One of the great things about Super Bowl weekend are the number of players both current and former who gather to the site to mingle, take in the sights and have fun. The football fraternity spans decades and in most cases, this is the one time in the year where we get a chance to talk with them in their element.
We had a chance to catch up with Victor Cruz, star wide receiver for the New York Giants. While many sneakerheads know Cruz for his role in a pair of hilarious Foot Locker commercials, he will be playing a big role in this year’s Super Bowl Pepsi commercial, which should have aired by the time you read this. The beauty of the commercial is that fans will actually get a chance to win a trip to next year’s game through the clues that are hidden in the spot. Those who don’t want to splurge for the unbelievable cost that it would take to go to New Jersey will do well to check out the Pepsi website for more info.
2012 was definitely a star-making year for Cruz. After a record-breaking 2011 season, the public could not get enough of the young wide receiver with the famous salsa touchdown dance that was capped off with a Super Bowl win. But he is also making waves in the sneakerhead community as well thanks to his featured role in Nike’s return to the NFL and for always being spotted by fans in the freshest kicks.
Note: This interview was conducted on Saturday prior to the Super Bowl.
Examiner: What is the feeling there right now in New Orleans?
Victor Cruz: It's exciting. You can feel the energy in the city and people are coming in waves, by the dozens. You can see the Super energy pick up a little bit, so it's exciting, It's my first time coming to a Super Bowl on the outside looking in.
Examiner: And what better way than in New Orleans to experience your first Super Bowl as a spectator. Have you had a chance to soak up the atmosphere?
Cruz: Yeah, I've been around the city a little bit, checking out the food. I think that was the most exciting things [was being able to] check out the food. I've already been to Mother's twice for breakfast so it's been fun so far.
Examiner: You're also here in New Orleans as a part of Pepsi's Super Bowl commercial. Can you give us a little more detail about that?
Cruz: Yeah, it's going to air on Sunday and it involves the fans and it's a great way to get them involved. And it's a great relationship with Pepsi; we've done a lot of [viral] things in the past and I'm excited to be a part of this Super Bowl commercial and to get some feedback from the fans to see how they like it.
Examiner: And there's going to be a chance for fans to win a trip to next year's Super Bowl?
Cruz: Exactly, there's going to be clues in the commercial and fans can search for that so they can win a trip to Super XLVIII in New York.
Examiner: So next year's Super Bowl will be in New York (actually New Jersey at New Giants Stadium), that's got to be added incentive for you to want to get there next year.
Cruz: I hope so, I hope so, man. We understand how big of a chance that is for us and we're definitely going to use that as motivation.
Examiner: So right now you're actually in negotiations with the Giants. How is that coming along?
Cruz: It's going right now. We're in negotiations and it takes a while so I'm just being patient right now and waiting my turn.
Examiner: Ok, well, moving along, let's talk a little bit more about your kicks. In the past year, you’ve really become well-known in the community as a prominent sneakerhead. Tell us a little bit more about your sneaker history and how it came to be.
Cruz: It really didn’t start not that long ago. I’ve always been a fan of sneakers. When I was a kid, I always tried to get my hands on the best pair that I can [but] my mom could not always get me the pair that I wanted due to the price and how we were living when were coming up. So it started about four or five years ago, I really decided to collect sneakers and built my [sneaker] resume, built my archive up a little bit.
Click here for the full interview at Kicks on Fire.
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