Few can relate to the pressure that Derek Fisher has felt as President of National Basketball’s Players’ Association over the past few months.
But one man that certainly can is a good friend of Derek’s, former commander in chief Bill Clinton.
Derek unexpectedly ran into the former president on Tuesday in New York (Reuters).
The two, both Arkansas natives, know each other well, with a relationship that dates back 20 years, as Howard Beck of The New York Times writes:
"Fisher, a native of Little Rock, Ark. was a high school basketball star when he first met Clinton, then the governor. Fisher’s stardom rose in college, at Arkansas-Little Rock, in the 1990s as Clinton was rising from governor to Democratic Party star.
The former president and the five-time N.B.A. champion have become close over the years, exchanging calls and e-mails. Fisher’s book, "Character Driven: Life, Lessons and Basketball," includes an editorial blurb from Clinton, who praises Fisher for his "strong faith in the face of adversity, commitment to team goals over individual recognition, and above all else, devotion to his family." Fisher may have political aspirations after his playing career, making the relationship that much more meaningful."
But neither knew the other was in town this week until they ran into each other at a New York hotel on Tuesday. Clinton was in town promoting his new book on The Daily Show. Derek was likewise in New York for a meeting with player representatives about the latest collective bargaining proposal from the owners. Upon seeing one another, the two embraced and chatted before heading off in opposite directions.
"I went up and hugged up him and I said, ‘Now you know what I felt like all those years,’" Clinton told The Times.
The former president’s days of pressure in power are over, but Clinton still remembers them well and offered Derek his support as they spoke briefly.
"I got a lot of confidence in him. He’s a good man," Clinton said. "I hope it gets worked out. We all want to see basketball."
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It would be good if Derek Fisher would stop claiming to be a Christian. The avarice, greed and self-centeredness he is representing with the NBA Players Association amounts to taking the name of the Lord in vain. To carry the name of Christ and represent such selfishness is a disgrace.
First of all, why do the players need a union. Unions were established to help employees who were working in bad situations and being taken advantage of. Is there any relationship to that with professional sports athletes?
I hear Kevin Durant complaining that the players have given a lot. Well so has everyone else in this economy and we all make a small percentage of what NBA rookies earn. You still get your salaries of millions of dollars a year, how about giving up some so that ticket prices won’t increase again for the millions of fans who don’t make your kind of money.
And lastly, the NBA players are forgetting about how much all of the other workers involved with the games are losing. Peoople who help us park our cars at games, the food concessions, the bars around the arenas, etc.
Everyone is suffering more than the NBA players, everyone. But they don’t care, all they see is that at one point they were given something and now they are being told that will be given less. Boo Hoo.
Get a real job, make $40,000 a year and then let me hear you complain.
Just a bunch of spoiled brats.
Mr. Fisher:
I want to say that I respect your efforts in this negotiation, but that is where my respect stops for you and the other greedy players. The deal you had previously with the NBA owners was as ridiculous and absorb as any labor deal I have ever seen. You and your players have been very fortunate to have a deal as lucrative as your previous deal and should realize that, as with most union labor contracts, this deal was unsustainable. Look at history, how many union labor contracts have not gone to far and forced major changes either through nasty negotiations or bankruptcy (about the only way to break a union contract). Your lucrative contract has run its course and the players truly need to realize how fortunate they were to be guaranteed money/profits when no NBA team/owner is guaranteed any profits – they are only guaranteed of a huge payroll and significant operating cost.
I truly wish that you and your buddies could realize that this country is hurting financially and you all still want to take over 50% of profits – I would love for you to walk into in normal company in this country and tell them that the employees want 50%+ of the profits after they are guaranteed huge salary’s each year. This is a completely unrealistic and unsustainable model that cannot and does not work.
I wish you all would reconsider your position and realize how fortunate you really are. There will be zero sympathy for you or buddies when the personal bankruptcy’s begin soon!
I have been a life long Laker’s fan and enjoyed watching you play over the years, but I promise to you that I will never watch another Laker’s game if you are involved with the game.
Leo
I had a dream that the NBA Season had started and it was the Lakers and the Heats playing. It went to overtime 3 times. It was the Heats up by 2 with about 5 seconds left and Gasol inbounded to Kobe. Kobe caught it rose up on Lebron and made the buzzer beater to win the game. Then I thought to myself “wow, this is the greatest game I have seen.” Then I woke up and just realized it was just a dream. It was sad to realize that I just had been dreaming and the Lockout was still continuing. Please end the lockout soon so we can get back to watching the NBA. Thank You.
-Tou Vue-
Fans are very proud of Derek. Sportsmen help us to live everyday. They also are clevermen. See you soon on the floor.
Antoine Delblond