Giants star player Victor Cruz drew hundreds of football fans to Queens Center Mall, where some waited more than three hours to meet the wide receiver during his July 20 book signing and meet-and-greet.
“He’s the best player in the NFL right now,” said fan Jordan Nichols, 16, of Jamaica. “And he’s going to put New York back in the Super Bowl — again.”
The first 500 fans received a printed photo with the breakout rookie, as well as a free autographed copy of Cruz’s new memoir “Victor Cruz: Out of the Blue,” which details his personal story of overcoming numerous setbacks.
“It’s just been amazing,” Cruz said. “It feels good to know that [people] admire me and they admire my story.”
The 25-year-old pro athlete shattered the Giants record for receiving yards (1,536) and played a key role in leading Big Blue to its fourth Super Bowl championship last year.
“New York is just full of energy and full of life,” Cruz said. “People from New York demand a lot out of these sports teams and we look to deliver.”
The book signing is the second event hosted by Time Warner Cable as part of the company’s “Enjoy Queens Better” campaign. Last week, Cruz participated in an interactive discussion with audience members at Queens Theatre.
— With additional reporting by Terence M. Cullen
