The Derek Fisher Controversy
‘Fish: Back Where he Belongs’ (A. Bernstein - NBAE/Getty Images)
There has been a lot of discussion, recriminations, boos, cheers, hugs and castigations of Fish. And, I’ve got to take the blame for some small part of the hub-bub.
Fish is a great guy! He is a great leader and community minded citizen. You can tell he cares. His character seems beyond reproach. Everyone wants to hug him or be his friend.
I started by criticizing his play, NOT the man, the time he consumed on the court and his bloated salary, courtesy of Chris Mullen.
When Kevin O’Connor traded for him, it was a great trade. The Jazz got rid of 2 marginal players, and a throw in, for a proven leader on a rudderless, young team. He provided all you could ask in the way of leadership.
His play was another matter entirely. He just wasn’t the type point guard well suited to Jerry’s system. He was slow bringing the ball up and putting it into play. Frequently he over dribbled and got caught by the expiring shot clock or forced a shot to beat it. He IS just great for the triangle offense, but NOT in a point guard offense, like the Jazz run.
He isn’t a shooting guard. He’s too short to play good defense on SG’s and doesn’t shoot well enough to punish double teams. His SG minutes denied development of the young Jazz SGs. Jerry had too much respect for him to set him on the bench and let the young talent make some mistakes and get some experience.
His bloated salary had to go, but where? A buyout (over Larry’s dead body), a trade (not likely), then the clouds parted, the light intensified and the deep, sonorous voice of Derek came from on high, saying “let my salary go.” It was like Cecil B. Demille and the 10 commandments.
It wasn’t Derek, the person, the Jazz needed to get rid of, it was his salary, his play and his consumption of developmental minutes that needed to go.
He said he wanted to be closer to his daughters medical care and the Jazz, and everyone else, assumed that meant closer to his daughter’s physician and treatment in New York, not 700 miles further away in LA.
There is a deep seated hatred of the Lakers in Salt Lake! When “Benedict” Karl went to the Lakers, the feeling was “any team BUT the hated Lakers.” Well, Derek, the same thing is happening to you. We love you, BUT NOT YOUR CHOICES. Couldn’t you find some better friends, better roll models, someone to date that we approve of? What kind of child are you?
I’m getting too old, sit too far from the floor and my voice goes too quickly to boo someone or yell “Lakers suck”, like some fans did. In my younger days, when we sat on the 5th row, before prices went up, I probably would have, just to cause some commotion, but not now. However crass you might find the boos or chants, those fans paid for their tickets, and as long as it’s within reason, that should remain their right, just as it is the right of Laker fans to do the same thing. So, lets lighten up on the fans right of free expression. Don’t join in! Don’t cheer for King James’ outstanding performance last year. Or cheer. It’s just a game!
Jazzaholic
4 Comments to “The Derek Fisher Controversy”
Search Jazzbots.com
Be connected!
Get the latest from Jazzbots delivered to your email
Get the latest from Jazzbots delivered to your phone
Bookmark and favorite Jazzbots.com
Jazz Inside Scoop
The FREE, Official E-mail Newsletter of the Jazz.
The Inside Scoop is one of the best ways to keep up-to-date with your Utah Jazz. We'll provide you with information year-round about the Jazz -- breaking news, special event information, unique merchandise & ticket offers, promotions, advance contest opportunities and more.
Featured Sponsors
Jazzbots Recent Readers
Jazz Polls
Loading ...
I hope your fingers heal soon JR, but that was a much better discussion about Derek than the earlier one.
J.R., and the rest of ;you who keep saying Derek moved 700 miles further away from his daughter’s treatment,
Hello! When Derek was looking into moving, he stated straight out that the doctor’s in NY had given him 6 or 7 cities where he could get appropriate treatment. He wasn’t limited to NY and was actually willing to go to any of those cities depending on what deal he could work out. He was even willing to quit basketball altogether if he couldn’t work out a deal. Guess what, LA WAS ONE OF THOSE CITIES. I realize there’s a deep seated hatred of the Lakers, I fully share it. Can’t stand LA. But the fact that LA came through rather than say, Philadelphia or NY isn’t Fish’s fault.
HIS DAUGHTER IS NOW BEING TREATED IN LA, NOT NY. So Derek didn’t move 700 miles further away from treatment for his daughter, he moved the treatment to where he was and no longer has to commute. What’s wrong with that?
So don’t boo Fish. Just boo Kobe twice as loud to make up for it!
Here are my thoughts:
1) For starters, I hate how everyone calls every player by a nickname. C3PO, Fish, Agent-Sucks, JAJGEYAJG! Especially in Utah. What’s with all the “Fish” talk. His name is Fisher. We’re not Hot Rod and Fisher no longer plays in a Jazz uniform, therefore, let’s call him by his real name. Fisher. We’re not buddy-buddy with him, therefore it’s Fisher. And most importantly, he stabbed Utah fans in the back and joined the bad guys. So now it’s definitely Derek Fisher of the Spawn-of-Satan Los Angeles Lakers.
2) If Fisher had to fly to New York for treatment for his kid, and hated the cross-country flights and dogged out on his contract to “maybe retire” and get proper treatment for this serious disease, then why did he turn around and sign with the Lakers, which we all know he loved playing for way more than Utah, TWO WEEKS after he stabbed Larry Miller in the back!?! Why didn’t he just fly to L.A. for treatment originally if he can get it there, which he is now? Let’s see…..a cross-country flight to N.Y. or a couple hour flight to L.A.!?! Decisions decisions.
3) It’s plain and simple…..Fisher didn’t like playing for Utah. He came, played the game, and the whole time wanted to back out and play for the Lakers. He loved L.A. and Cali. From the Lakers, he went to Golden State, also in Cali. Then from the Warriors to the “not-respected” Utah Jazz. He felt like he wasn’t “STAR” quality in a Jazz uniform. You could just tell. That’s why he went back to playing with Kobe and for Jack Nicholsen. He wanted Hollywood.
4) So to sum it up, I say, “Thank you Fisher for stabbing Utah in the back and letting Brewer step up in your place. He’s been doing 100X better and putting up way better numbers than you! And it’s only his 2nd year! Give him a couple more years and he’ll be an All-Star! The Jazz are better off without your 6′ 1″ ‘I’m-a-family-man’ frame! Let’s let the young and very talented 6′ 7″ Brewer throw it down and show Jazz fans what he has!”
5) Everyone forget the old Derek Fisher. Brewer is in the Jazz’s future and fits way better in our lineup than Fisher did. Let’s cheer for him and gim him our votes for the All-Star game! KEEP IT UP BREWER!!
JT
You are right!
I was just pointing out the PERCEPTION felt by many.
I don’t think he pulled one over on the Jazz. I think the Jazz were more than willing to let his salary go, open up a roster spot and some developmental minutes. If they felt they were being taken, they would have proposed a trade, rather than just letting him out of his contract.
Jeffrey
I think nicknames are fun and more descriptive, but from now on it’s Derek Lamar Fisher, after all this is serious business.
Jazzaholic
Leave your Comment