Nickname(s) | Kissing bandit |
---|---|
Date of birth: | August 25, 1977 |
Place of birth: | Toronto, Ontario |
Career information | |
Status: | Retired |
CFL status: | Non-import |
Position(s): | DT |
Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
College: | Houston |
High school: | Central Tech |
CFL Draft: | 2000 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6 |
Drafted by: | BC Lions |
Organizations | |
As player: | |
2000 2001 2001 2001 2001-2002 2003 2003 2004-2006 2006 2007-2010 2012 |
Atlanta Falcons New York Giants Las Vegas Outlaws British Columbia Lions Montreal Alouettes Cleveland Browns Montreal Alouettes Hamilton Tiger-Cats Montreal Alouettes Toronto Argonauts Toronto Argonauts |
Career highlights and awards | |
CFL All-Star: | 2005 |
CFL East All-Star: | 2005, 2007 |
Awards: | 2x Grey Cup Champion (2002, 2012) |
Playing stats at CFL.ca |
Medal record | ||
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Men’s American football | ||
Competitor for Canada | ||
World Championship | ||
Silver | 2011 Austria | Team Competition |
Adriano Belli (born August 25, 1977 in Toronto, Ontario) is a retired football player who played in the CFL and NFL. 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]
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. He credits his high school coach, Chuck Wakefield, for helping him get a scholarship to the University of Houston.[3]
On February 19th, 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. After winning the 100th Grey Cup with the Argos, a game in which he was ejected, he retired once again.[6]
Belli also runs a meat distribution and packing company with his family in Mississauga, Ontario.[3]
References[]
- ↑ Girard, Daniel (2009-06-16). "Argos' Kissing Bandit taking it slow". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/sports/article/651382. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
- ↑ O'Connor, Joe (2009-07-15). "Belli defends life on the knife-edge". National Post. http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=1791095. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Nelson, Norm (2009-08-18). "Three TDSB south division grads now suit up for Argos". Toronto Community News. http://www.insidetoronto.ca/article/74318. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
- ↑ The Ottawa Citizen [Ottawa, Ont] 20 Feb 2007: B2.
- ↑ Zelkovich, C. (2011, May 12). Belli sails off into sunset. Toronto Star, pp. S.3.
- ↑ http://www.thestar.com/sports/football/cfl/article/1296346--adriano-belli-argos-kissing-bandit-reflects-on-his-cfl-career
External links[]
- Toronto Argonauts profile
- "Argonauts sign Adriano Belli" (Canadian Press article)d
- BELLI FITTING IN ALONG ARGOS' TRENCHES (National Post article)
- Kissing Bandit shows the love (Hamilton Spectator article on Belli)
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