Friend O' Fisher | 2:04 a.m. Dec. 2, 2007
Utah fans are like school in the summer - absolutely no class.
Anonymous | 9:01 a.m. Dec. 2, 2007
As a Jazz/Utes fan who no longer lives in Utah, I am continually embarrassed by sports fans in the state of Utah. Throwing stuff at the Spurs after Game 4? Booing Derek Fisher? All the inane back and forth between Utah and BYU fans about religion?

Sports fans in Utah are generally perceived as lacking sophistication and class by those outside the state, and unfortunately here is more ammunition.
oh bull | 10:10 a.m. Dec. 2, 2007
there were a few people booing and i garauntee the same situation in every other city he would have been booood too (except maybe san antonio). good points in the article but it would have been the same everywhere else and no one can argue that.
Comments continue below
Anonymous | 10:18 a.m. Dec. 2, 2007
Right on Loren...Utah Spazz fans stink! I gave up on the Spazz and their fans years ago, so should everyone else...
Anonymous | 11:03 a.m. Dec. 2, 2007
A player like Derek Fisher should not booed here or any other arena. He represents what is best about sports. He is a class act trying his best to do the sport he loves and take care of his infant daughter. He gave it his all for the Utah Jazz.

On second thought, any Jazz fans booing Fisher really makes me sick.

He left on good terms with the owner, coaches and players and we should respect his service. If fans have to boo people the quality of Derek Fisher, this world is truly sick...
Craig | 11:10 a.m. Dec. 2, 2007
I don't trust Fish, never have. He plays the ambassador very well, but I think it's fake. I've seen enough evidence, and his leaving the jazz was suspicious.

That being said, I am very glad he is not with the jazz this year. The jazz are MUCH better off without him.

As for the booing...hey, any player who leaves a team to go play for a rival is gonna get booed.
Even Johnny Damon got booed by the RedSox fans.
Whatever | 11:26 a.m. Dec. 2, 2007
All I can say is that Fisher got what he deserved...he's playing for the one trick show Lakers, who will be lucky if they make the playoffs. As for the booing, welcome to sports. The Bogut and Miller comparisons are totally different. These were college players at the U who had no choice where they were playing in the NBA.
"Craig's List" | 11:33 a.m. Dec. 2, 2007
Really? You really think that you can compare the circumstances of Johnny Damon leaving the Sox to Fisher leaving the Jazz??? Damon had an offer on the table, but he left for more money to play with the the Yankees. He would not have been booed if he had not gone to the Yankees (this is the most heated rivalry in sports with 100 year tradition).

Fisher left money on the table. He had no guarantee of a contract anywhere else when he left. He left to care for his daughter and he is now making LESS money than he would have made with the Jazz. You cannot compare these two circumstances at ALL! Fisher has class, Damon does not.
me too | 12:14 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
I am glad "whatever saw" the total difference in the bogut miller reference. come on jorgensen, Its all milk toast. find something worthwhile to write about.
Should have gone to the east | 12:18 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
I think what makes most people upset is that the best place for Tatums care was apparently in New York. I think most everyone expected him to sign out east much closer to NY somewhere. However as soon as he was let out he signed with the Fakers the most despised team in the NBA by everyone except of course Faker fans.

Now to me it seems Utah is closer to NY then LA and it seems that Salt Lake does have an airport with flights to NY daily. Last I read he was still taking his daughter to NY for her treatment. That may have changed now but I do recall an article early in the season mentioning this.

I think had Derek gone back east closer to NY he would not be booed but cheered for what he did for the Jazz last year. I think he showed Deron and Boozer how to be leaders which has helped the team tremendously.

Fisher just needs to realize that he would receive this type reception no matter what team he played with in the NBA not just Jazz Fans.
MindStretch | 12:21 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
Classless act by Jazz fans. Even doctors in SLC were quoted in area newspapers as saying the treatment Fisher's daughter needed did not exist in SLC. I'm a huge Jazz fan, but I was embarassed. Shame on those of you who booed.
Skeptic | 12:53 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
People lose sight of life for basketball which is really an unbalanced view of things. How sad that Fisher's self-titled "most special basketball moments" will be forever tainted by boos. Worse, fans are not smart enough not to do it next time too.
JRC | 1:19 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
Loren Jorgensen is correct. Booing Fisher was boorish, lowdown, and completely out of character for Salt Lake City. I watched the game on ESPN. Given Fisher's contributions to the Jazz last year, especially during the playoffs while his daughter was so ill, I expected he would be greeted warmly in appreciation for his contributions last season, and for being the class act he is. Instead, he was greeting with the affection usually reserved for Benedict Arnold.

