Giants’ Victor Cruz loses woman who inspired TD salsa dance

New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz is known for his signature end zone salsa dance, but on Monday the woman who taught Cruz his hip-swaying moves passed away.

Cruz’s grandmother Lucy Molina passed away on Monday at the age of 77.

“Obviously she’s going to be on my mind,” Cruz said via the NFL.com, “so it’s going to be emotional for me.”

Cruz was with Molina in a New Jersey hospital when she died. He says he plans to attend her services after practice on Thursday, and her funeral on Friday.

“She meant the world to me,” Cruz said. “Besides my mom, she practically raised me. So it’s obviously something tough to go through but you just have to take it in stride. Understand that it was her time to go. And God just wanted another angel up there with him.”

Cruz will play on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.