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Fisher gets mixed 'welcome'

It's too bad that there were so many boos for Fisher. He did a good job for the Jazz and was a class act. He left for his family and hasn't talked negatively about his time in Utah. It's understandable to have semi-doubts about his departure, but he still was great while he was here. Let's just wish him the best and enjoy the Jazz win. Booing every time he touches the ball isn't necessary and makes it too personal for the circumstance.

The Jazz are better without Fisher this year and they are better because of Fisher last year.

Jimmy is dissappointed with the crowd reaction toward Fish. Jimmy thinks that the fans should be greatful for the leadership and maturity he brought to the team, those things did not leave when he did.

Jimmy thinks Utahns need to get over their self-consciousness and realize that it is ok that not everyone likes them or wants to live in Utah. Fish had as good excuse as any for leaving and his walking away from all that money on the table will actually help the Jazz in the long run.

Regardless of the intentions of Derek Fisher, booing Derek Fisher beyond intros was tacky and classless, but it's difficult to expect everyone to take the high road.

NBA fans watching the game last night across the country certainly could not understand the fans were booing out of suspicions that Fisher opted out of his contract for reasons beyond his daughter's situation, so Jazz fans just end up looking stupid.

I think it shows poor taste that fans booed Fisher. I was so upset when I saw that.

The reception Jazz fans gave Fisher was disgusting. He is an upstanding guy who was a huge part of our team. He did a very tough thing to give up guaranteed money for his daughter's sake. I understand that a lot of Utahns have a bit of a "complex" and always think that someone is disrespecting us when they leave, but that just isn't the case here. Fisher deserved a hero's welcome, but the one he got was a disgrace to Utah fans.

I think it's too bad that Jazz fans booed Fisher. I would have thought that they would be more understanding than that. The guys daughter had cancer and you're booing him because of it. Who's really the bad guy in that scenario?

Classless act by those Jazz fans. Not real fans in my opinion. There's no way he could have stayed in Utah with his child's problem. Just not practical with the traveling that would have been necessary. I don't fault him a bit for going back to the Lakers. He should have gotten a warm welcome. That would have been appropriate.

I can't believe what a bunch of sick fickle, shallow fans we have to boo such a class act. I am the biggest Jazz fan you'll ever meet, but it is times like this you realize there are more things important than basketball. Fisher left to care for his family, it wasn't to betray the Jazz. I don't undertand the booing at all. Fisher spilled his guts all of last season that help them reach the Western Conference Finals. Without him the Jazz wouldn't have gotten there. To those who booed him, you are no true Jazz fan for you would boo any current Jazz man if they left for whatever reason. For that matter, if the most beloved Jazzman, Stockton, had left you would have booed him also. To those booing, you are a sick, sad reflection about the ugliness of the world today. With all due respect to Fisher, Fisher's departure actually benefitted the Jazz greatly with the emergence of Ronnie Brewer who has become such an integral part of the Jazz starting lineup not just for this season but more more to come. Why can't these Jazz fans appreciate and respect Fisher's decision?

First off, I'm as big a Jazz fan as anyone, but I was extremely embarassed to be one last night. How classless can we really be! D-Fish does the right thing for his daughter and family and we boo him. I really don't get it! It's pretty pathetic. All of the father's out there who booed him, try thinking about your own kids and/or families and I hope you would do the same thing.

Next time D-Fish is here, lets try showing some sportsmanship and celebrating what he has done to make us the team we are today, because we are better overall because he was here. D-Will and Booz are better leaders because of him and that gives us the best opportunity to become champions, which is the overall goal anyway.

Show some class and remember what he did do, because without him we might not be the team we are today. Would we want D-Fish and not have Brewer doing the things he is doing? The Jazz made off better for a variety of reasons and so did D-Fish. Let's try cheering for someone who gave us so much! Lakers suck! Nice sportsmanship. Pathetic.

