Derek Fisher

A truly amazing story last night even for those of you who aren't NBA fans:

Fisher had missed Game 1 to be with his wife and daughter for the procedure, flying from Salt Lake City on Monday afternoon for the procedure at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Fortunately, the surgery was successful -- so successful that Fisher, wife and baby all flew together back to Salt Lake City afterward. . . .

But since the surgery by noted specialist Dr. David Abramson didn't end until 4:15 p.m. ET, Fisher couldn't make it out west in time for the game's 9 p.m. ET start. He did his best though, hopping a charter flight to Salt Lake City and then getting a police escort on the short drive from the airport to Energy Solutions Arena. While his wife and daughter went home, Fisher changed, stretched and took to the court with 3:18 left in the third quarter.

He entered to a resounding ovation -- the loudest of the night in a generally loud arena -- and immediately checked into the game. It was just in the nick of time, too.

Starting point guard Deron Williams had just picked up his fourth foul, and the only other available ball-handler, speedy rookie Dee Brown, was at the hospital getting checked out after having his neck bent forward in a first-quarter collision with teammate Mehmet Okur.

Fisher then went on to make a series of key plays that helped seal an overtime win against the Warriors. Just astounding stuff, though one imagins Fisher's thoughts are, properly, still being dominated by his daughter.