▲Ungrateful Bastards◄

We know how life in sports is nowadays. 

You would think that some organizations would opt to do things differently, to conduct and represent the art of sports with integrity, class and above all else, loyalty.

Let's take basketball for example, the National Basketball Association.

How it has changed!

The attitude of players, league officials, owners. What they represent, what they stand for. What drives them. What they leave us or teach us.

Like I've posted before, I've been a laker fan all my life. I have followed their great players, coaches, play-by-play announcers, executives; the way they have handled themselves during adversity, failure, triumph, on and off the court. And now I can see clearly how the game has changed, not only players but front office as well.

All they care is getting more money, fame, publicity, marketing, things that eventually come when you succeed but certainly not what the game is about, or was about, a long time back.

Still, like always, during the degradation of the sport there have been players who haven't sell out to the distractions, players who keep the passion and love for the game, who play for themselves and loved ones, who care about the fans, who care about the history of the sport. There are exceptions. And not all of them are retired, or senior citizens.

I just wanna take this space to express what an honor has been to watch Derek Fisher play the game of basketball and the game of life. He has come through in difficult times, he has done it so graciously, with honor, passion, courage and heart. He is what the NBA was a long time ago. He (truly) plays for the love of the game. He's a warrior. He's admirable. 

I bet he thought he was part of a family with the lakers, a franchise he was for 13 years, helping them win 5 championship rings, hitting clutch shots in championship series, answering the call and being there, having their teammates backs, not to mention the owners, front office and whole organization.

The same organization that yesterday turned their backs on him.

But as the laker executives so "eloquently" put it: "This is a business".

They traded Fisher. They gave him away, just like that.

Silly me, somehow I still believed the lakers were different. Somehow I thought they kept the old teachings from people that showed them that it is not about hype or even skill, but heart.

Thank you D-Fish.

Now, another organization will have the privilege to have you with them.

Hope they really value what they have and what you bring to the table, which is something that money just can't buy.