KG-MVP21

Akron Beacon Journal - Within the Cavaliers' fan base, Anderson Varejao has become a favorite for his hard-working game and his on-court flair.

After an incident last month in the FIBA World Championship, while Varejao was playing for the Brazilian national team, in certain corners of the globe he's seen as a villain.

In a preliminary-round game in Hamamatsu, Japan, on Aug. 23, Varejao elbowed Greece guard Nikos Zisis as he was dribbling through the lane. The blow fractured Zisis' face in several places. He spent a week in the hospital.

An angry war of words followed, and now, according to a European basketball Web site, Zisis and his lawyers are planning to take legal action against Varejao.

How that is possible is unclear, considering one party is a Greek who plays professionally in the Italian League and the other is a Brazilian playing in the NBA and the incident happened in Asia.

FIBA declined to take any further action than the foul that was called on Varejao. He played in the Brazilians' next game against Lithuania, a loss that knocked them from the tournament.

Replays showed Varejao moving from his position in the middle of Brazil's zone to guard a driving Zisis. As the Greek guard passed the ball, Varejao turned with his left elbow high and struck Zisis on the right side of his face. At the moment of the hit, Varejao was looking in the other direction following the pass, but there was no doubt his elbow was raised.

Several members of the Greek media who attended the game told the Beacon Journal that Varejao and Zisis started feuding earlier in the game, when Zisis drove and Varejao attempted to take a charge.

A week after the hit, on his personal blog, Zisis called Varejao an ``animal'' and said the hit was meant to ``kill me.'' He also said the Cavs forward didn't show remorse after the game when the two passed in the hall.

KirkHinrich12

If they think it's dirty, smash him in the face with an elbow

King_Bling

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Preseason Starts Soon. x]
Hopefully more people will get on D;
Fuck I'm new here. -_-