Fisher released from Jazz to care for daughter

[asudevil83]

Fisher Leaves Jazz

Point Guard to Care For Infant Daughter With Cancer

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The Utah Jazz agreed to release guard Derek Fisher from his contract Monday so he can concentrate on finding the best care for his 11-month-old daughter, who has cancer in her left eye.
Fisher said he wants to live in one of the six or seven cities being considered for Tatum's care.

He didn't rule out playing for another NBA team but emphasized that his daughter's health is his No. 1 priority.

"Life for me outweighs the game of basketball," Fisher told reporters after flying from New York to meet with Jazz owner Larry H. Miller and other team executives.

"When it comes to decisions related to them," he said of his family, "I do what's best."

The Jazz acquired Fisher a year ago in a trade with the Golden State Warriors. During eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, he was part of three NBA championships -- experience that Utah's young team craved.

In May, his daughter was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a cancerous tumor in her left eye. The danger is that it could spread to her brain or the rest of her body.

Fisher at times fought exhaustion trying to balance basketball and his daughter's welfare. He spent a day at a New York hospital in May, then flew to Utah for a Western Conference semifinal game against Golden State.

Only 350 cases of retinoblastoma are diagnosed each year in North America, according to Dr. A. Linn Murphree, director of the retinoblastoma program at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, who is not involved in the Fisher case.

In most cases, patients lose the eye rather than undergo chemotherapy, but there are exceptions.

After the news conference, Fisher and wife Candace were flying to New York for another medical appointment Tuesday.

"Outwardly she's doing great. Her spirits are good," Fisher said of Tatum.
He said his desire to leave Utah does not mean that medical care here is weak. Rather, Fisher said he and his wife need a place that has the "right combination" of specialists.

He declined to identify the cities under consideration. Many NBA players work apart from their families, but it's not an option for him. He and Candace have four children.

"For me and my family, we just don't believe in it. ... I don't think I could be the player I could be if I had to carry that load," Fisher said.

Wiping away tears, Miller said Fisher "leaves a legacy" of leadership and toughness for Utah's young players.

"He's focused on the most important thing," the owner said of Fisher's request to leave the Jazz.

Fisher doesn't want to retire but acknowledged it's a possibility.

"I'll be 33 in August. I'm 6-1. I averaged 10 points this year," he said. "I don't know how many people feel strongly about what I do."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/nba/07/02/bc.bkn.jazz.fisher.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

dont quite know what to say on this one here.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

Hell, I'd love to have him on this team. Do we have any world-class cancer treatment centers here?

 

[JCSunsfan]

Barrow Neurological Institute would be one of the best place in the US for this type of treatment.

 

[JCSunsfan]

This is an unusual story where more important issues reign. Kudos to the Jazz and to Fisher.

I did'nt know that they could do this though. Won't his salary still count against their cap?

 

[elindholm]

Best wishes to Fisher's daughter and the rest of his family.

 

[asudevil83]

This is an unusual story where more important issues reign. Kudos to the Jazz and to Fisher.

I did'nt know that they could do this though. Won't his salary still count against their cap?

i believe it does.

but sometimes their are more important things than cap figures, and i'm glad that their are still some higher ups in the NBA who still realize that.

 

[Mainstreet]

This is an unusual story where more important issues reign. Kudos to the Jazz and to Fisher.

I did'nt know that they could do this though. Won't his salary still count against their cap?

IMO it shouldn't being the Jazz did the right thing. I congratulate them. Perhaps this is one of those times that Stern should use some discretion in making an exception for the good of the game. Everything is not always black and white.

 

[boisesuns]

IMO it shouldn't being the Jazz did the right thing. I congratulate them. Perhaps this is one of those times that Stern should use some discretion in making an exception for the good of the game. Everything is not always black and white.

except for when you leave the bench....

 

[dreamcastrocks]

This is an unusual story where more important issues reign. Kudos to the Jazz and to Fisher.

I did'nt know that they could do this though. Won't his salary still count against their cap?

It will, but after a year, can they apply for a "medical" excemption? Usually it is used for players that are chronically injured and can't play, maybe they can go that route.

 

[Mainstreet]

except for when you leave the bench....

 

[Goldfield]

I always loved Fisher. Tuff hard nosed player.

He has a spot on one of my teams anyday.

 

[Cheesebeef]

big props to both Fisher for putting family first and even bigger for Utah putting Fisher's family first.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Stern is a rules guy. There is no way in the world he would make an exception for this. They haven't made exceptions when the players DIED.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

big props to both Fisher for putting family first and even bigger for Utah putting Fisher's family first.

Larry Miller is a family guy, so it is not surprising that he would do this. Although, if Fisher just said he was retiring, then what recourse would anyone have anyways?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Larry Miller is a family guy, so it is not surprising that he would do this. Although, if Fisher just said he was retiring, then what recourse would anyone have anyways?

Are they going to leave a roster spot for him? I would imagine that they would.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

Stern is a rules guy. There is no way in the world he would make an exception for this. They haven't made exceptions when the players DIED.

That might actually be a good thing. If a players death resulted in freeing up cap room, some whacked out fan may entertain the idea of offing a non-productive, overpaid player on their favorite team to free up cap space.

 

[Gaddabout]

That might actually be a good thing. If a players death resulted in freeing up cap room, some whacked out fan may entertain the idea of offing a non-productive, overpaid player on their favorite team to free up cap space.

Hmmm ...

 

[azirish]

That might actually be a good thing. If a players death resulted in freeing up cap room, some whacked out fan may entertain the idea of offing a non-productive, overpaid player on their favorite team to free up cap space.

That sounds like a plot in some dark comedy.

 

[JCSunsfan]

"No problem Mr. Soprano! When I heard you bought the team, I had my agent put that opt out clause in my contract so that I could opt out any time you ask me to. I'll be just as happy to sign for the minimum somewhere else if that's what you want. Now, could you call Carmine and tell him everything's OK."

 

[fordronken]

That sounds like a plot in some dark comedy.

You must be thinking of my new screenplay, "Hey, Why Didn't Marcus Banks Show Up To Practice Today?"

 

[Covert Rain]

except for when you leave the bench....

LMAO. Good point.

At any rate, I wish for the best in regards to his daughter.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

You must be thinking of my new screenplay, "Hey, Why Didn't Marcus Banks Show Up To Practice Today?"

Is that the prequel to Marion, Marion Who?

 

[arwillan]

mad props to fisher and to the jazz. good to see people putting what is more important before money and basketball.

 

[Forrestham]

Derek Fisher is a class act of a human being. My thoughts and prayers are for his family. Since he walked away from that contract, the Jazz will not be paying him so there should be extra cap room. If a player died in the middle of a contract the team would still be obligated to pay him unless he did something excluded in his contract

 

[D-Dogg]

I love Fish and wish he and his family (especially his daughters) all the best.