Lakers' Derek Fisher is up to the challenge as union president

He sounded like a coach. He sounded like a statesman. But more than anything, Derek Fisher sounded like he was dribbling the ball up the court against the Boston Celtics in the 2010 Finals, daring anybody to step in his path.

"There have been moments when it's been draining," he said, his voice rising. "But it's not draining me of my overall energy and passion for playing this game I love to play."

Fisher may currently have the worst sports job in America, but it's exactly where he belongs, the Lakers' soul now serving as the locked-out NBA union's spine. Fisher is more than the union president, he is the calm face and reasoned voice of negotiations that are starting to feel like Dirk Nowitzki against Pau Gasol.

Yeah, it looks bad, the owners apparently set on canceling the season for the sake of changing the game. And, yeah, Fisher is in the worst place at the worst time, a symbol for rich guys who don't feel they should be financially penalized for this change.

Yet in a phone call Friday afternoon after a player rally in Las Vegas, Fisher said he was up for it, another hurdle, another moment, dare we say another zero-point-four?

"My experience with the Lakers plays a part in my ability to fill a leadership role, absolutely," he said. "There are many similarities between making executive decisions and leadership roles in athletics."

This is Fisher's biggest challenge since he refereed Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, except neither of those guys ever picked up their ball and went home.

"I have the pressure of 1,000 families relying on this agreement getting done, an agreement that could set the foundation of the NBA for the next six to 10 years," Fisher said. "I knew it would be tough, and it is."

He's already taking strong steps, gathering players in Las Vegas for a show of support, sending out an email to players that called for unity while questioning the owners' unity.

"As players, we view what we bring to the brand of NBA basketball as the league's most valuable and important asset, one that helps generate millions of dollars," he said. "We just want to share in a fair part of the game as it grows; we're not asking for anything in addition, no raises arbitrarily, just a fair share for the players."

"I don't believe the model is broken, and our players don't, either," he said. "We respect the fact that team owners don't want to feel as though they paid a contract and the player does not 'perform' up to that level. But our position is simply that they have ability to manage assets in ways to run a successful business, and that shouldn't be something that becomes the employees' responsibility."