by Dana Greene

I can't possibly even begin to imagine the emotional rollercoaster Derek Fisher has been on this last week. To not know whether your child is going to live or die has to be the most difficult period of anyone's life. Most guys would have shut themselves off, or closed themselves down to the outside world. Most guys would retreat to their families and loved ones and put the rest of society on hold. Most guys aren't Derek Fisher.

Not only has he dealt with his 10-month old daughter Tatum's illness with the utmost class and dignity, but he is also making it his mission to spread awareness about retinoblastoma. Everyone would have understood if Fisher didn't want to talk to anyone in the media about his daughter's condition. Afterall, it's the most private thing a man has to deal with. But Fisher waited for the appropriate time to go public, after his heroic appearance in Game 2. He wanted every parent to be aware of this potentially fatal disease, and to raise money to help find a cure. Fisher hopes his daughter's illness may help one day save the life of another child. And for that, it doesn't matter what Derek Fisher does on the court the rest of his career. He is already in the good guys hall of fame.