Derek Fisher's Chips on His Shoulders

Derek Fisher had to go through the taunting as he goes through his free-throw ritual. It was just years ago when he was adored by the Utah Jazz fans helping them all the way to the conference finals but Derek requested out of the Jazz contract to help his ailing daughter Tatum who was diagnosed with retinoblastoma and so he signed with the Lakers to get the right specialist for his daughter. He was giving up almost $8 million for his family by signing a three-year $14 million contract instead of the Jazz $22 million three-year guaranteed contract. The Jazz fans booed him every time he touches the ball and when he shoots free-throws some fans would cover half their eye which was a bad joke referring to Fisher’s ill daughter Tatum. It became personal to them and Fisher became personal also. He was instrumental on game 3 hitting a crucial three with less than a minute left to play in the game. The Lakers move on sweeping the Utah Jazz and will be facing the Phoenix Suns on their Western conference finals battle. When the last second came and the buzzer ended Derek was happy and relieved that they are done with the resilient Utah Jazz. The boos and taunting suddenly became a mere whisper as Fisher walk on to the dugout. Days from now Fisher will be facing another talented point guard from Phoenix. Steve Nash who was also has his share of heartaches when they were always eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs many playoffs ago. Redemption came with a sweep to the aging Spurs and even with 6 stitches on his eye on an inadvertent elbow by Tim Duncan, Steve went on playing with one eye and went on to win their first ever 4 games sweep on San Antonio. Derek Fisher and Steve Nash have earned the respect they have been waiting for in a long time… and Fisher is slowly putting a smile on his face… It’s not about redemption or acceptance it’s just that after all the taunting and pains he just learn to move on. It won’t be easy playing against Nash but at least Fish won’t be carrying those chips on his shoulders.