Ed Honcho

Not much turns steely old Ed Honcho weepy. Powerful onions. United Way commercials. Puppies. Most movies starring Sandra Bullock. Hummingbirds. United Way commercials. Lost socks. A plastic bag dancing like a whisper in the breeze. Babies. The Barrow Whalers. Pretty nature. Clothes that clash. People mad at me. United Way commercials.

But I have to admit, when I read this story, I sobbed like a kid with a boo-boo. Such grief. Such sorrow. Such will to triumph. Anthony Hargrove’s come a long way from where he started.

And it got me thinking (that’s what I do, after all, along with cry a lot)… what about everyone else? Where did they come from? How far have they made it? Well, here’s a look.

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, as you surely know, is from New Orleans, birthplace of the Praline.

Colts receiver Reggie Wayne, as you may not know, is also from New Orleans (well, technically the unincorporated bits just outside of town), birthplace of the Muffuletta.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees is from Austin, TX, famous for “keeping it weird“.

Saints receiver Marques Colston is from Harrisburg, PA, home of the Pennsylvania Farm Show (yes, those are made of butter), the largest free indoor agriculture exposition in America.

Colts secondary man Jacob Lacey is from Garland, TX, a Chen Tao stronghold, and went to Naaman Forest High School.

Colts secondary man Melvin Bullitt is from Garland, TX, birthplace of Mookie Blaylock, and went to Naaman Forest High School.

Saints kicker Garrett Hartley is from Southlake, TX, headquarters of Travelocity, and went to Carroll High School.

Saints third-string quarterback Chase Daniel is from Southlake, TX, recently named by Forbes the most affluent neighborhood in the U.S., and went to Carroll High School.

Colts receiver Hank Baskett, known in the tabloids as the man who married and impregnated this “girl next door”, is from Clovis, NM, namesake of the Clovis Culture, a people that roamed the North American continent 13,000-13,500 years ago, arguably its’ first inhabitants.

Colts offensive lineman Charlie Johnson is from Sherman, TX, where Jesse James spent his honeymoon.

Saints offensive lineman Carl Nicks is from Salinas, CA, hometown of Grapes of Wrath author John Steinbeck.

Saints head coach Sean Payton is from Naperville, IL, known for its’ Millennium Carillon, designated as a Grand Carillon with 72 bells, one of only four worldwide to hit six octaves.

Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney is from Bloomfield, CT, home of the New England Muscle Bicycle Museum.

Colts defensive lineman Raheem Brock is from Philadelphia, birthplace of the Hoagie.

Saints tight end David Thomas is from Wolfforth, TX, known as the hometown of Saints tight end David Thomas.

Saints linebacker Scott Shanle played 8 man football in St. Edward, NE, known as the hometown of Saints linebacker Scott Shanle.

Colts receiver Pierre Garcon is from Greenacres, FL, home to democratic senator Dave Aronberg, formerly Assistant Attorney General, and head of the case against Miss Cleo.

Colts defensive lineman Daniel Muir is from Riverdale Park, MD, known for its’ abundance of Sears “Honor-bilt Modern Homes”, pre-fabricated homes from Sears that were apparently all the rage in the early-mid 20th century.

Saints secondary man Randall Gay is from Brusly, LA, home of the Cinclare Sugar Mill, one of the last remaining vestiges of southern Louisiana’s sugar history.

Saints backup quarterback and starting holder Mark Brunell is from Santa Maria, CA, very near Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, and location of his child-sexual-abuse case.

Colts running back Joseph Addai is from Houston, named America’s fattest city five of the past nine years by Men’s Fitness Magazine.

Colts linebacker Gary Brackett is from Glassboro, NJ, renowned for having Ronald Reagan speak at the commencement ceremonies for Glassboro High School in 1986, the first sitting president ever to do so at a high school graduation.

Saints offensive lineman Jon Stinchcomb is from Lilburn, GA, home of the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Temple, one of the largest and most elaborately decorated in the country.

Saints defensive end Will Smith is from Utica, NY, renowned for Riggiefest, a celebration of its’ signature dish, chicken riggies (AKA Utica riggies).

Colts receiver Austin Collie is from El Dorado Hills, CA, enduring the alarmingly high levels of asbestos occurring naturally, and found by the EPA to be centered near his former high school, Oak Ridge.

Colts punter Pat McAfee is from Plum, PA, home of Oakmont Country Club, which has hosted more U.S. Opens than any other course.

Saints secondary man Roman Harper is from Prattville, AL, birthplace of Wilson Pickett.

Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is from Excelsior Springs, MO, filming site of Adam at Six AM, Michael Douglas’ first starring role.

Colts secondary man Kelvin Hayden is from Chicago, birthplace of the Chicago Style Hot Dog.

Colts linebacker is Clint Session is from Pompano Beach, FL, home of the Goodyear Blimp Spirit of Innovation.

Saints receiver Devery Henderson is from Opelousas, LA, renowned worldwide as the hub of Zydeco music.

Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey is from Ada, OK, home of bigfoot, apparently.

That ought to tide you over until the game on Sunday. Everyone has a story, some are just more interesting.