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Center Adopts Orphans From Lithuania
Posted Sep 29, 2009 8:09 PM By TOM WITHERS
-- Zydrunas Ilgauskas added one big teammate this summer — and two little ones.

The Cavaliers center and his wife, Jennifer, adopted two young boys, orphan brothers from his native Lithuania.

Ilgauskas (ill-GAUS-kus) adopted the 4- and 5-year-olds from an orphanage in his hometown of Kaunas, Lithuania.

"Beautiful boys," Ilgauskas said. "I became a father overnight."

The 7-foot-3 center said the two children, Povilas and Deividas, do not speak any English and are adjusting to life in the U.S. Ilgauskas said being a father has given him a new appreciation for some of his teammates with families.

"I'm not sleeping as much, but I'm enjoying the heck out of it," he said. "It's been a blast. It's been challenging at times but all in all it's been a great experience. We've got a big family now. I'm at a happy place in my life right now. The kids just completed our family."

Two years ago, Jennifer lost twins late in her pregnancy.

Ilgauskas also got a new teammate this summer as the Cavs acquired All-Star Shaquille O'Neal from Phoenix. With O'Neal aboard, Ilgauskas, who overcame major foot injuries early in his career and has played at least 65 games in each of the past seven seasons, will come off the bench.

That's fine with him.

"At this point in my career, I really want to win," Ilgauskas said. "I'm 34 years old and I want to win a championship. Whatever helps me get that, I'm all for it. Shaq is the best center I ever played against, so if anybody is going to replace me in the starting lineup I don't mind it being him at all."

So what's it going to be like banging with Shaq every day in practice?

"I won't do that," he cracked. "Somebody else is going to have to do that, otherwise I won't last until Christmas."
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Thanks Pres for the great read. Being an adopted child myself, this kind of story gives me a huge smile.

Z is an absolute class act and will go down in Cleveland sports history as one of the best.

Congratulations to him. He seems to be, as others have said, a class act. No kids to 2 in an instant.........

A good friend of mine just recently - well, it was 3 years ago - adopted 2 kids from Russia. They did all the background stuff, yada yada yada, - they went over to get 1 child......they had pictures, medical back ground, etc......they flew over to get him. When they arrived, they brought the child out. Instant connection. And then they brought out the 5 yr. olds 3 yr. old brother.

Hence, my friend and his wife came home with 2 kids. As he explained it to me: How could we not adopt both of them? There's no way we were going to split up siblings.

Z is the man.. He has always been a good dude..

Good job Z. *standing ovation*

Z is a class act. We may have not always had a winner with the Basketball team but we have had some solid HUMAN BEINGS representing our city (Mark Price, Craig Ehlo, Z, Brad Daugherty, etc)

What an absolutely wonderful story. I'm so happy for Z, after that terrible tragedy he and his wife suffered a few years ago. Z is a classy guy and a real hero.

my grandparents met him at the mall about 8-9 years ago, he was there with his parents. said he could not have been nicer.

class guy. i can't wait until his number goes up into the rafters of the q.

This guy has always been class. I hope we can win a championship for him. This is a guy that could of taken the money and ran. But he wanted to keep playing. How many athletes today would have done the same thing in his case?

Good Luck Z, and congradulation on becoming a father!!!!