Trying day ends well for ex-Warrior Fisher

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Trying day ends well for ex-Warrior Fisher
By Mark Emmons
Mercury News
Article Launched: 05/10/2007 01:49:50 AM PDT

SALT LAKE CITY - The crowd rose to its feet at EnergySolutions Arena and
exploded with a thunderous cheer late in the third quarter Wednesday night.

Derek Fisher had arrived.

Finally.

Fisher, the former Warriors guard, had just flown back into town from New
York, where his young daughter had undergone a surgical procedure for a rare
form of eye cancer earlier in the day.

That operation was a success, and the prognosis for 10-month-old Tatum is
good. Then, after rushing to the arena, Fisher became a hero. His three-point
shot with 1:06 remaining in overtime helped Utah seal a thrilling 127-117
playoff victory over the Warriors.

"I don't know how I played tonight," an emotional Fisher said.
"I really don't."

But there was no doubt about what had been the highlight for him on this
remarkable and gut-wrenching day.

"Seeing my daughter's smiling face on the flight all the way home was the
best thing I have ever seen in my life," Fisher said, his voice quivering
and his eyes red.

In recent days the state of Utah has followed the plight of Fisher's family
closely. He missed Game1 of this Western Conference semifinal series and
hadn't been with the team since Monday morning. While it was known that his
absence involved a medical problem with one of his four children, it was only
after the game that he told the story of what has been a traumatic week.

His daughter's condition was diagnosed last Wednesday as retinoblastoma.
Monday morning, they traveled to New York to meet with specialists. Tatum
then underwent a three-hour procedure Wednesday at New York Presbyterian
Hospital.

"It's the most helpless feeling in the world," Fisher said of the waiting.
"Your daughter's life is in the hands of other people. As a father,
especially with daughters, you feel like it's your responsibility to protect
them and keep them safe, and there was nothing I could do.

"I was just waiting, praying and trusting in the doctors."

Fisher said the doctors were optimistic after the procedure, but that his
daughter might have to undergo further treatments. Also, there's a chance
that her left eye will have to be removed to save her life if they can't
get all the cancer.

"They told us that we could have lost my little girl if we had waited any
longer," Fisher said.

He never thought about basketball all day, and they were still at the
hospital at 2:15 p.m. Utah time. Fisher had no idea if they could get back to
Salt Lake City in time when they boarded a private plane. They landed at 8:15
and he didn't get to the arena until after the third quarter had started.

"I wanted to help the team, but I didn't know if I was going to be able to
tonight," Fisher said.

Utah Coach Jerry Sloan kept Fisher on the active list just in case he made
it in time. Luckily for the Jazz, he did.

Guard Dee Brown had gone to the hospital earlier in the game after suffering
a neck injury in a collision with teammate Mehmet Okur. In the late stages
of the fourth quarter and overtime, when the Jazz took over, Fisher's tough
defense on Warriors star Baron Davis was instrumental.

But it was his three-pointer that gave Utah a 123-117 lead and brought down
the house. After making the shot, he raised both arms and looked upward.

Fisher, traded by Golden State to Utah in July, ended the game with five
points, all in overtime, and three assists. But what couldn't be measured
was the emotional lift his appearance gave the Jazz. Afterward the Warriors'
Jason Richardson gave his friend a long hug.

"I've been on an emotional roller coaster," Fisher said. "And we have a lot
more work ahead of us. But we're going to help my daughter beat this."

He also helped beat the Warriors. Not that it mattered on this night in the
grand scheme of things.


                    http://www.mercurynews.com/warriorsheadlines/ci_5861316 

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