There are some important details left out. When Fisher was released he told the Jazz that his daughter would receive treatment on the east coast. Derek was released out of his contract so he could move to the east coast for his daughter’s treatment. Shortly after Larry H Miller released Derek he signed with the Lakers. I’m sure it is more complicated than this but one thing is for sure, the Jazz would have never released Derek if they knew he would sign with their nemesis the Lakers. Did Derek lie? Good question.

I think Fisher was a little bit disingenuous about wanting to be be nearer where his daughter was being treated. After all he IS on the road for half of the season.

However, those girls that want to talk about liars? I have two words for you. Carlos Boozer.

'Nuff said.

How did you find out that Miller didn't know Fisher was going to join Lakers? There are people who think beyond profit or win/lose.
Fisher played like a pro..

Ridiculous, "Did Derek Lie". Derek Fisher was doing whatever he could to get his daughter treatment. He had $22 million remaining with the Jazz when he had his contract cancelled and signed with the Lakers for $14 million, giving up $8,000,000 for his daughter's health. He interviewed in many cities and found the right combination of specialists in LA with a team that would be flexible to his needs and he had comfort with.

It is pure ignorance to what a father goes through and what a classy man Derek Fisher is.

To those two ugly girls who displayed this horrible caricature of inhumanity, I would say only that you have stained your own city and team, and you represent the worst in what people are.

i'd hit it...

Low blow. Heartless.

These two degenerates just set salt lake city 10 years back, no class.

The first comment is accurate. Fisher had a face to face meeting with Larry Miller explaining that he wanted to be let out of his contract in order to be closer to NYC to care for his daughter. SHORTLY after Miller let him out of his contract he signed with the Lakers. Those are the facts. Do you really think these girls would take a personal shot at his daughter? Koster, you are an idiot if you think that. Get the facts straight before you start making accusations. If fact, Fisher is the one who isn't "classy" in that situation. He used his daughter's illness to get out of his contract and DID lie to Larry Miller's face by saying he wanted to be closer to NYC, and then signed with the Lakers.

Fisher used his daughter to manipulate the Jazz organization to get out of Utah, so we Jazz fans are using the same daughter to destroy him. What's the difference? He's a liar.

Who can blame him, Utah really does suck that much.

Wow! What a couples of classless whores! Go Lakers!

These Mormons are classes women, they are just bitter they get dominated by the Lakers each year. If anybody is a liar it's Joseph Smith the founder of the Mormon religion, saying Jesus was hanging out with the Indians.

Derek Fisher didn't lie. Fisher initially asked the Jazz to trade him and listed seven teams that played in cities where he daughter could receive better care. Larry Miller was kind enough to release him from his contract instead, but it is not like the Jazz didn't have anything to gain though.

Everyone remembers the play-off game that Fisher played in on the day he flew cross-country from his daughter's treatment in New York and made that huge 3-pointer against Golden State, but the reality is that the Jazz were happy to be rid of his contract. Fisher had played horribly for the Jazz that year with a shooting percentage in the 30s. Consider that and the emergence of Deron Williams and you don't have to reach too far to understand why the Jazz would want to get rid of such a huge contract for an aging back-up point guard.

Fisher's daughter still gets periodic treatment for her eye from the same New York facility, but also gets treatment and check-ups at that center's partnership practice in Los Angeles.

The reality is that Utah Jazz fans are looking for someone to blame for their team's lack of success. If they want to call someone a liar, why not examine how Carlos Boozer came to be a member of the Jazz. After agreeing to hand-shake deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers for a new contract if they did not pick up the option of his existing contract, Boozer then didn't sign the Cavs deal and instead went to Utah for more money. (Not less money like Derek Fisher) There is your liar Jazz fans.

Bruce,

Please provide the citation for that meeting. I'd love to see the quotes you're referring to. In fact, the following is from the press conference on July 3, 2007. The late great Larry Miller speaking:

"Derek will pursue an opportunity as a free agent with a team in a city that has highly specialized medical facilities in order to get the best possible care for his daughter. Derek has contributed greatly to the Utah Jazz organization and we are reluctant to see him go, but understand the importance of putting his family first."

There are 350 cases annually of retinoblastoma, and most result in removal of the eye of permanent blindness. Derek moved his family to a city (LA) that has a retinoblastoma clinic. Utah has a very famous eye clinic as well, but Derek knew that there would be a lot of professionals involved, and, in fact, still continues to do about half of the treatments with his daughter in New York. At the time, Derek was known to be considering LA, Cleveland, and New York.

Regardless, he took an $8,000,000 pay cut to do this for his daughter, and has been treated with the most amazing classlessness.

Ugly Utah Girls, this is the evil Derek Fisher's response to what you do. Hope you feel great!

“I’ll just say that I’m glad my wife doesn’t have to address the media because she would’ve been not too good in what to say,” Fisher said. “But this is my job. I have to be respectful to fans whether they’re positive or negative. In cheering or booing, I have to be respectful.”

Utah fans, get your story & facts straight. Fisher initially consulted with the doctor in NYC, who then referred him to his partner in LA who was the cancer specialist. Only after being referred to LA for treatment did Fisher sign with the Lakers.

And another thing, during that time Utah was a better team than the Lakers. Utah was a 4th seed, the Lakers barely made the 7-seed in the playoffs that year. So Fisher was going to a WORSE team in addition to losing out on $8 million.

