‘Mr. Trick Shots’ realizes dream of becoming American citizen — VIDEO

Emulating American entertainer Dean Martin, a 12-year-old boy growing up in 1960s Rome picked up a pool stick.

That boy, Stefano Pelinga, pool cue in hand, would go on to nab multiple international billiards titles in a career spanning three decades.

Thirty-nine years later, Pelinga, 51, now known as "Mr. Trick Shots," emulated Martin one more time — this time taking a shot at citizenship.

Fidgeting with his gold cuff links once worn by the icon, who had Italian roots himself, Pelinga sat quietly in the third row of chairs inside a room at Lloyd D. George United States Courthouse Friday morning.

He and 45 other people born outside of the country in places such as Iran, Canada, Japan and Russia, took the oath of American citizenship.

"Today, I'm finally becoming a U.S. citizen. I'm thrilled," Pelinga said. "It means a lot to me. I'm very honored."

Pelinga retired from his 27-year career in Italian law enforcement to play pool all the time.

Crossing the Atlantic and most of the U.S., "a country we all looked up to in Italy," to make a home in Las Vegas in July 2010 was an obvious choice Pelinga said, because Sin City has the most action for the sport that he loves.

"I became so good that nobody wanted to play me anymore," he said, explaining why he decided to start competing internationally.

Pelinga plays outside the pool-table-box and uses props to make shots that most would deem impossible.

"I almost stumbled upon trick shots." Now recognized as an international artistic pool champion, he was featured on ESPN'S "Trick Shot Magic" tour from 2000 to 2011.

In a nation known for its promotion of dreaming big, Pelinga came to do just that. And after 12 months of paperwork, fees and testing, he'd be able to call America home forever.

Moments before the judge walked in to make it official, the clerk told the crowd, "Wave your flags, be happy, it's your day."

"All of you have worked very hard to get here today, and you should be commended for the work that you've done," District Judge Nancy Koppe said after her introduction.

One by one, each of the men and women stood to say their name and where they're from.

"My name is Stefano Pelinga. I'm from Italy," he stood to say. Two American flags called attention to the left lapel of his black suit jacket.

After taking the oath and pledging allegiance to the American flag, the newly naturalized citizens accepted their certificates. He let out a deep breath, then reached out to receive his.

"You are American by choice," Koppe said.

After the judge's dismissal, he and the rest of the crowd stood to pose for pictures and greet family and friends.

His wife, Diane Pelinga waited patiently in a back row during the ceremony. After a long, smile-filled embrace, both stopped to reflect on the journey.

"It's been a full year. A solid year," Diane Pelinga exclaimed, exhaling a sigh of relief. It was complicated, tedious and "a few thousand dollars."

Stefano Pelinga is one of many immigrants coming to Las Vegas to make their dreams a reality. About 600 will take the same oath in the downtown Las Vegas courthouse every month, one clerk estimated — a number that's growing.

"Always remember that in America, no dream is impossible," President Obama said in a pre-recorded welcome video played at the end of the ceremony.

Contact Kimberly De La Cruz at kdelacruz@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter:@KimberlyinLV.