Cheering for the home team is traditional and fine. Booing the visiting team also is traditional, but not fine. And behaving like beer-soaked bleacher bums from, say, Detroit, is disgusting and demeaning. The boobirds who heaped abuse on Fisher not only diminished my enjoyment of the game, not only engaged in unsportsmanlike behavior; they flouted the norms of human decency. It was shameful. It bodes ill for sportsmanship in Salt Lake City that some of my fellow commenters are defending those punks.
odogtriever | 2:16 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
I am a fanatical Jazz fan and I was extreamly embarassed. I hate the lakers as much as any one who booed, but what a classless, ignorant act by Jazz fans. Remember this is just a game, a way for us to forget about real life for a couple of hours. Fishers reason was for his family, nothing is more important than that. Craig, Whatever and all the ESA boo birds grow up!
Anonymous | 2:20 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
C'mon!!! This is basketball.. Bottom line is winning for Jazz fans< it's sports!!!!!!!! If Fisher is going to play for Utah's largest rivalary, he's gonna get booed...
Gary | 2:55 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
That was childish to boo Fisher! Even though I was a Fisher Fan while he was here, we are better off with out him now, especially for the developement of our young guys getting to play and step up their game. This is helping us for the long haul. So why boo a player that is no longer needed. It just tells them that we still want them here, so if your booing him it means you still want him here. Go be a Sorry Laker Fan then.
Driver | 2:59 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
There is nothing classless about booing. That's what we as fans do. Fish is a Laker, I hate the Lakers. He made a bad choice of teams to go to. And if you really think he left with out not knowing where he was going to end up your crazy! As far as basketball goes, he did us a favor. As for his family, God bless and best wishes.
MMC | 3:01 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
I didn't mind the boos, I think Fisher could have gone to a team in the East and he would have been treated a hole lot better. By watching the game it looked like Deron Williams wasn't to happy with D-Fish leaving. Every time they matched up one-on-one Deron broke Fisher's ankles.
GO JAZZ
Grendel | 3:55 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
WE WEREN'T BOOING, we were chanting: "though we appreciate your contributions last year, and we wish the best for your daughter, the way you asked to leave (after not really wanting to come here in the first place, mind you), and the speed with which you signed with the much-hated Lakers left a bad taste, and was a little, if we may, fish-y. We can't help but feel that with all the resources ($) at your disposal as far as caring for your daughter, if you really wanted to play for us, you'd be playing for us. Not that we miss you that badly, because, quite frankly, we are rather excited about Ronnie Brewer."

It just SOUNDED like booing, see?
Renfrew | 4:02 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
We had our chance Salt Lake City, now it seems as though we are no different than the rest of the NBA world.
Grendal is funny | 4:25 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
I do see!
Fisher | 5:01 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
I thought Derek Fisher was very professional in all of his comments to the media while he was in Utah and even after the game a couple of nights ago. He seems like a class act. Even if he really wanted out of Utah for non-medical reasons, so what. I wouldn't boo a guy for that. If Utahns weren't able to sell Fisher & his family on Utah, then they can blame themselves. I grew up and lived in Utah for 25 years. I like Utah and would be willing to live there again, but it's not my first choice.
Boo Hoo | 6:40 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
I love the Jazz and every player they employ (except for maybe Jarron Collins). Once said player leaves the team, he becomes the enemy, not even Karl Malone can escape that certainty. If you do not want to be booed, don't leave the team.

By the way, Boozer is currently having his son treated in Miami (also across the country). Should he go play for the Heat now?
DMX-512 | 8:11 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
The 90% plus who have sensible comments here can go to the game on March 20 and make up for this embarrasment. We take signs saying "Thanks Fish for a great last year" and "Best Wishes to Tatum". We cheer enough that the boos are not heard. The game is scheduled for TNT and of course they will bring up this recent game and the boos. Some one with lower seats behind the benches can take a sign with the TNT vertical and "Thanks/Nothing but the best to/Tatum" spelled across. The directors can never pass up a network plug!

