He's big in New York for his hands, but Victor Cruz might be even more beloved for his feet.
The New York Giants wide receiver grew up in Paterson, N.J., a little more than 10 minutes from the site of MetLife Stadium where the Giants play their home games. It was in Paterson that Cruz got the inspiration for his trademark touchdown dance.
It was Cruz's grandmother who taught him how to dance when he was 11 years old, and he does his version of a salsa dance each time he reaches the end zone for the Giants. FOX 5 New York asked Cruz what his grandma thinks of this special tribute.
"She loves it man, every time she sees it, when I come home she's always like 'I love when you do that,'" Cruz said. "All her friends call her when she's home and say they love watching me dance, so its cool. I do it for her every time."
Despite the trademark dance helping his celebrity in the Big Apple, Cruz just turned down an invitation to join the 2012 cast of Dancing with the Stars. Yahoo's Shutdown Corner reported that Cruz wasn't interested in the popular reality show's time commitments. "I'm not going to do it, I chose to decline it because I don't feel like I'm at the point of my career where I can do something like that," Cruz told Yahoo! Sports. "I'm focused on football; focused on my family right now."
While hanging on "Good Day New York," Cruz was pulled from back stage to give BET actors Coby Bell and Wendy Raquel Robinson the ABC's on the salsa.
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Victor Cruz Teaches Stars Of 'The Game' To Dance: MyFoxNY.com |
In addition to his football and dancing success, Cruz just became a father for the first time. Longtime girlfriend Elaina Watley gave birth on Monday to a baby girl named Kennedy, according to the New York Post.
Cruz, 25, told Fox 5 he's loving the first few days of being a daddy. "It’s amazing just to see her and to hold her in my arms. It’s been an amazing feeling, and I can’t wait to raise her and teach her all the good stuff ... Every time I'm out there, I'm out there running around for her and catching the ball for her, so she’s always on my mind."
Trying to save a few bucks, some Giants fans have turned their outdated Jeremy Shockey jerseys into Cruz jerseys. The New York receiver fully endorses this frugal move.
"I saw that. That's a great way to transform your jersey. I heard my jersey was kind of hard to find, or they had to order it and things like that. So its nice the fans taking the old cut and paste route and doing what they have to do," Cruz said.
On the field, Cruz had 82 catches for 1,536 yards and 9 touchdowns for the Giants during the 2011 regular season. The team heads to Green Bay this weekend for a playoff game against the 2011 Super Bowl champs.
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