5 Time NBA Champion, point guard - Derek Fisher [aka: 'D-Fish']
It came as somewhat of a surprise to Laker fans when Los Angeles Laker point guard - Derek Fishersigned with the Golden State Warriors, after a long run and 'three-peat' championships with the Lakers.
When he was traded to the Utah Jazz he helped lead them to the NBA - Western Conference Finals. L.A. fans were, no doubt, surprised and more than happy when 'D-Fish' returned home, in 2007, to help his beloved Lakers conquer the NBA crown, once again in 2010, for his fifth championship.
Until today, most Laker fans assumed or anticipated that Pau Gasol would get traded, not 'D-Fish'!
No disrespect to Luke Walton, but hardly any fans were surprised to learn he got traded; many believe trading Luke was long overdue, and perhaps Shannon Brown should have stayed and played in the land of "G's", instead of Walton.
But the news of Derek Fisher getting traded to the Houston Rockets for forward - Jordan Hill, hit L.A. like a ton of bricks!
No he's not the best PG in the league. No he's not the biggest baller, physically. No he's not the fastest or the best defensive player. What Fisher may have lacked, he more than made up for with smart play, hustle, emotion, heart, leadership and 'right-on-time' offensive juice.
NBA 'Ballers' Rep - Derek Fisher:
L.A. fans [do] realize and respect the business aspect of sports, but when Laker vets like Derek Fisher get
the hook, it is a bitter pill to swallow -- 'fuh sho'. "But no matter where he is, and who he balls with, Derek Fisher will always be a Los Angeles Laker...heart and soul". Big love to you and your fam, 'D-Fish'. "It was a stone cold groove, my man"!
Just after the conclusion of his first season as head coach, the recent ousting of [now] former head coach of the Oakland Raiders - Hue Jackson, by owner - Mark Davis through his [new] general manager - Reggie McKenzie, came as no surprise to some, yet surprisingly to himself and his supporters. While some reports suggested that Jackson was too "power hungry" and wanted more authority and say-so within the Raider organization, others simply believe his press conference comments, right after losing the last game of the season, when he put his players 'on-blast' for not performing as expected, was cause for his firing.
Whether it was actually McKenzie or Davis who made the call to dismiss Jackson still remains a mystery, but there's speculation that it was Davis' nod that put the act in motion. Perhaps we'll never know the real deal on this issue, but O.G. - Hue Jackson was respectful about the decision, and while "pissed" at his team for their lack of will-to-win attitude, he repeatedly accepted his responsibility, as head coach, for producing only an average (500, 8 and 8 record) season.
"I was surprised, but I understand the decision", said Jackson during an interview about his termination.
Upon his release from the organization, the former head coach gracefully accepted his fate and wished the organization, and owner - Mark Davis, well and looks forward to furthering his professional career as a coach in the NFL.
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On a good note: Although Jackson was surprised and obviously disappointed about his fall from Raider Nation, he still stands by his convictions and enjoys major support from long time friends and former teammates, namely, from his high school alma-mater in Los Angeles, California - Dorsey High School.
During his senior year at Dorsey, Jackson was the starting quarterback for the Dons, who won the city championship in 1982. "So hard, so hard to be a Don!"...but not so hard to be a Raider...or maybe not?
With the Raider's poor performance history, and dark cloud of funk that's been plaguing the organization for far too long, Mr. Jackson might find himself better suited coaching personnel who execute plays like the Raiders of times past, instead of setting new record lows for most penalties; "coaches can only coach, but players must ball, homie!"
Coach Jackson is a winner, and it's understandable that he let off a little steam about his feelings regarding his players - finally, a coach who said what he really felt and kept it "real".
