Cavs Fan Guide: Life According to Hype Man Ahmaad Crump

Ahmaad Crump and Nicole Marcellino: Aaron Josefczk

Game 3 of the NBA Finals was a big win for the Cavs, but now the team — and their fans — need all the hype they can get to protect their home court. They need hype man and in-arena host Ahmaad Crump. But maintaining positive morale for more than 20,000 fans in The Q isn’t an easy task, so Crump takes it each game at a time. We caught up with Crump ahead of tonight’s Game 4 matchup.

I knew I wanted to be an announcer for the team when I joined the organization in 2003 as a member of the Rock Squad for the Cleveland Rockers.

Each game, I just look at the big picture. It’s not a sprint, it’s pretty much a marathon. You’ve got to take it one game at a time and focus on the big picture and focus on the goal that’s ahead.

Being the hype man and getting to be a part of the games by doing the introductions and all of that, it’s one of my favorite parts of the job.

Also being in the community, I’m able to make an impact on the kids and the schools and surprise them with tickets to the games.

My definition of hype is excitement, passion and belief. To be a hype man of a team, you have to believe in what you’re hyping up.

At the end of the day, when you’re out there on the floor, it’s got to be all genuine and all passion.

The difference between the hype of regular season games and Finals is what’s at stake. The regular season is great, but the playoffs and the finals — that’s a brand new scene.

You have to take it up a notch, every single game. Just like the players, you have to give every fan a show.

With us playing the Golden State Warriors for the Finals again, a lot of fans have emotions about it, saying it’s a rematch and revenge. But me, I don’t get into that.

I believe in my heart that we can beat them. All the passion that I have, I decide to just spread it out to all of the fans via my microphone.

Being the hype man, and most of all, being a Cavs fan is one of the greatest feelings ever.

Being able to be a part of a team that I was such a big fan of when I was growing up, it’s definitely a humbling experience.

Cavs Fan Guide: The Case for The Q Watch Party

Cleeeevelaaand, if you haven’t been all in yet, now’s the time. As the Cleveland Cavaliers suit up and head into the NBA Finals to face the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, California, 9 p.m. tonight, the rally back in the Land is only just getting warmed up. Cavs hype-man and in-arena host, Ahmaad Crump, says there’s no better way to show that Believeland pride than dribbling over to The Q for a Cavs watch party. 

“It gives you a close to an authentic feel of watching a Cavaliers home basketball game while the players are on the road. We extend the opportunity out to Cavs fans from all over.

The atmosphere is unbelievable. Everything that goes on as far as excitement at a Cavaliers home game, it’s the same thing that goes on [at the watch party]. All the entertainment teams, all the introductions with the pyro. You want to watch the game around more passionate Cavs fans, to get a chance to experience 20,000 fans in the arena? If you’ve been in the Q before, if you haven’t, we treat everybody in here like it’s your first time. 

I’m excited [for the Finals] simply because of everything the city has been through, the Decision. I’m just excited to see the Cavs be in the Finals again. It’s been a long time coming and Cleveland is the butt of a lot of jokes out there. I love my city, I was born and raised here, and I really want this championship. And I think this’ll be the year that we actually do it.” — as told to Brielle Gregory

While the parties for tonight and June 7 are sold out, there may be a limited amount of tickets available in-person at The Q box office or by calling 888-894-9424 at 7 p.m. tonight or 6 p.m. June 7. Also, if a Game 5 and 7 are necessary, there will be watch parties June 14 and 19 respectively.