American Football in Europe: Bergamo Lions

Bergamo Lions 2002

Hanging out with the Bergamo Lions, for a brief behind the stands experience at Eurobowl XVI 2002.


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Bergamo Lions

The Bergamo Lions is an American football team from Bergamo, Italy. They won the Eurobowl in 2000, 2001 and 2002, while losing to the Chrysler Vikings in the finals of 2004 and 2005. In Italy they have been unbeaten since 1998. In 1995, the Lions were a part of the Football League of Europe.

They have occasionally paid for Canadian football and American football players to play for the team but most Italian-born players are unpaid. One example is former Kansas City Chiefs and Toronto Argonauts wide receiver Jeris McIntyre. The Lions have also recruited American coaches, including former NFL offensive lineman Brian Baldinger as their offensive line coach.
Championships

12 Superbowl Italiano (Italian championship): 1993, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.

3 Eurobowl (European championship): 2000, 2001, 2002.

1 Champions League: 2000.


References

Molinaro, John F (2008-05-05). "Playing for Pizza: How two Canadian brothers lived out their dreams of playing pro football in Italy". CBC Sports. Retrieved 2008-06-07.

Baldinger, Brian. "Baldi in Bergamo, Italy". Retrieved 2010-03-22.

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