This should come as no surprise. That smile was too big for Georgia. It was too big for Pittsburgh or even the United States. In his first visit to South Korea, the home country of his mother, Ward’s infectious personality has made him as much of a hit there as he’s been at every stop along his path to NFL superstardom.

Ward of course is not just a sports icon; he’s also a symbol of hope for the historically-repressed children of mixed race in Korea. “You came back a hero,” South Korean President Roh said. “Children growing up in South Korea can have big dreams by watching Hines Ward.” We think Ward’s a pretty decent example for kids back here in Georgia as well. Character like his crosses borders and cultures.