Jazz fans wouldn't know classy if it smacked them in the face with the book of mormon.

in the words of Bill Simmons:

"See, here's what you get when you boo Fisher, Utah fans …

1. Bad karma. Goes without saying.

2. You just look stupid. Like you have no idea what actually happened. Fisher didn't betray you by jumping to a conference rival. The Lakers were floundering at the time.

3. You bristle every time a media member calls you the most (fill in one: bitter/angry/hostile/vicious) fans in the NBA. This illogical Fisher vendetta helps you on this front … how?

My advice as a neutral party: Let the Fisher thing go. It's creepy and ill-conceived. "

Setting aside the religion angle, these two babettes can go pound salt.

And everyone knows there's more that enough salt to be found to pound around that lake.

Now back to the Wednesday night socials for those two.

When fisher signed with the lakers, there was no pau gasol yet. And Kobe wanted a trade. Lakers were a .500 team at best. Jazz probably felt it wouldn't even matter if he went to LA. Beside, they had D-Will Ready to take over.

They should be wearing Boozer lied shirts. Utah fans should know that while yes his daughter received treatment in NYC, this doctor has a pratice in Los Angeles Cedar Sinai with all sorts of specialists that Fishers daughter needed for follow up treatments.

if it smells like trailer truck trash.. then they must be mormons

It amazes me that everyone is so worked up about the fact that these two girls would wear those shirts to the game but no one comments on the hat that reads "The Lakers are Gay".

Classless Mormon whores

These lesbians have NO class. Especially the girl (playing the male role) wearing the hat that says "Lakers are Gay". Too bad they were not interview on Live TV and asked if they knew Fisher's daughter cancer problem.

If anyone is classless it's the LA Times sports writers and Bill Plaschke from ESPN for bringing up porn and vacationing in NE in yesterday's articles. What does any of that have to do with basketball. I love how MAC thinks these two speak for all of SLC and Mojo thinks everyone in UT is Mormon. Bottom line is UT fans felt what Fisher did was shady. Derek will always be known as the barnicle of mediocrity on DWil's butt.

Are Jazz fans really saying Fisher lied in order to go play for a title contender? When Fisher left Utah, he gave up $8M and went from a team that just went to the WCF to a team that couldn't even get out of the first round two years in a row! People of Utah simply overlook these facts and believe whatever they want to believe for the sake of hate. No wonder religion is such a big thing in Utah.

Lakers move on jazz gone fishing all I got to say

Utah??? Evidently you hatch your children because you cannot possibly be parents to humans. The fact is: HIS DAUGHTER HAD CANCER!Wherever he needed to go - or - end up is, and was, based on her having cancer treatment. Do you honestly think Mr. Miller would have said "no, you cant get out of your contract because you're going to the lakers, let your daughter remain blind?" It's just a game! This is his daughter and I cannot believe you are actually defending your ignorance!!!! I'm glad we stepped on your neck!!! And everytime we come there WE WILL STEP ON IT AGAIN! You have absolutely NO CLASS!!! and deserve to be done for the summer!

No one in here knows the intimate details of what the agreement was. Anyone who says otherwise is making things up. Fisher was allowed to duck out of his contract and his reasoning was to find better care for his daughter.

His daughter is doing well now thanks to doctors in LA. Sure, he could have gone many places, but LA is where he wound up. The man lost $8 million on the deal.

Would Utah fans be willing to give up $8 million from their salary cap for the right to call him a liar?

If so, go right ahead.

If you keep that $8 million and use it to pay other players (which is what happened), then you can't say a damn word.

I'm a Jazz fan, but I dislike Derek Fisher. I didn't care for him when he played in Utah and I don't care for him now that he plays for the Lakers (who are the current biggest rivals of the Jazz.) I don't believe Derek Fisher "lied" in regards to his daughter, or the need to seek care for her, etc. It seems suspicious that he returned directly to the Lakers, however, when reports have said his daughter received care in New York. Perhaps Fisher had more relatives near LA who could assist with his other children, or with caring for his daughter when he is away on the road. I assume Fisher could have also signed with a different team, or perhaps taken a break from basketball, rather than signing right away with the Lakers. Anyway, I'm glad he doesn't play for Utah anymore.

All that being said, one comment here noted that these classless women are "Mormons." They may very well be Mormons, I have no idea. Contrary to popular opinion, not everyone in Utah is a Mormon, nor would the actions of 2 "Mormons" (if they even are) represent an entire religion with members throughout the world.

They both look like tea baggers to me.

Lets not forget, Fisher lost 7 Million to leave the Jazz and he joined a horrible Laker team who barely could make the playoffs. To make fun of his daughters eye is wrong. His 1 year old daughter had a rare form of eye cancer, how can these Jazz fans take their frustration out on his daughter? Ya'll should go kill yourself.

Two words: Carlos Boozer.

Classes Mr. Mojo? I believe you mean CLASSLESS and that is untrue about these two. They are only stating the facts, which were stated above in previous comments. Fisher DID lie to Larry H Miller by saying that he needed to move to NYC in order to care for his daughter's illness, then switched to play for the Lakers. He could have just been honest by saying he no longer wanted to play for the Jazz. I would call that a lie. This is merely a game and these girls are Jazz fans. Plenty of fans do stuff like this and don't get noted for it. It is only because they were 2nd row and were seen on TV. So get over it. Yes I am a Jazz fan, and yes I will admit the Lakers have talent, but you can thank the refs for last night's game, that was absolutely ridiculous.

