Out of the Blue - Tapa dura

“It may seem like I came out of the blue. But, my road was long, windy, full of hurdles, and even some dead ends. I lost family. I lost friends. I even lost my way. When I reached what felt like rock bottom, I realized I had a responsibility to everyone who believed in me and to kids, like me, who just needed a chance and something to believe in.”—from the epilogue ofOut of the Blue

Victor Cruz, the Super Bowl-winning and record-breaking wide receiver, is best known for his explosive plays and salsa touchdown celebrations. While his meteoric rise in the NFL looked like the result of a magical year, it was actually a lifetime in the making.

Raised in Paterson, New Jersey’s gritty Fourth Ward, Cruz overcame numerous setbacks through hard work, perseverance, and the support of his loving family—from his grandmother who gave him his signature dance moves; to his late father, a former firefighter, who introduced him to football and taught him how to play; to his hard-working, single mother who never let him give up in the face of a challenge. They all helped to keep him on the right path, as did his coaches, but Cruz’s journey was never easy. There were family tragedies, academic struggles, injuries, and more. In this inspiring, never-before-seen account, Cruz pays tribute to the people and places that made him the man he is today, recounts his most defining moments, and illustrates how his hardships ultimately unleashed his impenetrable will to win.

Out of the Blue is a candid and moving reflection of an overlooked and undersized athlete with an uncommon last name in American football that was determined to beat the odds and earn his chance to succeed.

Victor Cruz is the New York Giants wide receiver whose breakout 2011 season catapulted him to stardom. In 16 games, Cruz had 82 receptions for 1,536 yards, a franchise season record. He averaged 96 yards-per-game, with nine touchdowns, including a 99-yarder and a crucial Super Bowl catch. Before joining the Giants, Cruz was a standout at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Paterson Catholic High School in New Jersey.

Peter Schrager covers the NFL and college football at FoxSports.com. He is a frequent contributor to GQ, Esquire.com, and The Daily.