Shaquille O’Neal Says He Will Return in Six Weeks
March 3, 2010Zydrunas Ilgauskas Contest Winner
March 3, 2010
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 Still, the perception of Varejao as a flopping seven foot tall international soccer player type is a little bit out of date now.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
64 Comments
Don’t forget good old Chocolate Thunder Darryl Dawkins. Boy I sure hate that man.
@28 stin4u what did robert horry ever do to you? I can’t hate on Big Shot Bob.
@29 Really, seriously? You must have a low tolerance but thanks for the compliment. I don’t liken myself to a Skip Bayless but if the truth hurts so be it. Have a nice day! 🙂
To everyone that’s screaming ‘shamockery’ about Laimbeer not being present, he was on the email list and likely just got lost on the transcription.
[…] Also from WFNY, Andy Varejao’s place in NBA history? […]
Seriously, I know this has been asked but how in the heck did you all not include Laimbeer? That was the first name that popped into my head before I even looked at your list. He was annoying as a player and is still annoying as a coach. No one has come close to his combination of enforcer and crybaby.
@55, if you’ll scroll up a couple clicks of the mouse wheel, you’ll find the answer.
And I know there are more annoying players than Andy objectively, but I’m unaware of any so irritating they got elbowed in the junk during a game.
Varejao and Karl Malone are the two most annoying players of all time by far. Because they both are very big men that play/played rough , aggresive , sometimes dirty defense then flop , whine and cry like little bit**s. I’m all for tough D , but if your going to play aggresive D than take off your floppin panties and act like a man.
@Denny : An outrage, I tell you, An outrage!
As a Cleveland fan, do you know who really annoyed me?
Michael Jordan.
Derek Fisher. I really hate that guy. He’s like the Hines Ward of the Lakers, or Hines Ward is like the Derek Fisher of the Steelers. I really hate that guy.
Does Jiri Welsch count? All 16 games, 2.9 ppg, 1.2 apg he played with the Cavs for our ’07 first rounder (Rudy Fernandez was picked in our spot). Two picks later was Aaron Brooks, and after him was Arron Afflalo.
I guess it’s OK, we got Gibson with the pick we later traded good old Jiri for.
Props on the research?
Laimbeer laps the field. Thug AND crybaby all in one.
Gerald Wallace….I want to smack that stupid mouth guard out of his mouth all game.
#10 Joakim would be high on my list as well. This article is long overdue. I’ve sat there and watch many Cavs games where I thought, Andy gets on my nerves, I can’t imagine what he does to the fans of the teams we’re playing. His hard and scrappy play and what people call his flopping is not what gets under my skin, it’s the fact that according to Andy he has never committed a foul in his life. That said, I love the guy and glad he’s with us but he could tone it down a little crying after every foul. LATE.