Warriors Officially Play Marco Polo

by Atma Brother ONE on Jul 16, 2007 1:14 PM PDT in News

It's official. Today the Golden State Warriors signed their remaining 2007 draft pick Marco Belinelli to a contract [offical press release over at Warriors.com]. If you remember the Warriors' other 2 selections from the 2007 NBA Draft Brandan Wright and Stephane Lasme were signed almost 2 weeks ago. Belinelli has quickly become an enigma for Warriors Nation and within many NBA circles because of his stellar play in this past Vegas Summer League.

Marco to Commissioner David Stern: "Shhhhh... I'm going to light up your league next season commish."
(Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Il Tiratore (nickname coined here on GSoM by loyal community member Sleepy Freud) was even named to the NBA Summer League First Team. Last year's Warrior first rounder Patrick O'Bryant was... uh... not. Maybe POB needs to spend more time with Michael? Michael Jackson that is.

Who will make the biggest impact next season- Italian sharpshooter Marco Belinelli, the brace-faced athletic power forward Brandan Wright, darkhorse Stephane Lasme, or out of nowhere... Project O'Bust?

More Belinelli for your Nelliebelly!

UPDATE 4:39pm: CORRECTION- Il Tiratore was originally coined by the master herself Caught Backcourt. Sleepy Freud's creative web pin is a humble tribute to Caught Backcourt's brilliance.

GSoMers are unstoppable baby!

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IL TIRATORE

This guy is going to be fun to watch this year. On a side note despite his sweet webpin I think that someone else coined the term Il Tiratore. (can't remember who)

FORZA ITALIA!!!

by olympicmike on Jul 16, 2007 1:19 PM PDT reply actions

Sorry about that

If someone else coined the term, please let me know and I'll correct it.

Sleepy- was it you or someone else? We're all about giving proper shout outs here.

by Atma Brother ONE on Jul 16, 2007 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Caught Backcourt

I think it was Caught Backcourt in one of the early SL game threads. I remember reading Sleepy compliment him on the name before making the sweet webpin.

FORZA ITALIA!!!

by olympicmike on Jul 16, 2007 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Haha, I know my username isn't gender-specific

but I'm a girl. No problem though.

Sleepy definitely deserves credit for his excellent webpin. It totally defines Il Tiratore.

by Caught Backcourt on Jul 16, 2007 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Haha, sorry

Therz Girls on teh INterWEB??

Sorry, I guess I'm not immune to stereotypes(sports blog=dudes), even as enlightened as I like to think that I am. lol. But for the record you did come up w/ the name right?

FORZA ITALIA!!!

by olympicmike on Jul 16, 2007 3:34 PM PDT up reply actions

I know,

it's one of the miracles of the 21st century. =P

But yeah, I dropped the name in one of the Marco diaries.

by Caught Backcourt on Jul 16, 2007 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Sorry, Caught Backcourt

I didn't even notice this diary till now. I thought it was obvious to everyone that you coined the term. Now I feel bad I used your nickname without crediting you or at least asking for your permission. If you want, I'm happy to put your name somewhere (in small type) on the webpin.

In the meantime: Atma Bro, please change the credit!!!

by Sleepy Freud on Jul 16, 2007 4:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't worry about it Sleepy

It's a Warrior Nation nickname now. Don't change your webpin =)

by Caught Backcourt on Jul 16, 2007 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Applaudable gesture

CB represents the power of the International Dub Nation. The creators of global brand. Masters of hype.

by eshock @ Golden State Of Mind on Jul 16, 2007 10:45 PM PDT up reply actions

marco will be

the 2013 nba mvp

by djchuckdeez on Jul 16, 2007 1:24 PM PDT reply actions

Great name...

Not sure who birthed it, but much, much better than saying Nelly's Belli all season!

-GSoM Vet #206- HE GOT IT!!!

by esco41510 on Jul 16, 2007 1:25 PM PDT reply actions

Interesting

to see if Bob Fitzgerald or Tim Roy pick up on it!

We'll be hearing his name alot.

by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Jul 16, 2007 1:52 PM PDT reply actions

If you had to give up

Marco Belinelli to keep some others (now that he is signed)...would you? Could you live with the thought of watching him grow up to be a superstar in another city while having KG play at Golden State (in the NBA championships in 07-08?)
Who would you keep?...give away with Marco? It hurts; I know...just the thought of it! So did JRichs.

by streetballer on Jul 16, 2007 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Championship

If you told me Garnett took us to a championship, I wouldn't care who we traded for him.

by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Jul 16, 2007 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions

I definitely don't want to give up Marco

I'm not sure getting KG would bring us a championship, especially because we might have to trade away half the team for him. And I definitely don't want to get rid of Belinelli. Maybe it's because he's Italian (and I have Italian ancestors). Maybe it's because it was so much fun to watch the highlights of him draining the three. Maybe it's because he seems perfect for the Warriors. Maybe it's because Il Tiratore is the coolest nickname ever. I just want to keep him around.

GOOD LUCK, JRICH. WE MISS YOU, MAN.

by goGSW24 on Jul 16, 2007 3:23 PM PDT up reply actions

no..dont give him up!

cuz then i'd have to change my handle.

by Belinelli2Biedrins on Jul 16, 2007 3:39 PM PDT reply actions

Mistake on the pin

Just a little tip..it's "diretto" and not "diritto"(means straight)..greeting from italy!

by 0mars725 on Jul 17, 2007 2:01 PM PDT reply actions

grazie mille

Mi sono sbagliato. Che stronzi questi americani... ;-)

Sono contento che Warriors sia veramente una lingua universale.

Allora, cosa pensi del diminutivo "Il Tiratore"? In Italia, Belinelli ce l'ha un all'altro diminutivo?

by Sleepy Freud on Jul 17, 2007 9:26 PM PDT up reply actions

No nicknames for all

No, usually not all the players have a nickname.
Bargani was one of them, so also Mancinelli.
Maybe it's possible that some of his friends called him "Beli", or Supermarco, but it's more like a private thing, not a huge-pubblic-wellknown things like "Il Mago".
I like very much Il Tiratore. It's between a spaghetti-western hero and Il Trovatore.