This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
BOSTON - Election returns this week have put Democrats in charge of Congress, a new sheriff in charge of Salt Lake County law enforcement - and Derek Fisher in charge of the NBA players.
Fisher has been elected as the new president of the NBA Players Association, though he doesn't formally take office until all 30 teams have had a chance to cast ballots, presumably within the next week or so. (As first vice president the past couple of seasons, Fisher's ascension is considered a formality.) He succeeds Antonio Davis as the players' chief liaison with the league, assuming Davis, who is not currently on an NBA roster, is retired.
The job is an important one, though, since the current collective bargaining agreement with owners doesn't expire until 2011, "things are fairly quiet right now," Fisher said.
Still, there are a handful of initiatives that the Jazz guard would like to pursue during his three-year term as leader of the players.
"On the charitable side of things, there are different organizations and groups I think we can build relationships with that would be beneficial to the players," Fisher said. "Guys do a lot of individual things during the summer, in their hometowns on college campuses . . . but we hold a lot of power if we do some things on a larger scale, together. So I'm excited about trying to push for some of those opportunities."
He will also be the face of the players during a variety of controversies, perhaps including the league's current push to cut down on complaining to referees.
Working in concert with NBAPA executive director Billy Hunter, who Fisher confers with several times a week, the players are considering asking the league to rethink or revise the new emphasis, which has resulted in several more technical fouls this season.
Hunter told USA Today earlier this week that legal action is even being contemplated.
Giricek out several days
Gordan Giricek will be wearing a protective boot on his right foot for the next several days, keeping him out of uniform for the time being.
An MRI on the Jazz guard's ankle found "a small spot" on Giricek's Achilles' tendon, the source of pain that has apparently been bothering him for more than a week. "We just have to go on without him," said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. "We've got guys who can step up and help out until he gets back."
Giricek will be evaluated again once the team returns to Salt Lake after tonight's game in Milwaukee. The Jazz filled his spot on the active roster by suiting up forward Roger Powell, who did not get into the game against Boston.
Briefly
Celtics point guard Sebastian Telfair played the first 7:16 of the game and scored four points, but was having trouble breathing on the bench. As a precaution, the Celtics had him taken to a hospital for evaluation. He was diagnosed with bronchospasms, like small asthma attacks, and was released. "He said, 'I can't breathe and my chest is hurting,' " Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "So you don't goof around with that, obviously. It's scary." . . . Sloan will see his 2-day-old grandson today in Milwaukee. Justin Jerold Parrish, Sloan's seventh grandchild, was born to his daughter Holly on Thursday in nearby Crystal Lake, Ill. . . . Fisher enjoyed ripping away a rebound from Wally Szczerbiak in the final seconds. "Wally and I have always had a very physical one-on-one history, going back a few years," Fisher said. "I just try my best to get my body in there and battle it out with him." . . . Boozer's 24 points and 14 rebounds gave him a double-double in four of the Jazz's first five games.