Giants WR VICTOR CRUZ “dumped a bucket of ice water on his head at home on Sunday” and then challenged Giants co-Owners JOHN MARA and STEVE TISCH to do the same as part of the “social media craze that raises awareness” for Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS), according to Zach Schonbrun of the N.Y. TIMES. Just before practice yesterday, Mara, “wearing a white Giants T-shirt and black shorts, allowed Cruz to dump a Gatorade tub filled with ice water over his head” as part of the Ice Bucket Challenge. Before doing so, Mara “nominated” Jets Owner WOODY JOHNSON, Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT and Patriots coach BILL BELICHICK “to do the same.” Mara’s video was “posted on the Giants’ team website” (N.Y. TIMES, 8/12). Belichick yesterday said, “I plan on doing something with it. We’ll take care of it.” He added, “I know there’s a lot of people who would like to dump ice water on me” (“Dale & Holley,” WEEI-FM, 8/11).
GOODELL GETS IN ON THE ACTION: NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL this morning posted a video on his Twitter account showing him taking the Ice Bucket Challenge. Goodell is standing in a driveway and says, "I want to thank SCOTT FUJITA for nominating me for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. I'm honored to accept the challenge and make a donation on behalf of Team Gleason. When I dry off from this, I'm going to challenge PETE CARROLL and MICHAEL STRAHAN. After dumping a bucket over his head, Goodell said, "OK coach, you're on. Strahan, you're on, baby" (TWITTER.com, 8/12).
ICE IN THEIR VEINS: In Baltimore, Jon Meoli notes Orioles manager BUCK SHOWALTER, Ravens coach JOHN HARBAUGH, GM OZZIE NEWSOME and K JUSTIN TUCKER have “all completed the challenge” in recent days. Harbaugh and the Ravens front office were “called out” by NFL Jets coach REX RYAN. Harbaugh then “called out his whole family,” plus Ravens Owner STEVE BISCIOTTI (Baltimore SUN, 8/12). Devils and 76ers CEO SCOTT O'NEIL accepted the challenge after being challenged by JIM LEONARD, the Senior VP/Community Investment for both teams (YOUTUBE.com, 8/12)....NFL Cardinals coach BRUCE ARIANS “accepted the challenge” from Virginia Tech football coach FRANK BEAMER. Arians, who was “doused with two Gatorade jugs of ice water” by Cardinals WR LARRY FITZGERALD and QB CARSON PALMER, issued the challenge to Steelers QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER and coach MIKE TOMLIN (FOXSPORTS.com, 8/12). In Milwaukee, Katie DeLong noted Packers QB AARON RODGERS yesterday “accepted” a challenge from Brewers C JONATHAN LUCROY. Lucroy completed the challenge alongside Brewers P KYLE LOHSE and CF CARLOS GOMEZ after the trio was challenged by LF RYAN BRAUN (FOX6NOW.com, 8/11). In Montreal, Brenda Branswell noted the list of Ice Bucket Challenge participants in the NHL community includes Penguins C SIDNEY CROSBY, Lightning coach JON COOPER, Canadiens G DUSTIN TOKARSKI, D NATHAN BEAULIEU, “many in the Bruins organization” and Islanders mascot Sparky (Montreal GAZETTE, 8/11). YAHOO SPORTS’ Harrison Mooney notes “rather than nominate two friends,” Islanders C MIKHAIL GRABOVSKI and LW NIKOLAI KULEMIN “nominated two foes” in Maple Leafs coach RANDY CARLYLE and GM DAVE NONIS (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/10).
