Adriano Belli
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use Canadian English Template:Infobox CFL biography
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's American football | ||
| World Championship |
Adriano Belli (born August 25, 1977) is a Canadian former professional football player who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Belli is nicknamed "The Kissing Bandit" for his penchant for kissing people on their cheeks.[1] He has gained a reputation for being a kind and funny man off the field and a nasty and annoying player to his opponents on the field.[2]
Early life
Belli grew up in the High Park region of Toronto and attended Humberside Collegiate Institute for the first three years of high school. He then elected to transfer to Central Technical School in the Harbord Village area of Toronto and commuted by subway to take advantage of Central Tech's football program.
College career
Belli played college football for the Houston Cougars. He credits his high school coach, Chuck Wakefield, for helping him get a scholarship to the University of Houston.[3]
Professional career
Belli was drafted in the first round, sixth overall, by the BC Lions in the 2000 CFL Draft. However, he spent two years in the NFL, prior to joining the Lions in 2001.
On February 19, 2007, the Toronto Argonauts signed Belli.[4]
After the last game of the 2009 season, Belli charged into the Montreal Alouettes locker room and challenged the entire team to a fight.[5]
Belli retired on May 11, 2011, on a Tall ship in Toronto and became a colour commentator/sportscaster on Rogers Sportsnet as their CFL Analyst.
During his retirement, Belli competed for Team Canada when they participated in the 2011 IFAF World Championship in Austria. The team went on to win the Silver medal.
On October 17, 2012, Belli came out of retirement and was signed by the Toronto Argonauts. He went on to win the 100th Grey Cup with the Argos, a game in which he was ejected.[6] Belli officially retired from the CFL for the second time on May 29, 2013.
Personal life
Belli also runs a meat distribution and packing company with his family in Georgtetown, Ontario.[3]
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ The Ottawa Citizen [Ottawa, Ont] February 20, 2007: B2.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
External links
- Pages with script errors
- 1977 births
- American football defensive linemen
- BC Lions players
- Canadian expatriate American football people in the United States
- Canadian football defensive linemen
- Canadian sportspeople of Italian descent
- Gridiron football people from Ontario
- Hamilton Tiger-Cats players
- Houston Cougars football players
- Las Vegas Outlaws (XFL) players
- Living people
- Montreal Alouettes players
- Players of Canadian football from Ontario
- Canadian football people from Toronto
- Toronto Argonauts players
- Players of American football from Ontario
- Atlanta Falcons players
- New York Giants players
- Cleveland Browns players