Best of 2007: Derek Fisher Delivers Under Fire

When you sit down and think about it—I mean really think about it—2007 was full of great sports memories.

There was, after all, Appalachian State's upset over Michigan, the Colorado Rockies' amazing run to the World Series, Tiger Woods' relentless march towards Jack Nicklaus' record 18 Major wins, and Barry Bonds' pursuit of Hank Aaron's hallowed home run record—just to name a few.

But there was one story that transcended sport, and triggered emotions rarely touched by the action between the lines.

It was Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals, and the Utah Jazz were in serious trouble against the Golden State Warriors. Starting point guard Deron Williams had just picked up his fourth foul with 3:18 to go in the third quarter, and Dee Brown, the only other ball-handler available at tip-off, was at the hospital following a nasty collision with teammate Mehmet Okur.

Derek Fisher should have been on the bench, but he had more pressing issues to deal with—namely the health of his 10-month-old daughter Tatum.

Tatum had been diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer.  She'd had surgery to remove the tumor earlier that afternoon, forcing Fisher to miss most of Game Two (he had also missed Game One to be with Tatum).

I remember watching the action live, and hearing the Delta Center crowd give an ovation louder than any I'd heard that night.

Fisher had flown to Utah from New York after the surgery, then changed and stretched in the locker room and walked out to the arena floor. But he didn't stop at the bench—he walked right past his empty seat, took off his shooting top, gave coach Jerry Sloan a handshake and hug, and checked in at the scorer's table.

He went on to force a crucial turnover, and hit a game-clinching three pointer in overtime—his only field goal attempt of the night.

But the story was about more than what happened on the court. It was about an athlete  and a father who overcame his emotional hardship, if only for a few minutes, to help his teammates win a crucial playoff game.

The whole thing got to me. I had tears in my eyes. And if you saw it, I bet you did, too.

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