'Everything You See Is JuJu': Steelers Wide Receiver Forming Special Bond With Pittsburgh
NORTH FAYETTE TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- In a baby pool filled with water in Donaldson Park, about a half dozen kids threw water from the pool on each other during a community day in the park. Right in the middle of it all was Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Beth Mastrangelo, who had brought her kids to the park, watched with a big smile on her face.
"I think it's just another example of how he's trying to become more a part of Pittsburgh and we're happy to have him," she said.
Turns out in the middle of last week, Smith-Schuster was walking his dog in the park and thought it would be a great place for a water balloon fight.
So the 1st Annual JuJu Smith-Schuster Water Balloon Fight was born.
He contacted North Fayette Township Parks and Rec, took to social media to announce the plan and the crowd arrived right on time.
"You need a partner, grab one partner," Smith-Schuster told the kids as they circled around him to begin the water balloon challenge.
Around them, bounce houses and slides were abuzz with activity.
Harry Psaros, of the North Fayette Parks and Rec committee, looked around and could hardly believe what he was seeing.
"To his credit, everything you see is JuJu. He paid for everything! And what really blew us away is he said he's sitting there with this big contract and he simply wanted to go out and help children," he said.
"It's out of my free spirit, I just wanted to do it, everything out here is free, just have a good time and enjoy yourself," Smith-Schuster said.
This is becoming the JuJu Smith-Schuster rule, not the exception.
Last week, Smith-Schuster was at a senior center dancing with the residents, serving up lunch and even helping paint.
"I do pretty much everything I possibly can to bring a good spirit," Smith-Schuster said.
"He's a fun guy. He loves the fans, the fans love him, and he's a good person," Super Bowl Steeler Chris Hoke said.
Hoke says he's just what the Steelers need right now.
"There has been a lot of bad PR over the last year-plus. So getting rid of Antonio Brown and LeVeon Bell and now having some guys in there doing some goodwill, some good things in the community is a plus for the Pittsburgh Steelers," Hoke said.
Not only did Smith-Schuster have fun with the kids and was in the center of the competition, when the final pair won each round, he pulled out the cash.
"A hundred dollars!" one child exclaimed, waving a $100 bill he had just won.
"You know the Steelers drafted right when they drafted JuJu and James Connor. They drafted character," Psaros said.
Smith-Schuster is popping up everywhere these days and not only do the fans love him, it's a two-way street.
"It's amazing," Smith-Schuster said. "They're loyal, they are the best, they're supportive, they are out here showing so much love, it's lit!"
The Steelers organization thinks so too.
