NBA Star Gives Up Multimillion-Dollar Contract to Care for Sick Daughter

Okay, so that's not the whole story. Derek Fisher of the Utah Jazz requested to be released from his multimillion-dollar contract in order to relocate to a city with the medical facilities to care for his 1-year-old daughter, Tatum, who has eye cancer. He was promptly snapped up by the L.A. Lakers for $14 million. The network news shows conveniently left out this important fact in order to make the story more captivating, a habit of theirs that annoys the hell out of me.

But it's heartwarming just the same, isn't it?

Best wishes to little Tatum Fisher, as she makes her way toward the all-important age (for her disease) of 44 months.
Posted by bettye griffin at 8:45 AM

5 comments:

Gwyneth Bolton said...

The way the news spins stories and works the angles is so annoying. But you're right this would be a heart warming story anyway.

Gwyneth

July 23, 2007
PatriciaW said...

My son mentioned that Fisher was back with the Lakers over the weekend. He's a fan of Derrick's. But he didn't know about the personal angle.

Network folks are silly. Story is no less compelling because man found a way to continue working in his chosen profession while caring for his child.

July 23, 2007
bettye griffin said...

I agree. It's annoying at best, downright misleading at its worst.

Thanks for posting, Gwyneth and Pat!

July 23, 2007
Donna D said...

I read that he'd been traded to the Lakers, but I didn't know why. Personally, I'm glad he was able to make the move for the sake of his daughter. But something tells me he'd have done it even if the Lakers hadn't picked him up.

The people crafting the news stories are only after one thing: ratings/circulation. Whatever way they have to tell the story to get you to watch/read is what they'll do. That's why we have so much tabloid journalism in news.

July 25, 2007
bettye griffin said...

You're right, Donna, it's all about the ratings. Whatever misconceptions they have to state to get people to watch.

Bettye

July 25, 2007

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