Derek Fisher is pushing back on labels that sports radio talent place on athletes in conversation. The Lakers legend has a message for sports radio during a confrontational segment with fellow 97.1 The Fan host Bill Reiter on D-Fish & Decker.
What We Know: Fisher co-hosts D-Fish & Decker on 97.1 The Fan in Los Angeles alongside co-host Cody Decker. The program disagreed with afternoon host Bill Reiter labeling LeBron James a “mercenary” for choosing Philadelphia over his prior playing destinations in Miami and Cleveland. Fisher and Decker welcomed Reiter to the studio on Wednesday morning to have a conversation about his labeling of James and the reasoning behind it. During an over twenty minute confrontation, Fisher explained one of the reasons he decided to enter sports radio was to encourage not labeling athletes for anything. James spent eight seasons with the Lakers before leaving as a free agent. Fisher addressed the label directly on Wednesday’s show, and he made his stance clear early.
What They Said: Derek Fisher (via 97.1 The Fan’s D-Fish & Decker): “The show starts with me. Part of why I’m doing this is to try to help us get out of this idea that we have to label athletes anything. Why is he a mercenary? Why can’t he just be a guy that worked at a job for eight years, his contract at the job was up, and he’s choosing to go work somewhere else. So then, why do we have to start labeling him like it’s a negative thing? He hated the city, and he didn’t love the city. What about I just want to go work somewhere else, and that’s fine. I don’t get to determine how another adult man. I don’t have to label that anything.”
What Remains Unclear: The dynamic between both the morning and afternoon show using each other’s platforms for content is unknown.
What It Means: Fisher’s comments signal a difference in approach to how many sports talk radio hosts approach the craft. While every athlete isn’t labeled for their actions on and off the court, the practice doesn’t sit well with Fisher. Who is a former player in the NBA. Instead of moral judgments, he’s arguing for treating free agency like any other career change is a better explaination instead of sports radio talent being vessels for the fanbase’s emotional ties to players. That framing could shape how “Derek & Decker” covers future player decisions. Ultimately, it puts Fisher at odds with a colleague on his own station. At least, for this instance.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.