When we think of “American” sports in countries like Italy we think of them as being dominated by aging American stars or players that just couldn’t make it in the US. Don’t get mad or nod in agreement. It makes us feel good to think thusly. We need to feel good about something. That doesn’t mean it’s always true of course.
Take basketball, for example. It’s called Pallacanestro in Italy. Really though, fans call it “basket”. Each team is allowed a few foreign stars.
The whole idea of foreign stars bulking up Italian teams provides fodder for American writers looking for good food during their out-of-the-US research. Take John Grisham’s Playing for Pizza, for example.
In any case, perhaps the tide is turning. Marco Belinelli has been playing like a man possessed with the Golden State Warriors lately. It’s not that it’s all that difficult to stand pretty darn high above a bunch of pathetic losers, but at least the press is noticing.
Belinelli played for Bologna, a top team whose fans were immortalized in Dario Castagno’s Too Much Tuscan Sun for mooning the Siena fans after a last second Bologna victory. Siena fans struck back by catching up to them, ripping their pants off and carrying them outside the stadium. A good time was had by all. Well, those who weren’t injured in the melee at least.
Anyway, for those of you Italians following this blog, take note of your countryman. He’s doing good lately.
His behind-the-backboard shot against Milwaukee was called by Jackson: “The Italian Larry Bird” play. Monday, his nifty alley-oop pass to Andris Biedrins was eye-opening. ~ Warriors’ Belinelli quietly finding his niche