This morning on Twitter a discussion of Anderson Varejao came up. As Cleveland fans, we know that Varejao must be really annoying as an opposing fan. Still, the perception of Varejao as a flopping seven foot tall international soccer player type is a little bit out of date now. He hasn’t really been a serial flopper in a couple of years now. He is still a high energy ankle biter in the paint hustling for rebounds and tap-backs, annoying all the other teams around the league. As a result the perception of Varejao as a flopper has not changed because other NBA fans frankly just don’t like him.
I can understand that completely. I can only imagine what Boston fans would say about their favorite “playah” Andy Vareajao if he played in the Boston green. Meanwhile, as Cavs fans we would curse the guy to no end as he kept Boston’s offensive possessions alive with his hair flying all over the place. We would despise him as he arm-wrestled with all our big men, constantly pulling them closer and closer to the edge of violence and drawing technical fouls. So, really, I do get it. I am just happy he is on our side.
The question is, where does Andy fit in the history of annoying players in the NBA? I don’t have a definitive answer, but I thought I would give you the list we came up with so far. For the purposes of this discussion someone like Michael Jordan doesn’t work. Yes, as a Cavs fan he was annoying, but that is a whole different kind of thing.
Anderson Varejao
Danny Ferry
Dennis Rodman
Dikembe Mutombo
Karl Malone
Kurt Rambis
Anthony Mason
Charles Oakley
Sasha Vujacic
Ben Wallace
Bruce Bowen
John Stockton
Rasheed Wallace



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