What pro athletes grew up in your town?

[DG_ThenNowForever]

I live in Louisville, Kentucky and I have to say the most famous guy from my home town is Mohammad Ali.

The most recent famous guy from here, however is probably Deion Branch, the Super Bowl 39 MVP.

Ignoring the fact I already posted that information, I'm not sure how you could misspell Muhammad Ali's name. Not only is it plastered all over downtown Louisville, (there is a Muhammad Ali Blvd!), I would say he might be one of the 10 most famous living people in the world. Seriously.

Sigh.

[sscrunner06]

Brett Favre grew up in Kiln, MS, which is only a couple miles away from my hometown. Also, Tank Williams (DB for the Titans and now the Vikings) is from nearby Bay St. Louis, MS. Stephen Peterman (former LSU, now Dallas Cowboys OL) grew up in Waveland, MS.

Finally, Heisman winner Doc Blanchard (played at Army during the 1940s) went to my high school. His Heisman trophy is actually kept inside the school building. I never got to touch it like I wanted though...

[usahockeyrube]

From my hometown: Apple Valley, MN

Brad DeFauw- former Carolina Hurricane

Erik Westrum- Minnesota Wild

Bob Martin- Former LA Clipper

Dan Smith- former Texas Ranger

From the town I live in now: Anoka, MN

Brianna Scurry- USA Soccer

[Davey]

Curtis Joseph was born in Keswick, Ont. Canada. Im right beside Keswick basically a 15 min drive to get there. It was kewl when i found out about it, kinda hard to belive but its true.

[Lumbergh]

LenDale White, Roy Halladay, Chauncey Billups, Brad Lidge, all from greater denver/colorado area.

[steve61]

Sidney Crosby. Actually a few miles from my hometown.

[Shumway]

- Floyd Landis...yeah, he makes us proud

- Jim Furyk

- Jeff Smoker, who was just cut by the Rams last week

- Kris Wilson, TE Kansas City Chiefs

- Bruce Sutter, recently inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame

- Perry Patterson, not a pro, but he's starting(I think) for Syracuse at QB

- John Parrish, reliever for the Orioles

- Dustin Salisbery, again, not a pro, but he's started every year for Temple basketball

- Dan Kreider, FB Pittsburgh Steelers

- Tommy Herr, former Phillie and Cardinal, current coach of the Lancaster Barnstormers

- Aaron Herr, I think he's in the Cardinals' system, son of Tommy.

- Gene Garber, ended Pete Rose's 44-game hit streak

- A kid I went to high school with is in the Royal's system, Jeff Bianchi.

[PeytonManningRocks]

EDIT: After looking, I found a bunch of guys.

Reggie Miller, former Pacers G

Bobby Bonds, former Giants and Yankees OF

Barry Bonds, Giants OF

Reed Johnson, Blue Jays OF

Greg Myers, former Blue Jays C

Bubba Franks, Packers TE

Cato June, Colts LB

Duane Clemons, Bengals DE

Derrick Johnson, 49ers CB

Jim Nelson, Ravens LB

As for other area guys, former Royals P Darrell May, Bucs T Ryan Nece and Stars LW Jeremy Stevenson are from San Bernardino, former Royals C Brent Mayne is from Loma Linda, and Royals 3B Mark Teahen is from Redlands (man, a lot of Royals on this list!). And of course, Landon Donovan is from around here as well.

[seattlefan68]

The pride of Kent, WA and the rest of South King County:

-Earl Anthony, former bowler

-John Bronson, Arizona Cardinals (went to my high school)

-Mike Karney, New Orleans Saints

-Kenny Mayne, ESPN personality

-David Riske, Chicago White Sox

-Ernie Conwell, former NFL TE

-Chad Orvella, Tampa Bay Devil Rays

My brother was in the same graduating class as Jerramy Stevens (and thought he was a jerk like most who have met him).

[TFoA]

Calvin Pace, currently a DE (?) for the Arizona Cardinals, is regarded as the greatest defensive end to come out of our high school.

And our high school football team traditionally sucks, so when you get one to get to the NFL, we're proud of it.

