Spurs’ guard Marco Belinelli receives Bologna, Italy’s Golden Neptune Award
Marco Belinelli loves Italy and Italy loves him. Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
San Antonio Spurs guard Marco Belinelli has had quite the year and fortunately for him it keeps getting better. From winning the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest at the 2014 NBA All Star game to winning a NBA championship with the Spurs, things have been coming up Marco. The accolades won’t stop coming Belinelli’s way as yesterday he was honored in his home country of Italy with the City of Bologna’s Nettuno d’Oro award which in English means the Golden Neptune.
From a Google translated Wikipedia page about the Nettuno d’Oro:
"The Neptune is a gold prize awarded by the Municipality of Bologna from 1974 to businesses, citizens, institutions and cultural organizations that have honored us with their professional activities and publishes the city of Bologna .The prize, awarded by resolution of the City Council of Bologna, is a reproduction of the statue of Neptune placed on the ‘ fountain of the same name , the symbol of the city."
This is a high honor in Italy and judging by his thumbs up pose, Belinelli was thrilled to receive the award:
A short documentary about Belinelli was created for the occasion which brought him to tears. Translated from LaGazzetta:
"At the screening of a video celebrating the conquest NBA ring and the victory of the race for 3-Star Game, Belinelli burst into tears again reviewing his outburst after race-5 with Miami, but when he wept with joy also of anger against his detractors. “I have done so, are emotions that I come back out every time I hear about that video and the fine words for me,” said Belinelli before being moved again to the applause of his countrymen."
The Golden Neptune is not just another award that will be on Belinelli’s mantle. It is a well deserved honor for one of Italy’s proud sons.