DCJ | 8:29 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
For everyone who says they should boo because SLC is closer to New York than LA (never mind the facts that Fisher's extended family and support network remain in LA after his many years of living there, and never mind that for all of the glorious wonders of SLC, LA still has better medical care than SLC to provide treatment supplemental to what was going on in NY), or because if you're not on the Jazz you're the enemy, see how Minnesota reacts to Kevin Garnett when he returns to Minneapolis with the Celtics on January 25. I'm sure he'll receive a better welcome.

Fisher now makes less money and plays for a crummier team. In exchange, he made the Jazz better, both by coming here and by leaving. If you can't be happy enough with that, boo yourself.

By the way, DWill broke Fisher's ankles every time because DWill was trying to WIN. But as far as I could tell, DWill didn't "BOO" Fisher. There's nothing wrong with cheering for the Jazz to smack the Lakers silly, but booing? Save it for pro wrestling.
he deserved it | 8:36 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
He said he needed to be closer to NYC, then he signed with the Lakers who are WAY further away from NYC than Utah is. Im a die hard Jazz fan and it did not upset me at all that they booed him. He deserved it. Like people said before - if he had signed somewhere closer to NYC, he wouldnt have gotten that kind of response, but he didnt and now he has to hear the booes from the team he left.

Not only did he deserve them on Friday, he deserves them every time they come to Utah. I wish his daughter and family the best, but his daughter and family dont play for the Lakers. Boo that liar every time he touches the ball Jazz fans!!
Moto X | 9:16 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
Fisher behaved professionally while he was here. The fans loved Derek while he was here and recognized his value. Then when the fans were told he needed to be closer to New York HE SET THE EXPECTATION that is where he would be playing close to. Instead a deal was nearly instantly done in LA--wrong direction in relation to NY. THE FANS WOULD NEVER HAVE BOOED IF HE HAD SIMPLY DONE WHAT HE LED EVERYONE TO BELIEVE HE INTENDED TO DO!! He would have been cheered. Instead he lied and fans do not like that.

All that said, he fit at the time but we are soooo much better off with him gone. He was exposed by D-Will for how poor a defender he is now. We are much faster and athletic now. The reason he got less money is because he was not worth what he was being paid. He saw he was going to be sitting soon with all the young talent behind him, he did not like Sloan, and he did not like Utah so he lied to get out of town. How professional, ethical, and classy is that?
Stop Justifying Yourselves | 10:00 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
Every fan who booed Fisher was making a statement: I am bitter you left my team because of extenuating circumstances. All you poor sports need to have a reality check: when Fisher was cut loose, I'm thinking that most of those people who booed were okay with it.

After Fisher signed with the Lakers, a lot of people became embittered. Guess what? That's the chance you take when you release a player from his contract. I don't care if he inks a deal with the Harlem Globetrotters. It's his business.

I say put down the binoculars and stop studying Fisher's flight plans. He did what he felt was best for his family, and Jazz brass trusted him to do just that. Who am I to judge (and who are you to judge) what that is?
Anonymous | 10:02 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
moto x, i cant believe you think he deserved to be booed just because hes not in NY. WHO CARES WHERE HE PLAYS??! IF YOU'RE MAD AT HIM FOR NOT PLAYING FOR A TEAM THAT HE CONSIDERED A POSSIBILITY TO PLAY FOR, THATS SAD
Tyler | 10:09 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
Grundel, best post on this board. Basically sums up everything. I wouldn't have booed if I had been at the game, and I wish that wouldn't have taken place.

But I without a doubt believe that there were other reasons besides Tatum's care that motivated Fish to leave. If he hadn't of balked at coming to Utah when the trade was made, then it would be harder to connect the dots. But when you add the fact -- that he waited like 5 days to report to Utah after the trade was made -- to the equation, it does make sense that he was not happy playing as a back-up PG or out of position at the 2. Sure, he was classy in "putting up" with it for a year, (if being paid $6 mil a year can be characterized like that), but he clearly did not want to do it again next year. I'm sure Tatum was a big part of him leaving. But if he really wanted to play here, he'd a found a way.