I just wanted to say I no longer think Jazz fans are the greatest. They are the worst. I am ashamed and disgusted with all who booed Fisher. Terrible display of sportsmanship in sports

Fisher's reception in last night's game was terrible. You should be ashamed. It takes away everything good the Jazz are doing and have been doing. The next time the Jazz host the Lakers have some reserve and class and refrain from the booing and maybe you might find it in your heart to actually give the guy some cheers. He did a lot of good for the Jazz last season. He's not a traitor, he's a classy family man. Why is that so hard for so many Jazz fans to understand.

I really don't know what to make of this, as I can see it from both sides. Perhaps the resentment stems from the fact that he really did not want to play in Utah in the first place (remember his initial response to the trade from Golden State?). However, did he really do the wrong thing from a family standpoint? Or did he seize an opportunity to leave? Tough call...but I find it hard to criticize him.

I've never been less proud to be a Jazz fan in my entire life. I love Fisher, I always have. And I grew to love him even more when he was with us. He put his family first. People are questioning his motives about returning to LA. But who cares where he's playing? The most important thing is his daughter. We should have showed a lot more class than that. He is an awesome guy who did not deserve any of the boos.
Had I been in the crowd, I would have given him a standing ovation. He deserves no less. I was so ticked off that I couldn't even watch the game. The Jazz fans looked retarted booing him, and I for one; wanted no part in that if being a Jazz fan last night meant booing one of my favorite players in the whole NBA. I don't care that he left us, he did what was right by his daughter. I love and respect the dude. He didn't need to come into the arena to be booed by the fans he grew to love last year. He did not deserve that at all.

Classless and Jimmy have it right. I am embarrassed to be a Jazz fan after last night. The team makes me proud, but the fans at the game were disgraceful. Give me a break, Jazz fans just looked stupid last night booing him. He helped a ton while he was here, and has always been a stand-up guy, therefore deserves the benefit of the doubt in regards to his motivation to move-on.

"He's a Laker; we're a Jazz." Am I the only one that found any humor in this article?

be happy for fisher if you don't have anything good to say then say nothing. this is the best thing that could of happened for the jazz.1 get out of huge contract for someone that can't shoot.2 we get brewer more time on the court 3 DWILL BOOZER need to be the leaders of this team.

I was disappointed with the booing fans. Fisher has said nothing but positive things about Salt Lake and playing for the Jazz. His favorite basketball memory was the reception these same Jazz fans gave him less than a year ago. I realize some of you consider him a traitor but don't you think his teammates understood his situation a little better than any of us fans or the media? If anyone should should feel slighted or consider him a traitor it would be Boozer, Williams, and his other former temmates who have done nothing but support Fisher's decision to leave Utah for LA.

I did not find booing at D-Fisher that unusual last night. I concur that he did help us with leadership and maturity last year, I also concur that leaving for his daughter was nearly the most gracious thing except give his own life for his daughter, but the reality of sports is- He WENT TO THE LAKERS!! I had no problem with K-Malone going for one year, because he had been here for So Many Years. Fisher was here for 1 year. It's a part of sports, when you join the opposing team in the same conference, odds are your going to get booed. Anyone that has played sports understands that. who else got booed? Bryant, the Lakers best player, so if anything it was somewhat of respect (in a sports sense) to get booed. Good Luck with Fish and his family issues, i hope all goes well

I would not have booed him. I understand both sides of this for some fans though. As stated above when Fisher was told he was traded to the Jazz he was less than thrilled to come to Utah and even in a few interviews stated that fact. Jazz fans still opened there arms and made him there own and rode his success on the court and sympathized and felt with him as his daughter became ill. No one questioned his motive when he was let out of his contract to be closer to a place that supported his daughters medical needs. I hope he done for the right reasons but if it was to leave Utah then he has to live with that not the fans. But I think most Boos for him came from Jazz Fans (90%) who hate the Lakers. I know I do. I don't think they booed him because of his leaving, they booed him that he went to the enemy. If he went to any other team he would have not been booed it was just those dang Lakers. I will give the fans the benefit that it was for that.