Varejão meets the Nation at Arena Carioca and watches Flamengo's victory in the NBB
The star has a gala reception with more than two thousand people chanting his name at a national basketball classic.
By Lucas Dantas - Flamengo Communications - in
If first impressions are lasting, Anderson Varejão is already an idol and has won over the Flamengo fans. On Friday night, the star player who joined the team was officially introduced to the fans who turned out in large numbers at Arena Carioca and watched the magnificent 107-54 victory over Botafogo. Alongside his girlfriend Stacy Bradley, the player kept an eye on the court the entire time, interacted with fans at the end, saluted the crowd, sang the anthem, and jumped up and down at the end of the match... in short, a memorable night.
His arrival at Arena Carioca was already special. While still in the parking lot, he bumped into Marquinhos and Marcelinho. Walking with his friends to the locker room, he met his future teammates. Actually, he met them again, as many are former teammates on the Brazilian national team. Varejão also gave José Neto a long hug.
The power forward listened to the players' conversation in the locker room and only came onto the court for his introduction. And what an event it was. Immediately after the national anthem, the lights went out. From the right corner of the court, opposite the fans, the announcer signaled, and Varejão appeared amid a fireworks display and much celebration from the nation, who welcomed him with shouts of "Yeah, Varejão!" and plenty of photos.
The new number 17 greeted each of the players, who were lined up, and headed to the center of the court, where he received the microphone. But he couldn't speak. The Flamengo anthem blasted from the Arena Carioca speakers and was shouted at the top of his lungs by each of the 2.783 fans present, including Anderson Varejão himself.
When he finally addressed the crowd, he assured them that "there will be no shortage of spirit and fight" and that he had come to "join the players and form a strong team with the support of the nation." To much applause and emotion, Varejão received the Mantle, put it on, and celebrated.
And when the ball went up, he remained focused, watching his team's every move. Studying the plays, each player's style, and the way José Neto's team played. He commented on some plays with Stacy, celebrated, and cheered loudly during the alley-oops and dunks, undoubtedly reminiscent of his NBA days. At the end of the game, he went to the center of the court to celebrate in the now-traditional team-fan interaction that always takes place after victories at Arena Carioca. And he left, happy and confident that a beautiful and victorious story was about to begin. Welcome, Anderson Varejão.
The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo receive funding from their sponsors – thinkseg, Estácio, AmBev, Rede D'or, IRB Brasil RE, CSN, Brasil Plural, and EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR) and the State Incentive Law/Rio de Janeiro State Secretariat of Sports, Recreation, and Youth (Seelje), in addition to support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC) resulting from the decentralization of resources from the Pelé Law. The Anjo da Guarda Rubro-Negro Project, a personal tax transfer, benefits all Olympic sports of the Most Beloved.
His arrival at Arena Carioca was already special. While still in the parking lot, he bumped into Marquinhos and Marcelinho. Walking with his friends to the locker room, he met his future teammates. Actually, he met them again, as many are former teammates on the Brazilian national team. Varejão also gave José Neto a long hug.
The power forward listened to the players' conversation in the locker room and only came onto the court for his introduction. And what an event it was. Immediately after the national anthem, the lights went out. From the right corner of the court, opposite the fans, the announcer signaled, and Varejão appeared amid a fireworks display and much celebration from the nation, who welcomed him with shouts of "Yeah, Varejão!" and plenty of photos.
The new number 17 greeted each of the players, who were lined up, and headed to the center of the court, where he received the microphone. But he couldn't speak. The Flamengo anthem blasted from the Arena Carioca speakers and was shouted at the top of his lungs by each of the 2.783 fans present, including Anderson Varejão himself.
When he finally addressed the crowd, he assured them that "there will be no shortage of spirit and fight" and that he had come to "join the players and form a strong team with the support of the nation." To much applause and emotion, Varejão received the Mantle, put it on, and celebrated.
And when the ball went up, he remained focused, watching his team's every move. Studying the plays, each player's style, and the way José Neto's team played. He commented on some plays with Stacy, celebrated, and cheered loudly during the alley-oops and dunks, undoubtedly reminiscent of his NBA days. At the end of the game, he went to the center of the court to celebrate in the now-traditional team-fan interaction that always takes place after victories at Arena Carioca. And he left, happy and confident that a beautiful and victorious story was about to begin. Welcome, Anderson Varejão.
The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo receive funding from their sponsors – thinkseg, Estácio, AmBev, Rede D'or, IRB Brasil RE, CSN, Brasil Plural, and EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR) and the State Incentive Law/Rio de Janeiro State Secretariat of Sports, Recreation, and Youth (Seelje), in addition to support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC) resulting from the decentralization of resources from the Pelé Law. The Anjo da Guarda Rubro-Negro Project, a personal tax transfer, benefits all Olympic sports of the Most Beloved.