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*THE VICTOR CRUZ EXPERIENCE*

//A LATINO TAKES THE NEW YORK GIANTS TO THE SUPER BOWL//

SALSA WITH VICTOR CRUZ

    When I sat back and looked at the overall view of this topic (Latinos In Sports) I believed that I would be covering Latino related sports like Baseball, Soccer, etc...... & never in my wildest dreams thought that it would go beyond the limits that society has plagued us with.  As I researched the many latinos in sports throughout the world, I realized that latino representation in sports and the many past contributions in sports are amazing.  This month takes me to the National Football League and a Puerto Rican Wide Receiver that has taken this sport by storm.........his name is Victor Michael Cruz, An undrafted selection (NEW YORK GIANTS) from the University of Massachusetts who not only was far fetched to start but was to be a sub of subs as only his pre-season performance against the crosstown rival New York Jets and fantastic 3 Touchdown Day would take Victor from a long shot to making the regular season roster and later Victor would take the football world by storm. The son to a African American father (Michael Walker) and a Puerto Rican mother (Blanca Cruz), Victor Cruz would emerge from Paterson N.J. as right out of a fairytale story. Dreams that can only be told in the mountains of Puerto Rican Folklore, Tono Bisicleta, Correa Cotto etc........ & what would leave the latin public stunned would be the sport that Victor would not only dominate but would bring to a rise in the latin world................................AMERICAN FOOTBALL!!!!! 

     What do we really know about Victor Cruz? Well let's see.......he would have never had a chance to shine if it wasn't for the 2010 season injuries which happened to two regular season starting receivers and he would only play five games as he would sustain a head injury himself. He would shine in 2011 taking his salsa touchdown celebration to new heights and give New York a Super Bowl title. Endorsements would make him a household name and his ability to make that important reception when the pressure is on would win him New York Giants fans the world over, touchdown after salsa touchdown over and over again.  Representing an entire nation of Latinos and introducing a once non Latin sport to the Hispanic world. Born November 11, 1986 raised in Paterson, New Jersey and going to Catholic high school Cruz witnessed the obstacles that any teenager faces in his youth.  Raised by a single parent and a very dedicated grandmother Victor was set forth to succeed in life as he was pushed to focus on education and allow everything else to fall into play later.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

     He entered Brighton Academy in the state of Maine before going off to the University of Massachusetts (UMASS) and there in his junior year, he would play football and prove to excel in a sport he surely loved. Although he has been a professional football player for a very short period of time, his popularity has grown dramatically since 2011 and like the once New York Knick's overnight phenomenon Jeremy Lin proved that if you succeed and rock the New York City fan off it's feet, fame will hit you like a ton of bricks in this metropolis. He started what today is as popular as breakdancing in the 80's on the streets of it's origin, a ritual Salsa tribute to his grandmother at the end zone would play an intrikit part in the rise of the Cruz mania. The fans respond with a long and smooth yell "CROOOOOZE"(Cruz) as he gives them a Latin slide dance called salsa (taught to him by his late grandmother who past away in 2007). A talent of this magnitude has not been seen since many of the greats (in there youth) Lynn Swann, Wes Chandler, Steve Largent, Jerry Rice, Tony Hill, Tim Brown  etc..... which puts him a great category and he hasn't event touched the surface yet. Knowing his father has passed away as well makes me understand why his story is so important to tell. 

He represents the Latino with pride and let's the world know every Sunday on national television, how could you not love this guy. The natural talents are there and if he stays healthy will become one of the great New York Giant receivers, probably the NFL. Although the Giants came short of making the playoffs this year and the defensive targets set on Cruz(he has been hit with some bad shots this year as to take him out), I believe the Giants will bounce back and will be a force to be reckoned with in the NFC next year and for years to come. Victor Cruz is a young talent that will stand the test of time and has proven that he can hang with the big boys of the NFL. As a representative of the Latin masses, he also showed to have a heart as well.......as recently the tragedy of the Sandy Hook Elementary School stunned an entire nation and made us feel there pain and loss. Victor took his NFL receiving shoes wrote on one of them "RIP Jack Pinto" and on the other "Jack Pinto you are my hero", played that Sunday with the shoes and gave then and his jersey to the brother of not just a fan but a six year old victim of that tragic day. He was recently asked to join the "Dancing With The Stars" set and partake but turned it down.    

 Even as we see Victor Cruz and his very young career become this huge success, he has already proven himself to the Giants organization by breaking former New York Giant receiving great Amani Toomer's single season Giants record in total receiving yards. We will see alot more salsa on Sundays for years to come thanks to the Latino representation of New York Giants Victor Cruz*-CRUZ MANIA HAS JUST BEGUN!!!!!

                                                                                                ​JOHN ROSARIO/JOHNBOY PRODUCTIONS ​                                                            FOR UNIDOS MAGAZINE ​                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

VIDEO OF VICTOR CRUZ YOUNG & FANTASTIC CAREER
(JUST CLICK ON THE PIC.)
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