OAKLAND: Ozzie Newsome would understand Anderson Varejao’s roiling emotions.
Rarely in Cleveland professional sports history has such a beloved athlete left to join a rival, especially when a chance to play for a championship quickly follows. Signed by the Golden State Warriors on Feb. 22, Varejao finds himself in the unprecedented position of playing for both teams in the NBA Finals in the same season.
In Newsome’s case, his career was already behind him. The former Browns tight end followed owner Art Modell to Baltimore in early 1996 to become the Ravens’ vice president of player personnel. In 2000, one year after the inaugural season of the new Browns franchise, the Ravens won the Super Bowl.
As revered as the “Wizard of Oz” was in Cleveland, when Newsome returned to Canton for his 1999 induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he and presenter Calvin Hill were on edge. When they heard a balloon pop while riding in the parade, Newsome said Hill reacted as if it were a gunshot.
Such is the anxiety of a perceived traitor.
English-speaking questioners never uttered the “T” word on Wednesday at Oracle Arena, where the Warriors and Cavs will square off in Game 1 of the Finals Thursday night. But Varejao did.
Asked what he expects when the series switches to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4, Varejao said, “I don’t know. I’m pretty sure I still have a lot of fans in Cleveland, guys that respect what I did for the city, for the team. But I know there’s going to be guys that think I’m a traitor because I came to the Warriors.
“It’s not that I said I wanted to be a Warrior. They wanted me as well. It’s part of the business, the same way I accepted that they traded me.”
Varejao surely knows in the days of social media, one “Andy” wig set on fire outside Quicken Loans Arena would be seen on television worldwide.
Varejao didn’t want to address the storyline, despite its history. After the Warriors finished shooting, he bolted for the locker room and had to be coaxed back to the court by an NBA official.
Varejao talked for over 15 minutes. Although many of the Brazilian’s answers were not in English, he was clearly uncomfortable throughout.
“I knew this would happen if the Warriors and Cavs would make it to the Finals. You can’t avoid talking about that stuff,” Varejao said. “It’s OK. It’s fine. Today’s a big day, we’re going to talk about it and after that you guys don’t have to ask me again, right?”
When the difference in the Warriors’ and Cavs’ locker rooms was brought up, Varejao said, “I mean, you really want to get into that right now?” before giving an innocuous answer.
Varejao would have been skittish no matter the situation. During his 11½ seasons with the Cavs, he preferred to stay out of the media spotlight.
This week it’s unavoidable because of the possibility Varejao could receive a championship ring no matter who wins, a question he dodged twice Wednesday.
“I heard that. My focus is on helping this team win the championship,” Varejao said.
Whichever team earns the Larry O’Brien Trophy would consult with the league after the Finals conclude. Should the NBA defer to the team, in the case of the Cavs it could be left up to owner Dan Gilbert and General Manager David Griffin. They in turn could let the players make the call.
When it was suggested to the Cavs’ J.R. Smith that Varejao will get a ring regardless, Smith said, “Does he? Who’s going to give him one? Talk to the billionaire, he’s got all the money,” referring to Gilbert.
A close friend of Varejao, LeBron James said of the ring issue, “That’s not for me to debate ... I haven’t even — I can’t even go that far down the line right now.”
But the Warriors’ Shaun Livingston, who played 49 games for the Cavs in 2012-13, said the ring comes up often.
“We’ve let him have that joke before. ‘You’re going to get a ring either way it goes,’ ” Livingston said, laughing. Asked Varejao’s response, Livingston said, “ ‘No, man, I’m with you guys. Look at my shirt — it says Warriors.’”
Jumping ship was not Varejao’s plan. Plagued by injuries, he saw action in only 26 games in 2014-15 before tearing his Achilles, sidelining him for the Finals. He fell out of the rotation this season and was traded to Portland in a three-team deal on Feb. 18; the Trail Blazers waived him the same day. Four days and a few conversations with fellow countryman Leandro Barbosa later, the Warriors signed Varejao.
Varejao knows when he steps onto the court Thursday he’s going to feel something.
“Probably yes. I’m trying to control that as much as I can, but I know it’s going to be impossible,” he said.
The turmoil will be even greater when he returns to Quicken Loans Arena.
“I’m pretty sure a lot of emotions are going to go through my head, go through my body,” he said. “We all know how important Cleveland is for me and what Cleveland did for me and the organization, the fans and everyone in Cleveland. I love the city and I love everyone. But right now I’m a Warrior and I have to focus on helping them win a championship.”
Prolonging Cleveland’s 52-year title drought. Denying good friend James, Tristan Thompson, who considers Varejao his mentor and still keeps in touch via text, and former teammates. Plunging another dagger into the hearts of fans that proudly wore those funky wigs.
It’s an internal struggle that will be hard for Varejao, even if it ends in glory.
Just ask Ozzie.