Here are the facts. Aparently the Jazz knew that Fisher might shop other markets.

http://www.nba.com/jazz/news/Jazz_fisher_070702.html

The day after the contract was terminated, ESPN noted that Fisher was considering several other locations.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2924068

On the day of Fisher's press conference announcing his signing with LA, he thanked the Jazz and Miller for this gift to him. He also indicated he had thought about different markets.

http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/07osc_signdfish.html

That said, given that Fisher had been traveling to NYC for treatments for his daughter, everyone assumed he would go east. When his decision to play for the Lakers was announced just a few days after the contract with the Jazz was terminated, folks thought it was a little too convenient and thought maybe the plan had been hatched prior to the contract release.

Now this does not mean that anyone believes Fisher lied about his daughter as has been suggested. What is frustrating is that the Jazz fans liked Fisher, hoped for his best, but were extremely peeved that he showed up with the Lakers. It is like the Red Sox releasing someone thinking they are heading to Kansas City, only to have them show up in a Yankees uniform just one week later.

The real hero is Larry Miller, deceased owner of the Jazz. He probably knew what would happen, and yet he let him go even though this meant he lost the value of the players he traded to get Fisher. But, he was fine with the decision and knew more than anyone except Derek what was happening. In his memory we should probably just get over it.

We just wish Fisher would stop dropping the 3-bombs on our heads.

What you pathetic Jazz fans fail to remember, 'cause you are blinded by your own self-pity, is that when he re-signed with the Lakers...the Lakers pretty much sucked. Jazz were a better team with more promise. Remember? Jazz went further in the playoffs and Kobe was on the verge of demanding a trade because the Lakers didn't have their act together (not to mention were more than 6 months away from picking up Gasol). So if you think he was ditching your beloved team for a better one, at the time, it was the complete opposite. He left a great team for one that was on the verge of imploding. THOSE are the facts.

And the Lakers were Jazz' nemesis back then? How do you figure? The Lakers were nobody's nemesis back then, save their own.

I love that all these Fisher-lovers are calling these girls "classless", then turn around and make negative statements about the Mormon religion. WTF? Why not make fun of Jews, Muslims, Baptists, and Blacks while you're at it?

Compliments of on of the greatest Laker haters- Bill Simmons. And even HE thinks Utah fans are ridiculous and classless.

THE JOHN TERRY/WAYNE BRIDGE AWARD FOR "MOST UNCOMFORTABLY BITTER SUBPLOT"

To Jazz fans for their continuing enmity toward Derek Fisher, who asked for his release from Utah three summers ago so he could play in an NBA city that had a hospital with an advanced eye surgery wing for his cancer-stricken daughter. He signed with the Lakers … who knocked Utah out of the playoffs in 2008, '09, and now '10. Jazz fans take this personally -- even booing him during games -- and conveniently forget that Utah was happy to let Fisher go in 2007 (not only was he overpaid as a backup, but it needed the cap relief for Deron Williams' extension) and wasn't worried about the Lakers contending at the time (since they finished 42-40 and seemed headed for a Kobe trade). A few months later, Chris Wallace gift-wrapped Pau Gasol to Los Angeles and everything changed. Not Fisher's fault. I am all for booing Lakers players and fostering random vendettas against them, but not like this.

See, here's what you get when you boo Fisher, Utah fans …

1. Bad karma. Goes without saying.

2. You just look stupid. Like you have no idea what actually happened. Fisher didn't betray you by jumping to a conference rival. The Lakers were floundering at the time.

3. You bristle every time a media member calls you the most (fill in one: bitter/angry/hostile/vicious) fans in the NBA. This illogical Fisher vendetta helps you on this front … how?

My advice as a neutral party: Let the Fisher thing go. It's creepy and ill-conceived.

Nicole,

Read the earlier posts by myself, jeff, and John. Others have stated the same with reason but those 4 posts will do.

Only ignorant people would claim that Derek Fisher:

1) Lied to Larry Miller to get paid (he lost $8 million)
2) Lied to go to the Lakers (the Lakers sucked... Utah was better, Kobe was leaving, Kwame was staying)
3) Lied about the cancer options (his doctor in NYC referred him to LA, to ONE OF THE SEVEN CLINICS IN NORTH AMERICA THAT SPECIFICALLY RETINOBLASTOMAS)
4) Lied about his intended destinations (he had given a list of possibilities to Larry Miller, and everyone, even his agent, said at the press conference announcing it that multiple teams were on the list, not just NYC).

The truth is, he was getting his daughter's cancer treated. He also went back to a system and coach that he knew and would fit into. He is a classy guy who has never stooped to the ugliness that Utah has given him. How quickly they forget the inspiration they drew from his halftime return.

"thank the refs for last nights game" that's the funniest thing I've read. How about thanking your team for not showing up to a close out game and getting swept. You got beat by a better team, enjoy the off season.

I'm sure Fisher will really be concerned about how a few stupid uniformed people feel about him.

The Lied shirt with the Lakers are Gay hat....Stay Classy Salt Lake.

I wish i was there so I could beat the shit out of them. I am not a Lakers fan but I have a heart. All they wanted was some air time. First of all YALL AINT CUTE! Ugly asses. UGGHHH..Get a life. I hope when yall have kids----watch. KARMA IS A BIYATCH. Just like yall.

