Adriano Belli isn't through playing football just yet.
Less than two months after announcing his CFL retirement, the free-spirited defensive tackle has his sights set on flattening rival quarterbacks, this time on the international stage as a member of the Canadian team participating in the world senior men's championship in Austria.
"I'm looking forward to crushing quarterbacks from all over the world," Belli said. "I'm smoking two packs a day and I'm eating burgers and Timbits but I've still got it, baby."
This will mark the fourth world senior men's tournament -- which began in 1999 and is held every four years -- but Canada's first appearance in the event. The United States is the defending champion, beating Japan in double overtime in 2007 in Tokyo. The Japanese won the opening two competitions -- '99 in Palermo, Italy and '03 in Frankfurt.
The opportunity to wear Canadian colours was a big reason why Belli came out of retirement, even if it was to play football by American rules.
"I never thought I'd ever get the chance to represent my country playing football," Belli said. "I definitely prefer the Canadian game but I'm really looking forward to wearing the Maple Leaf."
Belli won't be the only CFL veteran representing Canada. Also on the roster is Sherko Haji-Rasouli, a six-foot-six, 326-pound offensive lineman who played collegiately at Miami and spent eight seasons in the CFL with Montreal and B.C. before being released by the Lions on Jan. 31.
"I think Sherko and I will be able to spend time with the youngsters and teach them how to be good teammates and the importance of hustling on every play," Belli said. "I think I was always a good hustle guy on the football field.
"But, you know, I think he (Haji-Rasouli) is the hairiest man I've ever seen."
Head coach Larry Haylor expects Belli and Haj-Rasouli to lead the Canadian team on the field and serve as mentors to the young players.
"We're looking for presence and leadership," Haylor said via telephone from Graz, Austria, where Canada will play its preliminary-round games. "They're people who are recognizable by virtue of what they've done in the pro game and in terms of high achievement they represent the highest.
"Both Sherko and Adriano clearly understand they're not wearing Hamilton Tiger-Cats or Toronto Argonauts jerseys, they're wearing Team Canada. This is a world stage, they understand Canada is being represented and I know they will do that very well."
Canada will be in Group B with Japan, France and Austria. The United States, Mexico, Germany and Australia comprise Group A.
Tournament action kicks off Friday with Canada playing its first game Saturday against France. That will begin a stretch of three contests in five days for the Canadians, who'll take on host Austria on Monday before squaring off against Japan on July 13.
The second-place finishers in each division will tangle for the bronze medal July 15 in Vienna, with the top two clubs squaring off in the tournament final July 16. The third-place squads will decide fifth while the last-place countries will meet in the seventh-place contest.
That's a lot of football in a short period of time for any player, let alone the 33-year-old Belli, who only appeared in five games last year with Toronto due to a foot ailment.
"I've told the coaches they have to look after the old man," he said with a chuckle.
Haylor admits the condensed schedule isn't ideal.
"It's something that's very foreign to us and it does present a challenge but it's a challenge each of the teams here has in common," Haylor said. "But we've prepared for it as our camp hasn't been one focused on being physical or who is tough and who can tough it out.
"It's been focused on the players we've selected for this team, the systems we want to run and the installation and application of that."
Haylor said having eight countries vying for a world championship is a testament to the popularity of North American-style football around the world and the time had come for Canada to become involved in the tournament.
"NHL hockey is the best example," Haylor said. "Despite the fact these are the best players in the world making millions of dollars playing their game, I still think the greatest thrill and excitement comes from putting on the national jersey and playing for an Olympic gold medal.
"I think it's important given where Canada is as a country in football within the global community that the timing for this is important. We need to get on that stage and have it as a dream and goal for all the coaches, players, referees and administrators -- the entire football family."
The Canadian 45-man roster consists of current and former Canadian university stars as well as those from the national junior ranks. Josh Sacobie, who lined up under centre with the Ottawa Gee-Gees, and longtime Western Mustang Michael Faulds, are among the squad's quarterbacks.
Haylor, the former Western Ontario Mustangs head coach and Canadian university football's winningest coach, heads up a staff that also includes defensive co-ordinator Blake Nill (Calgary Dinos) and offensive co-ordinator Greg Marshall (Western, former Hamilton Tiger-Cats head coach).
A 2001 first-round pick of the B.C. Lions, Belli spent 10 seasons in the CFL with the Montreal Alouettes (twice) and Hamilton Tiger-Cats (twice) before spending his final four years with the Toronto Argonauts. The six-foot-five, 290-pound Toronto native amassed 213 career tackles and 28 sacks and twice was an East Division all-star (2005, 2007). He was named a league all-star in 2005 and earned a Grey Cup ring in 2002 with the Als.
Belli was a tenacious, persistent player who went all-out on each play and did whatever he had to -- literally -- to be effective. He was an expert in verbal warfare, using his tongue to get under the skin of opponents and get them off their game.
Belli was also one of the CFL's colourful characters. He was affectionately dubbed The Kissing Bandit for his penchant of kissing everyone he meets on the cheek.
And when he left pro football, Belli did it in a most unique way. He announced his retirement in May aboard a 50-metre long schooner clad in a white sailor's uniform and cap.
Belli certainly plans to take in the culture of Austria off the field, but says he'll be all business on it.
"I'm looking to win, baby," he said. "I'm taking this very seriously and am looking forward to getting into the quarterbacks' heads and crushing them.
"I also want to kick the Americans' butt and show Canadians can do more than play hockey."
Haylor echoed Belli's sentiments.
"Our goal is to win," he said. "We're not being arrogant or cocky and trying desperately hard to go one play at a time.
"But the players and coaches we have here are here because they like the challenge, want to accept that challenge and are committed to meeting that challenge. If we were to commit to do less than that, I think we'd have a lot of disappointed people on our team."
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