NBA lockout: Derek Fisher vs. foxsports.com

Derek Fisher is demanding a retraction of two recent foxsports.com stories, saying they were "libelous and defamatory" in a statement released Tuesday night through his publicist.

The president of the National Basketball Players Assn. was annoyed that a foxsports.com column Monday suggested he had met secretly with NBA Commissioner David Stern and was willing to accept the owners' hard-line proposal of a 50-50 split of basketball-related income. The players association publicly has toed the line at accepting 52% of BRI.

The column also alleged there was a rift between Fisher and players association executive director Billy Hunter.

"The implication that I am doing anything but working in the best interests of the players is disgusting, defamatory and a flat out lie," Fisher said in the statement. "I have issued a letter through my attorneys demanding a retraction for the libelous and defamatory stories the site and reporter have continued to publish.

"Regardless of the media reports, the Players Association, our staff, Executive Director and Executive Committee are unified and working side by side to serve our players. There should be no more distractions. We must continue to negotiate a fair deal for our players."