Here we go, calling Utah fans classless while the same accusers assume they're Mormon. Why bring religion into the argument? Do I need to state numbers of what Salt Lake City demographics truly are. Apparently, staying a couple of nights in Salt Lake covering an opposing team is enough to make you a religious expert and is good enough to pass judgment that's based on skin-deep attributes. Bottom line, anytime you profile a few passionate and mean spirited fans that hate an opposing player as Mormons you're a religious bigot. Have fun calling Utah fans hypocrites and "not having all the facts about Fisher", while you do the same with these two upset girls about arguable facts. It was their goal to get attention, and all you've done is fuel the fire, congratulations.

C'mon, are you serious, the Jazz are weak. Im a die hard Lakers fan, born and raised in LA. Can you really blame Fisher for not wanting to play in Utah. Fisher didnt lie, you Jazz fans are ignorant, if it was your daughter you would do whatever it took to make sure she got the best help possible. Oh and to the comment by Nicole, LOL your blaming the refs for last nights game? UTAH JAZZ plain and simple GOT SMASHED!!! They dont match up with the Lakers, we are just too good for you, and I believe that makes it 3 straight years we beat the Jazz in playoffs. As for those to ugly girls I saw on tv saying Fisher Lied, psshhhh, well his numbers didnt lie in this series, so take that, embarassed you on your own home court. That is all.

PS:Boozer and Korver free agents next season=Jazz continuing to get smashed by the Lakers,

Nicole, Fisher DID lie? Really? I don't think anyone here has any proof of what was said or agreed to in a closed door meeting between Fisher and Miller, and to state anything as fact is baseless and ignorant.

Also, it may sting Jazz fans that he went to the Lakers because they are now Utah's biggest "rivals" (shouldn't even be called a rivalry since it's so one-sided), but at the time it happened, the Lakers and Jazz were just two teams in the Western Conference.

Furthermore, does any Utah fan actually believe Fisher would have made a difference if he had stayed on the Jazz over the last three years? You've got to be kidding. True, those girls didn't speak for all of SLC, but after reading so many comments from Jazz fans, I don't have much hope for the rest of the city.

Notice only women commenters are siding with these two skanks for making fun of a guy getting treatment for his daughter that had eye cancer.

Bunch of sexist, father-hating, matriarchal, feminist bitches.

http://www.lakers-fan.com/wp-content/uploads/fishfancopy.jpg

Utah fan making fun of Derek Fisher's daughter's eye cancer.

Duktig1, well said. (If only Fisher did shoot so dismally when he played for Utah!) Seriously, I'm glad he doesn't play for Utah any more. Wes Matthews, Deron Williams > Derek Fisher.

Did anyone else sense the irony in posters here saying things like "Mormon whores" etc.? Isn't this the sort of problematic talk we castigate the girls for when they wear "Fisher Lied" T-shirts? I'm actually somewhat surprised such comments made it through the blog moderation. Kyle Koster, some consistency please.

News flash to all of you idiots that are talking about something you know nothing about. I have a friend who's daughter is 15 and has had this condition (retinoblastoma) since birth. She had one eye removed at 1 year old and has been cancer free ever since then. And guess what oh ye misinformed? She was treated at Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Check your facts before you shoot your mouth off. Fisher wanted out of Utah and he used this as a convenient excuse to get out.

Eaton,

>Fisher used his daughter to manipulate the Jazz organization to get out of Utah, so we Jazz fans are using the same daughter to destroy him. What's the difference? He's a liar.

If this is what you really think, you're a sad, sad person.

May God bless you...

Umm..why hasn't anyone mentioned the fact that Derek Fisher was a LAKER to begin with? He spent a measly year in Utah and these retards act like he's John fucking Stockton going to the Sonics...oooo, the ultimate betrayal. STFU and worry about figuring out how to quit choking in the playoffs instead.

And this isn't to all Jazz fans obviously, just the goons who are still bitter about some nonsense.

Duktig1, well said. (If only Fisher did shoot so dismally when he played for Utah!) Seriously, I'm glad he doesn't play for Utah any more. Wes Matthews, Deron Williams > Derek Fisher.

Did anyone else sense the irony in posters here saying things like "Mormon whores" etc.? Isn't this the sort of problematic talk we castigate the girls for when they wear "Fisher Lied" T-shirts? I'm actually somewhat surprised such comments made it through the blog moderation. Kyle Koster, some consistency please.

Fisher re-signed with the Lakers NOT KNOWING that:

1)Bynum would emerge as a dominant center.
2)Pao Gasol would join the team mid-season.

Fisher DID know that: Kobe wanted to be traded.

At the time, Fish probably thought (not unlike the rest of Laker nation) that this was still a team in transition and not the champions they were to become. Of course he didn't lie. Of course he was only thinking of taking care of his kid.

Ladies, enjoy your eternity in Internet Loserville. Now will somebody please print their names too?

To the people who think Fisher lied: Let's imagine if you were Fisher, right? Okay, so you're Fisher and your daughter had eye cancer. Utah doesn't have the place for that treatment, so what do you do? You find somewhere else to play to get better treatment or whatever. Then, you say you were going to New York, but Los Angeles also has better treatment, what do you do? Would you choose to go to a non-worthy team that has the good treatment or to the Championship team, that also has better treatment? I mean, you'd have to be a dumb s***, to go to a losing team and have better treatment, when you can go onto a championship team and get the treatment too. But then again, that's Utah people for you. ;)

Who cares what these Utah c*nts think.

It's funny how all the Jazz fans say, "Lakers are our biggest rivals" "It's like a Red-Sox player going to the Yankee's". As a Laker fan I know for sure our biggest rival is Boston and after that, maybe Denver? All I know is the Jazz are not even in the top 3 "rival wise".