[TBGKon]

When it comes to my actual hometown (New Port Richey, Florida), there are 2 that I know of (both from my high school):

- Ryan Benjamin (former University of South Florida and Tampa Bay Buccaneer long-snapper)

- TJ Tucker (relief pitcher for the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals through 2005)

[NJTank]

Former Duke Star/NBA Journeyman Ala Abdelnaby

Original Broncos QB Frank Tripuka

and his son

Former Piston/Original Hornet Kelly Tripuka

Also ESPN Original Bob Ley

[LMU]

Torrance, CA

Michelle Kwan (obvious)

Jason Kendall (catcher, Oakland A's)

Rorion Gracie (UFC co-founder)

Royce Gracie (MMA legend)

Parnelli & P.J. Jones (Indy car drivers)

Bobby East (NASCAR driver)

Chad Morton (RB/KR, New York Giants)

Robert Fick (1B, Washington Nationals)

David Wells (P, Boston Red Sox)

Lisa Moretti (WWE's Ivory)

[no97]

From my hometown of Downers Grove, Illinois:

Angelo Poffo, father of

Randy "Macho Man" Savage and

"Leaping" Lanny Poffo

My current residence of Bemidji, MN is a strange place. Northern Minnesota with little hockey history (outside Bemidji State). No current NHL players, and only a few minor leaguers - although Joe Motzko has gotten a cup of coffee the past two NHL seasons, playing two games last year and two games in '03-'04 for the Blue Jackets...

Other than that, Brian Hickerson is about the only guy I can think of from here who has made it to the big's - in baseball with the Giants from '91-'94, then splitting '95 between the Cubs and Rockies. The LHP went 21-21 in his five year career with a 4.72 ERA...

Moose

[HedleyLamarr]

Without researching, I know of a couple.

-Brandon Phillips, 2B of the Reds (I've actually played against him in high school)

-Jeff Francoeur, RF for the Braves, from neighboring Lilburn

-Jason Elam of the Broncos, from nearby Snellville

[-(dp)-]

Lansing, MI

Without really looking, I know of a Couple:

Earvin "Magic" Johnson - Former point guard of the LA Lakers

Mushin Muhammad - WR Chicago Bears

Also, Ryan Miller, The Sabres' Goalie, is from the nearby East Lansing.

[Discrim]

off the top of my head...

Brent Moss, former Rams RB

Jason Jaramillo, Phillies system, C

Jack Taschner, Giants system, RP

Jesse Marsch, (former?) Chicago Fire MF

LaTonya Sims, former WNBA player

and most notably...

Caron Butler, Wizards F

and Cowboys backup QB Tony Romo is from nearby Burlington

[gojetsgo]

Winnipeg, Manitoba:

Andy Bathgate - NY Rangers

Terry Sawchuk - Detroit RedWings

Billy Mosienko - Chicago Blackhawks

Brett Hull (grew up in Winnipeg)

Corey Koskie - Brewers

Todd MacCulloch - 76ers

Y2J Chris Jericho - WWE

Not professional: but two of Canada's greatest Olympians:

Cindy Klassen

Clara Hughes

and there are probably more that I can't think of right now....

[VitaminD]

Baseball:

Orel Hershiser (is "from" here, but didn't live here long, and went to HS in New Jersey)

Oh, no you don't!! Orel's on my list - South Jersey all the way! My kids will go to the same high school he went to. (Bonus note: I was on the same Little League team as Orel, separated by 14 years.)

HADDONFIELD, NJ

- Rawley Eastwick (RHP, Reds - winner of the 1st NL Rolaids Relief Award)

- Matt Maloney (SG, Bulls/Rockets/Hawks - grew up one street over from me)

- Ryan Roberts (DE - played at Notre Dame, got a tryout in the NFL, I don't think he caught on anywhere)

- coming soon: Brian Zoubek (C, incoming freshman at Duke U. - a 7' freshman center with 3 straight state titles on his resume. Why he chose Duke is beyond me, what with Blue Heaven just 8 miles down the road; for God's sake, UNC put Kevin Salvadori in the NBA lottery and got Serge Zwikker paid for 2 years!! THINK ABOUT IT!

CHERRY HILL, NJ (where I live now... and really, it's the next town over)

- Glenn Foley (QB, Jets... played against his brother in HS; we got stomped, 56-8; but yours truly caught our 2-point conversion, so hoorah for me)

- Orel Hershiser (P, Dodgers... also a good junior hockey player in his day)

I'd claim Muhammad Ali, since he lived around the corner from where my wife and I live now, but he's not from here, so I leave him off the list.

[infrared41]

Cleveland Browns QB Charlie Frye. Saw him play in High School.