Knicks coach Derek Fisher was assaulted by Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes over the weekend for having the audacity to date Gloria Govan, Barnes’ estranged wife. In fact, Barnes allegedly drove 95 miles to “beat his a** from the back yard to the front room,” as he stated in a text message to a friend.
But Barnes is telling a vastly different version of events, and history is being dredged up about Fisher, which may evoke less empathy for his current situation, even if the prior events aren’t related.
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In a chat with reporters, Barnes disputed that he drove “95 miles” to go give Fisher a beat down. Instead, he claims he went to go check on his children because one of his sons looked “uncomfortable” and had mentioned that “Mommy’s friend Derek” was there.
"I can’t believe people think I was some maniac driving 95 miles and listening to Tupac to go beat somebody up," Barnes said.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) October 8, 2015
Barnes: "I live 15 minutes away and I was going over to check on my kids because they seemed uncomfortable. " — Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) October 8, 2015
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However, a source said Barnes told him via text “I kicked his a** from the back yard to the front room, and spit in her face.” That is vastly different, and a much bigger red flag for the Grizzlies forward considering he was arrested for felony assault against Govan, then his fiancée, in 2010.
Fisher is recently divorced from his ex-wife Candace, and he wasn’t such a sweetheart about it. According to reports Fisher “blindsided” his ex with divorce papers a month after their 10th anniversary, and is now trying to keep his two children in New York with him, rather than letting them go back to Los Angeles, where all their friends and family are. Candace also alleged that Fisher dodged her phone calls for two weeks before filing for the divorce.
On one hand, Fisher is a grown man, and Govan is a grown woman, free to date whomever they please. On the other hand, Fisher is renowned for being an NBA veteran, and that culture reportedly frowns upon coaches dating women involved with players. From a professional standpoint, Fisher could have avoided this scenario.
Fisher is also well-acquainted with Barnes since both were teammates on the Lakers.
Asked about relationship with Derek Fisher, Matt Barnes says, "we were friends. We were good friend at one point." pic.twitter.com/bvXXf6mEMg
— Rob Fischer (@thefishnation) October 8, 2015
The situation is ugly, but for now it seems both Barnes and Fisher are going to be tight-lipped about it.
Matt Barnes- "We'll let the process take place and just focus on playing right now. All the real details will come out at some point." — Rob Fischer (@thefishnation) October 8, 2015
For what it’s worth, it appears Fisher won’t be pressing charges.
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