I know about this, my daughter had the same type of cancer as Derek's daughter. One of the top doctors in the world that treats Retinoblastoma works at the Children's Hospital in Los Angeles. We took our daughter from Seattle to LA to see him. Yes, Derek ended up having his daughter treated by another top doctor in NY, but I'm sure he initially went to LA for the exact reasons he gave.

This makes me sick. This comes up every time the Lakers play Utah in the playoffs. Last time some Utah fans were holding their hands over their eyes when Fisher was on the floor (Retinoblastoma is eye cancer).

@gooba tooba

Fisher's kid didn't have to lose an eye. Maybe this was the advantage of being in LA vs. SLC? Who knows? Honestly, that's Fisher's business and if the Jazz didn't agree to free him up, then they wouldn't have let him out of the contract.

We're worse than the Lakers on the court. Deal with it.
Just don't make us worse than them off the court. Have some grace and dignity.

------------------------------
By gooba tooba on May 11, 2010 4:25 PM
News flash to all of you idiots that are talking about something you know nothing about. I have a friend who's daughter is 15 and has had this condition (retinoblastoma) since birth. She had one eye removed at 1 year old and has been cancer free ever since then. And guess what oh ye misinformed? She was treated at Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Check your facts before you shoot your mouth off. Fisher wanted out of Utah and he used this as a convenient excuse to get out.
-------------------------------

How these two girls can speak like this ?what if it is your dauther? Maybe she just do nothing let her not taking care of .SO so face corbra heart ,totally ugly!!!!

Mormon girls are hawt!!! I have been to a game in Utah and the fans are passionate, but way cool if you actually talk to them. Most seem to be Mormon, but growing up in the west, most of us know a few Mormon girls and have probably dated one. They are all different. Appears these girls and Fisher both did wrongs. Lets not feed negative attention.

Mike,

Just for your information Utah has one of the BEST cancer treatment facilities in the country; so to say that they didn't have the proper place is not likely.

I bet these girls wearing the "Fisher Lied" shirts wanted fisher to get the best treatment for his daughter. They probably (as I do) feel that Fisher somewhat took advantage of Larry H. Miller because he is a nice guy and WOULD void his contract for the reason of his daughter needing proper treatment. I know that I personally care that his daughter is cured of her eye cancer, but I also feel that he didn't have to take advantage of Larry Miller to go play for the Lakers. Oh and just because Gasol wasn't on the Lakers at that time, or Kobe was going to be traded, they probably were still a better team than Utah (I will admit) so of course he wanted to go play for them. He just didn't have to say that he was going to NYC when in reality, he wasn't.

Also, you rude people who diss Mormons, you have no idea if those two are even Mormon and probably know nothing about the religion. so get YOUR facts straight. adios.

gooba tooba,

Good thing you mentioned your friend's experience. Fisher may have heard about it when he was doing the research since this illness is so rare. This story probably scared him away from seeking treatment in Utah. Look at the difference, his daughter didn't lose her eye. Her sight is 50% back and the cancer is beaten back.

Next time when it happens to your other friends, tell them to go to NYC or LA.

Hello All,

This debate can be ended very simply. That stat lines tell the whole story as to why Jazz fans are frustrated and looking for any and all scapegoats i.e. Derek Fisher.

Lakers - 16 Championships
Derek Fisher - 4 Championships
Jazz - 0 (nada, nil, zip, zero, zilch)Championships

Do you hear the silence? I do.

Typical treatment for an infant with retinoblastoma was surgery to remove the cancerous eye. Fisher's daughter was going to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Center in New York for an experimental treatment that could save her eye. Huntsman Eye Institute was not performing that experimental treatment at that time. Her initial chemo regimen was finished around the time of the 2007 playoffs. Fisher and Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller (RIP) agreed to terminate his contract so he could move to the New York or Los Angeles area. Fisher's NY oncologist had a partner/colleague at Cedars-Sinai in LA that was familiar with his daughter's treatment. Also, Fisher's wife's family was also in LA, and everyone knows how important a strong support system is for cancer sufferers. So Fisher took a pay cut to sign with an inferior team in the summer of 2007. Why are people still defending classless Utah fans? Just beneath contempt.

It's funny to read the mormon hate comments when those commenting probably believe fairy tales that are just as illogical.

haha. jazz fans are just bitter haters. they were just trying to do anything to get an advantage. best part was it just made fish play better. hey jazz fans, how you like being beat by the lakers 3 straight yrs! enough said. and how many championships you got? it's not really even worth comparing the lakers with the jazz. it's like comparing these 2 fugly chicks with la girls. (is that a mustache on the one on the left?) and mormons? what a bunch of losers and hypocrites. family values my butt. if you like having multiple wives. and you're all going to hell anyway.

What pathetic skanks. They probably think that they are boosting their team but everyone who saw them on TV thought, "Is Utah such a desert wasteland that they would allow that to go on in their arena? Is Utah full of nasty, puny-minded people? Who would do such thing?"
They really brought down the image of Utah even lower than it was before, if that's possible.

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Lucy

http://businesseshome.net

Okay, to the people saying Larry Miller thought Fisher was signing on the east coast-that is patently false. The situation all along was Derek wanted to sign with either the Knicks, Nets, Lakers, or Clippers. The Lakers were in the best position to sign him, and it was home for him for a long time. As far as the argument that "he's on the road half the time anyway," that's craziness. Families usually live in the hometown of the team, period. And Fish GAVE UP 8 MILLION BUCKS to sign with a WORSE team (at the time). Bottom line: Utah fans are pretty low class. That's been well-documented.

