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NBA playoffs: Fisher's year of pain, growth

I blame the media for hyping the Fisher move and raising the ire of the public. He is a class act and took a HUGE paycut. To think he did this simply to get out UT is ridiculous.

We are so happy to hear that your little girl is doing so much better. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with you and your family. It was indeed an awesome site to experience those moments of you approaching the game and entering the court. Your playing time in those minutes were to take ones breath away. Great NBA Final moments.

After the Lakers signed him the paycut was not that much. He still has to fly to New York to have his child treated. How is L.A. closer than Utah. I feel for him and his daughter, but that does not give him a free pass to use his situation to get what he wants.

Thank you, Tim, for putting this thing in the proper perspective. Please, fellow Jazz fans, no booing Fish during the introductions or whenever he touches the ball. Boo Kobe. Fish deserves a warm welcome during player introductions.

Most of the Jazz fans I've talked to about Fisher's move to L.A. were upset because they believed Fisher was going to New York when he was released by the Jazz because that's where his daughter had initially been treated. "Now he's further away from the treatment," they typically say. Buckley kinda buried it in the story, but the Fishers found a doctor in L.A. who could provide the same treatment is a major point and quells most of the antipathy toward Fisher that Jazz fans hold. And it cures some of the misinformation Jazz fans have about the Fisher ordeal.

Also, Fisher got unjustly blamed for the transgression of Rony Seikaly, Derek Harper and others who refused to play in Utah. Look, we're the only NBA locale where multiple players have refused trades to not play at a location. Naturally we have a complex about that. But I do not now, nor have I ever, thought Fisher moved to leave the state. His departure cleared the way for Brewer to develop and for the acquisition of Korver and freed up $21m to be used to sign D-Will long-term. So he really did us a favor. It's a win-win!

What would you do if it happen to you? Would you take a 6.5 million pay cut and move around the country? Do you know what is like to have this happen you your child? Only those with kids and love their kids can answer that.
So keep booing and show the rest of America the type of trailer trash you are or become human and say, ' I would have done the same thing'. Most of the NBA fans are shock at what the Utah fans have done.

Fisher Lover - Laker Hater!

What a great story and what a great spirit in Derek Fisher. I think this story puts to bed all those irresponsible news stories that suggested Derek took advantage of the good will of Larry Miller.

On the other hand, Derek, as a man of faith I'm sure you've heard of that saying that goes, "hate the sin but love the sinner." I hope you'll understand if the Jazz fans continue to love you but hate the uniform you are now wearing. It's just one of the facts of life and those feelings started long before you ever got to Los Angeles. Best of luck to you and your family but I'll be rooting against the Lakers, at least in this round.

I also blame the media for putting imaginative ideas in the minds of JAZZ fans about Fisher's decision. I think Fisher's a great person. And anybody who puts his family first is OK in my book! I'm not a Laker fan, but I do admire and respect Derek Fisher!

Jazz fans, and Utah sports fans in general seem to only be happy if they are whining about something and if they have someone to abuse.

Please guys, quit embarrassing our state and our culture and show some class.

I have a lot of respect for Fisher and I am happy to hear things are going better for his little girl. Instead of everyone second guessing everything he did we should respect the fact that he is doing everything he can for his little girl. I am a huge Jazz fan and I can't stand the lakers but Fisher has my respect. He stood up for his family when most in the NBA don't. That being said I hope the lakers fall flat on their faces and the Jazz move forward to the next round. Go Jazz!

What a classy guy. Good luck to him and his family.

I don't only think this whole booing issue is media related but they should be held totally responsible for most of it. Most of our discontent in this country is driven by the same bunch of Greed seekers. Spin, sensationalize, and hype is what the media does , both print and broadcast. It's all about readers or viewership that drives up advertising cost--which are bottom line profit for the media. I get so sick of these weak sisters and their practice that I have choose to tune it out. Someday people will wake up and consider what the media is all about--- MONEY & GREED.

I still think he used his daughter to get where he wanted to be. You have to look through the haze and teary eyes. Chuck Barkley said it best, "there are great doctors in Seattle, New York, or Miami". I don't buy it even at the risk of being called callous or cold hearted. I know it was all about being in L.A. and having a better chance at another ring. Jerry West giving up Pau Gasol was another sham, these Laker Fakers are flim flam men.

You people crack me up: "THE MEDIA CONTROLS OUR MINDS." Get a grip.

Oh that was such a touching story tears are running now. It sounds like Utah is a sweet place to be Which it is, So Why would Fisher leave and go back to LA. They must have family in LA, because we all know Primary Childrens Rocks We have just as good Doctors as LA, I think KOBE called Begging PHIL called Begging BUSS called Begging, and a soft hearted Miller let him off.
Fish your awesome, but when you put on Purple and Gold I will Use The B word. Boo BOO BOOO bOOOO. Thats what happens when you leave a contender for a contender.

Utah hates Fisher because he went to the Lakers. It just reminds them of Malone leaving Utah to play in LA and it makes Utah feel like the Lakers just took one more thing away from them.

Jazz fans also seem to forget that Boozer left Cleveland hanging to go to Utah. He left for the same money just because he didn't like playing in Cleveland. He's considered a traitor by Cavs fans and yet Utah welcomes him with open arms. So basically, Jazz fans are fine as long as it works out in their favor - so much for principles.

Speaking of which, someone complained yesterday about stars like Kobe getting unfair treatment by the refs and said it was wrong for this to happen. They then said, in the same paragraph, that they could hardly wait til next year when D Williams would be considered a full star and would get preferential treatment. Again. . . it's okay as long as it works for the Jazz - so much for principles.

Personally I'm sick of Fish. More jazz and less Fish.

Of course the media is responsible. Half the reason this article was even written was to try to atone for their big mistakes previously that caused the Jazz fans to be so redneck when Fisher came back the first time. Now they realize that they better try to do something so we don't make more of a fool out of our State. Thus, we have articles like this trying to aleviate the animosity they so willingly fostered initially.

I don't really blame Fisher for continuing his career. The blame should lie with the Jazz management for not realizing that Fisher would want to keep playing. Why not at least get a draft pick or something out of the deal instead of just giving him away? Even though it is almost a year in the past (and nearly time to move on to something else), I can't believe that the Jazz let him go without trying to get something in return.