Via Yahoo Sports: Garcia-Romo matchup first with Hispanic quarterbacks
A release from the Eagles said the fathers of Philadelphia quarterback Jeff Garcia and Dallas quarterback Tony Romo both were born in Mexico, making it what is believed to be the first such historic matchup.
Who knew? I thought Romo was of Italian descent, based solely on the name.
Here’s some background on Romo from the San Antonio Express: Romo’s grandparents revel in his first game as Cowboys’ starting QB
Cowboys fans clamoring to learn more about the team’s new starting quarterback, who was christened Antonio Ramiro Romo, may be surprised to learn his paternal grandparents have deep ties to San Antonio and South Texas.Ramiro Romo Sr. was born in Musquis, Coahuila, Mexico, in 1933, but moved to San Antonio when he was a teenager. He spent about five years in the city before going to live with a brother in Racine, Wis., where he met his future wife.
Ramiro Romo’s only living sibling, sister Socorro Valdez, lives in San Antonio, as do numerous nephews and nieces.
Felicita Rios Romo was born in Robstown in 1934 and moved to Racine with her family when she was 12. Felicita is called “Phyllis” by most of her friends in Crockett.
Married for 51 years, the Romos lived in San Antonio, where they owned two restaurants on the South Side, from 1986 until they moved to Crockett in 1989.
“We still have a lot of family and many friends in San Antonio,” Felicita said.
Crockett is about 110 miles north of Houston and 160 miles south of Dallas. The grandparents go to every Cowboys home game.
The Romos, who were married in Wisconsin in 1955 and lived in the state until 1980, are bilingual. They also have an adopted son, Mustafa John, 39, who lives in Appleton, Wis.
That a Mexican immigrant would someday have a grandson quarterbacking one of the most glamorous teams in pro sports, Ramiro and Felicita said, is a testament to the power of the American dream.
“I’ve always said this is a country of opportunities,” Ramiro said. “If you don’t get a job or an education, it’s because you don’t want to.”
His parents’ humble background, Ramiro Romo Jr. said, has made Tony’s success more gratifying.
“Only in America,” he said.
Indeed.
And, amusing:
Although Tony speaks very little Spanish — he can sing “La Bamba” with his grandfather accompanying him on the guitar — his abuelos and father said he takes pride in his ethnicity.
More bio:
Tony, 26, was born in San Diego when his father was in the Navy but grew up in Burlington, Wis.“I told my son and my nieto never to try to hide their culture, to be proud of who they are,” Ramiro Sr. said. “I’m proud to say that they’ve never run away from being Hispanic.”
Tony’s parents — his mother is named Joan — live in Burlington, Wis., where their son was a standout athlete at Burlington High School before going on Eastern Illinois.
[…]
Ramiro Jr., 49, was born in Racine and played basketball and soccer at St. Bonaventure High School. He and his wife settled in Burlington after he was discharged from the Navy in 1982. The couple also has two older daughters.
[…] Who knew? […]
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