I am a Jazz fan living in Utah and while those two women had every right to wear those shirts, I am embarrassed in the fact that they did. I don't like Derek Fisher. I didn't like him when he was a Laker. Didn't like him when he was a Warrior. Didn't like it when the Jazz signed him. Didn't like how he under-performed while with the Jazz, although with the situation he was in I find it hard to blame him for it. Now I don't like him as a Laker again. I was happy that the Jazz let him out of his contract and he went to what was then a crappy Laker team. I thought it was fitting for him. It was proof to me that it was purely a personal move to get better care for his daughter. He had no idea that the Grizzlies owner would offer up one of the best presents in the history of the league in Gasol the following year and win a championship. The minority of Jazz fans that cannot see that are just bitter and need to get over it.

That said, all of the people above calling the two mis-guided females "classes" or "classless" and then assuming they are Mormon or that they somehow represent ALL Jazz fans or the Mormon religion are equally classless and completely ignorant. This has to do with the opinion of TWO women who were looking to get air time, NOT Jazz fans as a whole and NOTHING to do with religion. Making fun of Jazz fans in general, the state of Utah, or a religion you apparently know nothing about, only makes you look stupid.

Personally I enjoyed watching this series. The Lakers had a lot more talent while the Jazz were without their starting center for the entire series, without their starting small forward for the first two games and only played limited minutes in the last two, had significant injuries to their starting point guard and power forward, and their starting shooting guard was an undrafted rookie. The team showed heart and grit and had opportunities to win all of the first three games and even came back to make it at least respectable in the last game. But as the saying goes - "almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades". Lakers got scoreboard. A sweep is a sweep is a sweep. The better team won and I only have one thing left to say...

GO SUNS!!!!!

All of the comments with nasty and crass generalizations about these two makes you just as low as them. You sound like a bunch of mean high school girls. I guess you figure if you can't beat em, join em. So keep arguing about whether ALL Utah fans are low class while Derek (flopper) gets owned by Nash - similar to when he gets owned by DWill.

hey u losers i am a lakers fan, and the reason u guys only care about what Fisher did is because his team just kicked ur team asses and swept them in the playoffs. the jazz werent even good with him so get over it.u guys are all babies and u will be babies until ur team wins a championship which wont be for a very long time, so u will be crying for a long time. GO LAKERS!!!!

clifford that is brilliant and i agree wholeheartedly. u guys are bitter little babys who need to dig themselves in a whold and go have 3489 kids while u are at it.

Megan Lisonbee is the one on the right's name.

Sometimes fans are a little fanatic. These two girls were hyped up about the game, the rivalry and such. I heard the older sister say on a local radio station she wouldn't do it again based upon what has happened and how it was interpreted. Certainly, some basketball fans have made some comments on this blog that lean toward exactly what these gals did. Religious comments are totally out of place, regardless of what or if these particular gals even practice a specific religion. Derek's a great guy and the fans loved him while he was here and probably think a lot about him and his daughter now he's gone. But remember, it's basketball and people do stupid things, like yell at refs, cuss at players and generally make fools out of themselves. In games and on blogs. It's part of the game.

1 day after Fisher was released from his contract his agent began negotiating with the Lakers for their full-midlevel exception. Fisher knew exactly what he was doing. The Jazz let him go so that's on them, but Fisher playing the "victim" because nba fans boo him is laughable.

Also, I found it ironic that two TNT announcers, one of whom bit and raped a woman and another whom grabbed and held his crotch in front of Spike Lee's wife would be so appalled.

sooo....all you idiots, i happen to know these two girls personally. none of you even know what they are like so NONE of you have the right to comment about them or say what they are cause you know nothing of them! their shirts....just a joke but you are all freaks and cant take a joke i guess. they are die hard fans and im pretty sure iv seen other ridiculous shirts just like theirs at past games, so get over it. and all the comments about mormons, ridiculous! just cause they are from utah doesnt mean anything and has nothing to do with what they are wearing. so annoying reading all these comments when you dont know a thing about them.

ANYONE WHO THINKS THAT THESE GIRLS ARE WRONG NEED TO GET THEIR OWN FACTS STRAIGHT. DON'T TAKE IT FROM THE CLUELESS COMMENTARY AT THE GAME. DANG THOSE GIRLS ARE HOT!

TBONE

wow al this negative hate. Why aren't you laker fans out in the fields picking lettuce and tomatoes today instead of playing on the internet. I know these two girls and they are Catholic. Most of you are bashing your own religion. Salt Lake has less than 50%
of the people that are Mormons and of that percentage only about half are active in the church. So all you Laker fans without your GED's get your facts straight before you go back to work at Taco Bell or back to picking lettuce

How do you mormon hating bigots know that these girls are mormon? Your words are no better (many of the comments worse) than these girls' t-shirts. Is Fisher and his family worth defending? Absolutely. I find it interesting that you defend Fisher at the expense of being a bigot.

Good people do and say stupid things all the time...just look at the comments above. Just because there are some small minded Jazz fans that can't come up with something better to try and get into the Lakers heads, doesn't mean you are justified to paint with broad strokes and say Utah sucks, mormons suck, and call these girls whores. I get so tired of people making blanket statements about other groups of people, religions, races, sexual preferences, etc... Do we still live in the dark ages? Have we not evolved as a human race?

