are the Evil Empire!
My voice and my elderly temperament won’t allow it nowadays, but I say you have every right to boo the Evil Lakers, even if they have a good guy on their team.
Go Jazz, despise those Lakers!
Jazzaholic
Please. Fisher used his poor daughters illness as an excuse to get out of his contract thats really gross to me so he deserved to be booed I don’t feel bad at all.
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