The bottom line is that there were multiple reasons for him wanting to leave. We probably shouldn't have booed him though.
Angered | 10:18 p.m. Dec. 2, 2007
Utah takes pride in having the best/meanest crowd in the NBA so why are we going so soft? 1) The Lakers are the Jazz's biggest rival 2) Fisher said he had no idea where he was going, and then a couple days later he signed with the Lakers(he had already been in contact with them and lied to us) 3) His daughter Tatum is being treated in NEW YORK not LA. 4) Boozer's son is being treated in Miami, and we don't see Boozer leaving us for Miami. Everything about this move was a little "Fishy." Take pride in our crowd and don't go all soft. One of the main reasons the Jazz do so good at home is because the fans get in the other teams head. Buck up this is proffessional basketball.
tongan kid | 1:35 a.m. Dec. 3, 2007
no class jazz fans who booed! yall are sad!
TwentyYearJazzFan | 7:38 a.m. Dec. 3, 2007
The "boo-birds" should consider what "DCJ" wrote here in these comments... very well-written and SENSIBLE. As for "Craig", what, exactly, is the so-called "evidence" you're referring to? I think Larry Miller and Jazz management and players know more about the whole situation than we fans do. They're OK with Fish and his decision. He and his wife probably thought it best to live very near relatives (support system), among other factors in the decision, AND it was better for the Jazz for salary reasons, etc. News flash: It's called a win-win situation. As for the concept of booing, it's usually better to cheer what you DO like, rather than boo what you DON'T (unless a ref makes an obviously bad call, or after a player commits a flagrant foul, or probably a few other types of situations which DESERVE immediate feedback). Look, I can't stand the Lakers either, but booing Fish every time he touched the ball? Get over yourselves! Let's show that we understand the concept of good sportsmanship. Tough AND classy. Go Jazz!
Nick | 9:57 a.m. Dec. 3, 2007
Fisher is the man
GoodGuyGary | 9:58 a.m. Dec. 3, 2007
I think people booed Fish not because he left the team or wearing the Lakers jersey. They booed because he get out of Jazz contract and sign with Lakers right away.

Benefit to Jazz or not is irrelevant here.
Jordan | 10:03 a.m. Dec. 3, 2007
Booing Fisher was the most disrespectful thing we could have done. Fisher helped us out so much last year and gave us so much encouragement. We cheered him on so much during his rough time, giving him a standing ovation when he showed up to Game 3 against the Warriors. Without him there, we wouldn't have been able to win that game. Fisher deserved to be cheered for how much he helped us. So what if he left us, he did what he needed to do for the most important thing in the world for him, his family.
Jeff | 10:18 a.m. Dec. 3, 2007
If I remember correctly, Fish said that there were about 8 cities with facilities that could help his daughter. Los Angeles was one of them, New York was another. I think NY sticks in people's minds because that was where Tatum was getting treatment last season. It was one possible place. Fisher NEVER said that he was going to go play in New York. He just said that he needed to be closer to certain facilities.

It's ridiculous to say that an opposing seem should automatically be booed. We should learn competitiveness AND respect from sports; the fact that the second is now separated from the first must be part of the reason we see things like fights at little league games. It's what makes football hooligans in the rest of the world so dangerous. There's never a reason to boo.

Unless it's Kobe.

Anonymous | 10:25 a.m. Dec. 3, 2007
I would not have booed him. I understand both sides of this for some fans though. 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 which he said was all in the East. Strange how quickly he signed with the Lakers. I think if he would have stated that LA was a top destination for treatment then we would have not felt duped. I hope it was 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 and (10%) who felt duped.
ID Jazz | 10:55 a.m. Dec. 3, 2007
Jeff you remember wrongly. As anonymous stated above Fisher stated that Hospitals as well as Doctors who could treat her were all in the East. LA was only announced after he was let go that it was a place to be able to monitor her not treat her. That goes along way from being asked out of a contract for supposed treatment to two weeks later signing with the Lakers a place where she could be better monitored because her illness was in recession. Maybe he wanted to be back in LA cause he had more family support because his wifes family is there as well as some of his is too. I just wish he would have stated that instead of the way he did it. What he said and did were very different and makes him look not credible to fans.
I must admit I feel a little duped by Fisher also but not enough to boo him.
Can we ever boo? | 11:24 a.m. Dec. 3, 2007
If it's so classless to boo Fisher, why is it OK to boo referees? They have families too and they usually get the calls right. Why is it not frowned upon to boo Kobe? What has he ever done to Jazz fans? Shandon Anderson got booed all the time. He also took less money to play in a different city. Why is that any different? Fisher didn't want to be here and it's worked out for the best for both sides. That doesn't mean it's classless to boo him. He plays for a rival team.
Classless Fan | 12:09 p.m. Dec. 3, 2007
It is nice to see people who agree with me.