Man, I need to go to my happy place now.

Here's what most people who have never been to Utah don't understand: 95% of the fans are diehard Jazz fans. Of those 95%, 60% are borderline racist based on every slur I've heard at multiple Jazz games. The remarks made aren't just directed at the players, they're at the refs as well. Jazz fans in Utah are beyond bitter.

There's no doubt they love their team, but these girls really do represent what a large majority of Utah fans truly BELIEVE. They actually BELIEVE that Derek Fisher wanted to leave Utah and sign with the Lakers because he's some sort of heartless bastard. All this did was elevate the class of so many of the Jazz fans to a global level, and thankfully the world was able to see just how truly sad so many of them really are.

People need to look into this matter, Salt Lake City's health care facilities, etc. BEFORE writing an article about it.

First, Fisher claimed he wanted to move to a city where his daughter could receive the best care....Meanwhile, one of the best children's hospital and cancer research/treatment hosptial in the world is in Salt Lake City (Primary Children's Hospital and Huntsman Cancer Institute). People from all over the country/world bring their children to Salt Lake City for serious health issue concerns and cancer treatment.

Second, Fisher was taking his daughter to NY to see a doctor. Soon after he's released for his stated reason, he signs with LA...reports are that their were secret talks between the Lakers and Fisher prior too his release.

Hearing why Fisher wanted a release 2 years ago when it happened, I thought "why doesn't he go up the street for his daughter's care? It's one of the best places in the world for children's care." Also, if his doctor would was in NY, why didn't he move there if he needed to be "closer" for his daughter's care? Isn't NY to LA FURTHER than NY to Salt Lake???

What would you think knowing these facts???

People need to look into this matter, Salt Lake City's health care facilities, etc. BEFORE writing an article about it.

First, Fisher claimed he wanted to move to a city where his daughter could receive the best care....Meanwhile, one of the best children's hospital and cancer research/treatment hosptial in the world is in Salt Lake City (Primary Children's Hospital and Huntsman Cancer Institute). People from all over the country/world bring their children to Salt Lake City for serious health issue concerns and cancer treatment.

Second, Fisher was taking his daughter to NY to see a doctor. Soon after he's released for his stated reason, he signs with LA...reports are that their were secret talks between the Lakers and Fisher prior too his release.

Hearing why Fisher wanted a release 2 years ago when it happened, I thought "why doesn't he go up the street for his daughter's care? It's one of the best places in the world for children's care." Also, if his doctor would was in NY, why didn't he move there if he needed to be "closer" for his daughter's care? Isn't NY to LA FURTHER than NY to Salt Lake???

What would you think knowing these facts???

I've been a Jazz fan all my life and would have loved Fish to stay with the Jazz. Now the calling Fish a liar.. whatever. As a father I would try to get the best for my kids as well but could he honestly not pay for airline tickets? The man was making how many millions and couldn't fly a few hours to go to different doctors? Whatever. Plain and simple he isn't on the Jazz squad anymore. I don't know how many fans boo Fish personally.. it's more because he is dressed like a pansy in the purple and gold. For that matter I booed louder when Malone came to play against Utah and yet there is a freaking statue outside of the building of him and I still think of when he bailed to go to LA... and laugh every time I think of LA that year getting it handed to them in the playoffs.

The MAJORITY of you are all CLASSLESS Fans/Bloggers! It is called a sporting event where you try to get into the head of the opposing team and ALL the players know it is not personal! This is Nothing like the majority of the other NBA cities where they have done much worse than BOO a player that used to play for them!

Kobey Rapist chants is some of the more tame chants I have heard, many other fan chants have the F*$% word with horrible profanity around children yet you hypocrites never harp on those cities or fans for being classless! Chanting Boo and 2 people with an accurate t-shirt slogan about "lying", just to try to get into Fishers head, big freaking deal! There is no profanity there, there is no drunken brawls there with opposing fans (like many other of your drunken fool/classless fans and cities revel in!) Get off your soap box!

Fisher stated his Doctor was in NY and that is the area he wanted to move close to for care! (even though NYC is 1.5 hour flight from SLC). While he eventually got some care in L.A. (driving commute time probably still at least 1.5 hours), at least for a while, he continued getting care with his primary specialist in NYC across the country! Fisher NEVER listed L.A. as a potential site, however before he was even granted a release, the radio reported sources that he had a verbal deal with the Lakers and he NEVER told the Jazz that! I call that Lying, so if you have a problem calling a spaid a spaid, shame on you. Nobody had a problem with him taking care of his daughter, the problem was the dishonest way he went about doing this while making back room deals and keeping the truth from the Jazz Organization and Fans until AFTER he got his release, then it was Fu%# you Jazz! You know he was saying ha ha ha I already had a deal with the Lakers all along and now you can't do anything about it!

Fisher was released from his contract with the Jazz in order to seek better cancer treatment for his daughter. He conveniently decided to go back and play for the Flakers, the Number 1 nemesis of the Jazz the past decade. Everyone knows many of the best doctors are in the NY area (in fact when Fisher brought his daughter in for treatment during that memorable playoff game, it was to NYC). He could've done them a favor and looked to play for an East Coast team like the Knicks or Nets. But he backstabbed them, like the lowlife he is. Fisher's the dirtiest NBA player I've seen in a long time and he's a snake when it comes to common courtesy.

