May 19, 2013

Anderson Varejao: The Fans Make me Feel Like I’m From Cleveland

February 9, 2012 by 31 Comments

Since I got to Cleveland, the fans have taken to me. I didn’t speak any English, but every time I would get in a game, I felt like I had somebody behind me, helping and motivating me. The fans did that for me when I got here. And now that they know me, I just want to thank them for everything they’ve done for me. [...] I feel like my football team is the Browns, my basketball team is the Cavs, and my baseball team is the Indians. That’s all I know. I feel like I’m from here.

- Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao following the team’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Varejao finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

[Related: Revisiting the Anderson Varejao Trade Discussion]

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  • http://norcoastbias.blogspot.com/ Eric D

    Really making my “We need to trade Varejao for the long-term good of the Cavs” stance tough to stick with over here, Andy.

  • Kunal

    I hope we keep him! I feel like he’s the new Z

  • Daniel Factor

    More like the new Victor ><

  • http://twitter.com/masonjarjar Mason Jar

    Good lord how on earth can they think of trading this guy? 

  • http://twitter.com/GreatestHurley Jason Hurley

    Next time a free agent wants to pass over Cleveland – I want that person to read that quote.

  • Kunal

    hmm good point :(

  • rbknot

    Love Andy!! He just keeps getting better every year.  Hope he stays a Cavalier for a long time.

  • Harv 21

    Andy, you had me at I’m Not Going to Stop Bodying Up Griffin Even If I’ve Just Herniated 3 Discs.

  • Anonymous

    I give in to the power of the hair. 

    Can you play TE in the offseason Andy? 

  • Anonymous

    http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/quotes_clippers_120208.html

    I love how nba.com shows Antawn Jamison for this quote.  Umm, cuz that would make sense he didn’t know English?   UNC really does have lax academics :)

  • Kunal

    epic fail

  • PNR

    I love Andy as much as the next guy, but isn’t this the sort of thing that most players (Lebron, Thome, Manny, etc.) say right before ripping the hearts out of fans?

    Victor or CC might be better analogies because they were traded right before their certain departure.

  • PNR

    I love Andy as much as the next guy, but isn’t this the sort of thing that most players (Lebron, Thome, Manny, etc.) say right before ripping the hearts out of fans?

    Victor or CC might be better analogies because they were traded right before their certain departure.

  • Stephen Klinger

    I believe he is under contract for a few more years.  Any heart-ripping would come in the form of the team shipping him off for younger assets.

  • Anonymous

    Victor still had some time left.  He is the one that hurt the most because he loved being here and we expected him to be apart of the core moving forward.

    of course, we got Masterson back for him, so I am not going to complain at this point though.

  • Harv 21

    spoken like a true Clevelander. You cad!  How dare you say those things to me when we both know what’s gonna happen.

  • kevin

    He is the anti-LeBron. Not especially gifted, not especially athletic, not local, not balding, team-first, hustler, good attitude, thankful, appreciative, has perspective, never gives up, works hard, helpful to teammates, etc. etc. etc. 

  • http://twitter.com/ClevelandBob Bob O’Brien

    Literally got goosebumps. Athletes who “get” Cleveland (Joe Haden, Josh Cribbs, The Bullpen Mafia, and Andy) make cheering so much more fun. Keep up the energy Wild Thing!

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/ WFNYRick

    I’m not certain Victor would have demanded top dollar and left Cleveland. Sabathia no question. Lee no doubt. Victor genuinely liked Cleveland and being an Indian.

  • Anonymous

    “I feel like my football team is the Browns, my basketball team is the Cavs, and my baseball team is the Indians.”

    Similarly, I feel like I have the flu, pneumonia, and bronchitis. 

  • fromCtownincharlotte

    lol

  • Anonymous

    He’s definitely a Clevelander, he listed the Browns before his own team.

  • Anonymous

    Ditto here I think I’m falling for the Brazilian Backboard Beast!  That being said it’s the name on the front of the uniform not the back.  If the Cavaliers got an offer they couldn’t resist they’d have to entertain it.  I see Varejao’s body being thrown around, hit, cut, scratched and bruised nightly and it’s just a matter of time.  Last night he took a couple bad spills right on his back.

  • Anonymous

    no doubt.  but, I think I’m putting myself on a moratorium of actually discussing the possibility.   if it happens and we get a boatload, then great.  if not, then that’s just fine by me too.

  • Steve

     Because what they get in return is more likely to help the team win a championship. It’s almost impossible to have it both ways people.

  • Anonymous

    you forgot that he isn’t to blame when the store has the wrong kind of milk.

  • Crunty

    I completely agree with you. I am from Ohio, living in CA right now, but here back in OH on vacation and was stoked to be at the game last night and seeing Andy play again (since I moved) was just like it’s always been. He is always striving to get better, yet I know where the Cavs are at in the rebuilding process and not that Andy is overpaid by any means (that man deserves what he earns), he just plays out of position (though he holds his own usually quite well) and he can’t start at his natural position because that’s what we drafted Tristan at #4 for.

    SOooo….what do we do? I still say trade Andy, but soon as the deal is done, the fans…we fans…the city of Cleveland….need to let this man know…and I mean…seriously let him know how much he has meant to this franchise, this organization, to this city, and ESPECIALLY….the fans…

    Let’s send him off the right way. Cleveland style. With love and heart. This man deserves it. He deserves to be on a championship team…well a contending team and not that we aren’t there in a years, but he deserves it sooner than later.
     

  • Valentina

    See, this is why I love Andy. He’s the best thing for the Cavs in my opinion, and he’s so humble. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him numerous times and he is the sweetest thing, he almost gets bashful when complimenting his game. The Cavs need Andy.

  • Jaker

    That’s Awesome. Nice to hear that especially after Thome “handshakes” a future job with one of Cleveland’s biggest rivals in sports: The Darn White Sox.

  • Jaker

    How bout Coco Crisp? I know I know, he’s no Victor, but all joking aside, he couldn’t have been more of a gentlemen talking about Cleveland when we traded him to BOS

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/7J6AUL4DFULWXIZMNOBD6BHBVM Marcus

    Cleveland’s biggest rivals are the management/owners/GM