To use the excuse of your daughters illness to get out of work is like lying about a death in the family to get out of work. VERY BAD KARMA.

Don't forget that Fisher is a celeb. they know how to show the cameras what they want to see.
unbelievable | 1:20 p.m. Dec. 3, 2007
I hope Derek Fisher understands that the real Jazz fans weren't booing him. He is a hero, and should be given a standing ovation every time he steps on the court in Utah. Before the game he stated in an interview that a part of him is in Utah. I hope he still feels that way. I love the guy and wish him well.
Paul | 1:31 p.m. Dec. 3, 2007
Let's all boo Karl Malone everytime he shows his face. He left Utah for L.A. for less money and we erected a statue for him. Fish game us a great year and left on good terms. Enough with the Boos, let's show the world that Utah has some class, next time the Lakers come to town. We can use our boo energy on Kobe.
Anonymous | 2:00 p.m. Dec. 3, 2007
fish deserved to be booed.. apparently he's never heard of the huntsman center.. which supplies some of the best cancer treatment in the world.. thats ok though, fish wasnt that big of a loss anyways.. its just annoying he left
Anonymous | 2:24 p.m. Dec. 3, 2007
Jazz > Lakers. Fisher's Contract with lakers is than his dedication to work. Leave him alone because both parties won.
Truth | 3:25 p.m. Dec. 3, 2007
Fish is a class act, period. He primary motivation for choosing LA was family support and availabilty of qualified emergency medical care, in that order. He probably would have chosen the East had his family, and wife specifically, not needed the family support. I understand that facts often get in the way of a rational opinion, but it would be refreshing if the hard-core naysayers would occasionally obtain all the data prior to making judgements. Call me crazy!
Soft | 3:51 p.m. Dec. 3, 2007
I know, let's bake a cake for every Laker the next time they come to town. Then we'll have a press conference and all say 10 nice things about each player. "Kwame, your skin is so soft, what moisturizer do you use?" I'm guessing that the people who are against booing players are the same people who want to get rid of winners and losers in little league. People nowadays are soft. "Don't play in the mud, you'll get sick!", "I shouldn't discipline my child, that might hurt his feelings, etc", "No you didn't lose Billy, you'll never lose, everybody wins everytime they play. That's how life is, you'll see." Get over it!! You will never learn in life unless you face adversity. Everyone will be a loser at some point in life. I doubt Fisher cried himself to sleep because fans booed him.
Team Player | 4:06 p.m. Dec. 3, 2007
I loved the way Fisher played for us last year. He set and held tough screens on guys ways bigger than him every single game. He led by example, set Larry Miller straight when his comments were overly harsh, and encouraged his teammates. The Jazz are a better team without him this year, but wouldn't have been last year. He fought for the Jazz the best he could while burdened with his daughter's life/death situation, even hurrying to fly across the country to play for the Jazz after an important doctor appt. for his daughter. I hate the Lakers like no other, but I'll always respect Derek Fisher for his greatness of heart last year. I would never boo the man.
And for those who wrote that they booed him just for being a laker, that doesn't explain why you booed him every time he touched the ball, but not any of the other players. You didn't even boo the human slime-bag Kobe Bryant every time he touched the ball. I too am embarrased by the coldness of some of our fans out there.
Anonymous | 4:49 p.m. Dec. 3, 2007
Although it's disappointing to see Jazz fans boo Fisher the way they did, I'm glad that at least from a gameplay standpoint that it worked out. We now can let Brewer develope and we have extra cash to pay for D-Will's max contract so we can keep him for good! :)
half half mix | 5:56 p.m. Dec. 3, 2007
i just think that it was odd that he signed with the lakers pretty much right after he got out of his contract with the jazz. i mean, he hasnt missed any games with the lakers, which was the reason why he didnt want to stay committed with the jazz.

but applauded because the jazz are better without him. and he could join kobe on their quest just to make the playoffs.

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