NY Giants Player Dubbed 'Black Tim Tebow' Talks Virginity, Alcohol
New York Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara said in a recent interview with Muscle and Fitness magazine that some people call him "the black Tim Tebow."
Amukamara said he is a virgin and has never consumed alcohol. The recently-engaged athlete might have his first alcoholic beverage during his bachelor party, he said, but explained how his understanding of salvation initially prevented him from drinking at all.
"I grew up Catholic, so it just started out as one of those things. I'd think, 'If I do this, maybe I can get to heaven,' so I said no drinks, no sex, all the big things," the 24-year-old told the magazine. "As I grew up, I realized that's not what it's about. It's about having a relationship with Jesus. It's not about 'Don't do this. Don't do that.' But still, it's just one of those things I haven't done, and I don't see any benefit to doing it. You're always reading about people getting DUIs. So many bad things that happen and wind up in the paper are alcohol-related, so by not drinking, it saves me, my team, and my family a lot of trouble."
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When asked what he does to "blow off some steam," if he doesn't have sex or drink alcohol, Amukamara said he likes to go out and dance. He recently danced in Las Vegas during a performance by the Jabbawockeez, a group made famous by MTV's America's Best Dance Crew, and surprised his girlfriend, Pilar Davis, by proposing to her on stage, The Record reports.
Because he's stood by his convictions concerning sex and alcohol, Amukamara was asked by Muscle and Fitness if a video posted to the Internet last year showing him being thrown into a cold tub by teammate Jason Pierre-Paul was an indication he was being ostracized by his teammates.
"The whole cold tub thing wasn't just JPP, it was like eight guys. And it definitely was not anything personal," he told the publication. "That wasn't the first time I was in the cold tub, it was just the first time anyone saw it. And what the video doesn't show is what happened 15-20 seconds after that, which is all of us messing around. JPP is great. I just saw him this morning and he was congratulating me on my engagement because I just engaged this past Friday. So there's no hard feelings. It wasn't a personal situation."
Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin scolded those who were involved in the incident, USA Today reported at the time. Punter Steve Weatherford, who shot the video and posted it to Twitter, and Pierre-Paul both ultimately apologized.
Amukamara was a first-round draft pick out of the University of Nebraska and is in his third season in the NFL, all of which he has played with the Giants.
In addition to abstaining from alcohol and sex, Amukamara told Muscle and Fitness that he has also abstained from fast food and soda since he's been in the NFL. The athlete says he has 7.8 percent body fat.
The Giants (0-2) will face the Carolina Panthers (0-2) this Sunday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