I'm amazed at what the vocal minority can stir up. The Utah Derek Fisher haters are the vocal minority, TRUST ME.
Unbelievable that two ridiculous women - ONLY TWO - can stir up so much hate against the Mormon culture. Try to connect those dots.
It sucks to watch Fisher destroy us in the playoffs, but good for him and we wish the best to him and his daughter.

First off, the man is a professional athlete who gets paid millions of dollars for his craft. When one is in this position, they had better be ready for whatever the opposing fans dish out, it’s open season. Further, ESA was voted by NBA players to be the most intimidating venue in the League to play in as a visitor, so it’s not just Fish that takes a beating there. Where do you think the term “home court advantage” comes from? When my friends and I go to any sporting event where we’re seated close enough to heckle the opposition, we pull together player stats, news items from their personal exploits, quotes of stupid comments they've made and anything else we can use to get under their skin. If Derek Fisher put his daughter’s condition out for public consumption, let alone used it as a point of negotiation to get out of a legal contract, that was his choice. I’m sure if Derek would have asked Larry Miller to keep the reason close to the vest, the press would have been told he was released from the contract for personal or family reasons, but it was more important to Derek to bask in public sympathy. So, if Laker fans want to make Fish a hero, go ahead, but likewise, Jazz fans should have the same right to think he’s a lying douche` bag. GO SUNS!

No one in Utah would be complaining if Fisher had gone to the Clippers.

These 2 sat in front of me earlier in the season when the jazz played against the suns. The one on the left looks like she's 25 going on 45 and the one on the right needs to eat a steak. regardless... t-shirts or not they looks stupid. the jazz got swept. idk why you would wear that to a game where your team is down 0-3 and they're playing the defending champions.. stupid stupid stupid

The hat on the girl says: "The Lakers Are Gay" and the word "Gay" is in rainbow colors. Wow. Stay classy, Utah!!

Quit taking shots at a religion over this. I don't see any shirt on either women that say's I'm Mormon. Not everyone in Utah is Mormon you know. It's just as tasteless to be taking shots at the Mormon church as it was to wear these shirts.

So what if he signed with the Lakers?
What everyone who is complaining about him signing with the Lakers conveniently forgets is that Lakers were pretty awful at the time. They were bounced out of the playoffs by Phoenix in the first round two years in row, they had wasted Kobe's best statistical seasons by teaming him with the likes of Kwame Brown and Smush Parker. They were a team that was sputtering and going nowhere fast, and Kobe was begging to be traded elsewhere.
Kobe's agent, Rob Pelinka, almost engineered a trade to the Bulls. If the Bulls would have included Luol Deng in their offers, the Lakers would have made traded Kobe to Chicago. When the Bulls wouldn't budge on Deng (The Lakers wanted Tyrus Thomas, Kirk Heinrich, and Luol Deng, the Bulls offered Thomas, Heinrich, and Ben Gordon. They weren't willing to trade Luol Deng, to get Kobe, I am not kidding you!), they tried getting Sacramento involved in a three team trade to get Artest, but Bulls still kept lowballing the Lakers.
Fisher signed with the Lakers 1.)because the doctors at Children's Hospital told him they could treat his daughter's cancer without removing her eye, 2.)the Lakers could offer him a starting job, 3.) as a former Laker, he was familiar with the organization, the coaching staff, the city, etc., 4.) he is a close friend of Kobe, though it was entirely possible that Kobe might not be on the team much longer. He didn't hoodwink the Jazz because of some conspiracy to sign for a contender. He signed with a team that was much worse off than the Jazz, at least on paper.
Out of nowhere, the team started to click while Kobe was still sulking and distant. Then Bynum started to happen, and Kobe only started to buy in like in January, when the Lakers really started getting hot, only to see Bynum go out hurt. Not wanting to spoil a good run, Mitch Kupchak, who apparently had been calling the Grizzlies for about a year about Gasol without anyone in the media finding out, was able to swing the trade that finally turn the Lakers around.
So to recap, if Fisher, who was a backup to Deron Williams who did not play much for the Jazz, screwed the Jazz over by signing with the rival Lakers, then he must have known 1.) that the Bulls were going to be too dumb to trade for Kobe because they would overvalue their own assets, 2.) that a vastly inferior (to the Jazz at least, at least on paper) Laker team would coalesce around his and Phil Jackson's leadership while Kobe still wanted out, 3.) that his friendship with Kobe was so strong that he could eventually win him over to where Kobe finally accepted being a part of that Laker team, 4.) that Andrew Bynum would average a double-double before getting hurt, 5.) that Lakers were going to recover by trading for Pau Gasol, 6.) that Memphis would accept a pennies on the dollar trade for Gasol because their owner was so tired of paying money for a team that kept swept in the first round that he was willing to blow the Grizzlies up before other teams realized there was a firesale going on and make the trade a month before the trade deadline, 7.)that the Lakers were going to win the Gasol sweepstakes when no one thought they has the assets to make that deal, especially when the Bulls, who again kept overvaluing their own talent, had been trying and failing to get Gasol for years. If Fisher could have foreseen all that would happen to make the Lakers a contender, then yes, you could say he screwed the Jazz over and lied to them.

The Lakers can really pull the trigger on a CP3 deal or at least something with more bang than a Steve Blake pick up then they'll be in really great shape. i am trying to figure out the cheapest Lakers Tickets to atttend next game but it looks like the parking ticket is the closest ill get to see the game. I found Ticketwood.com to work the best .Anyway , The Lakers are on top for a reason.