Hoboken Residents: Eli, Wife Just Regular Folks Trying To Blend In With The Crowd
HOBOKEN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Next up, the players' media blitz!
Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning got a hero's welcome at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., on Monday. He had a seat of honor next to Mickey Mouse during their big parade.
"I'm hoping that I have a long career ahead of me. I'd like to have the opportunity to get a few more of these. It's a pretty nice feeling. I just love coming here to Disney World. I just want to enjoy this ride and love playing football," Manning said.
PHOTO GALLERY: Eli Visits Disney World
Once finished, Manning was scheduled to fly back to New York City so he could be David Letterman's featured guest on the "Late Show."
The comedian asked the Super Bowl MVP a number of questions during the taping of the show, including some about Patriots QB Tom Brady. Asked Letterman, "Do you have a relationship with him? Do you guys talk?"
"Not a whole lot, no, not sure he likes me," answered Manning.
Throngs of fans waited outside for him early Monday night. It seems everybody wanted to know everything they could about the two-time MVP, so CBS 2's Emily Smith went to his neighborhood in Hoboken, N.J., for some reaction.
Needless to say, Giants fever is everywhere, including the town right over the bridge, where the star quarterback lives in a high-rise overlooking the Hudson River with his wife, Abby, and daughter, Ava.
The couple frequents Ganache Café, according to workers there who were a bit hesitant to speak.
"I don't really like to tell anybody anything," Susan Cohrs said with a laugh.
But as a giant Manning fan Cohrs understands, so she gave Smith the scoop on his daily routine.
Manning's favorite meal at Ganache's is the blueberry crumb muffin, almost a daily treat. Abby usually has a medium latte, minus the muffin.
Manning married his wife in 2008. She's a Nashville native who he met in college at the University of Mississippi. He's 31; she's 27.
While his wife isn't one for the spotlight -- the cameras caught a few glimpses of her Sunday night – she's quite different from the wife of her husband's rival, Tom Brady. Supermodel Gisele Bundchen makes a living being photographed and had some choice words for the rest of the New England Patriots following Sunday night's loss.
At Madison Bar and Grill in Hoboken, Randy Morton said he waited on the Mannings his first day on the job. Abby, he said, laughs and smiles a lot, while Eli is soft spoken and a good tipper.
"She was very chatty. Eli kept to himself. He was polite and a good person," Morton said. "I didn't want to mess up his food order. He got a salad and burger."
Everyone in Hoboken seems to have a Manning family story to share. People are especially complimentary when it comes to his wife and their daughter.
"Really pretty. Baby is adorable," one person said.
"They are so kind, so nice," Cohrs added.
Friends of the family said Abby Manning has contributed to St. Vincent's Hospital, which resulted in creating a holistic birthing center. She also worked as an account executive in wedding dress and evening wear for designer Pamela Roland.
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