Lakers Victory Parade in downtown L.A. (Los Angeles Times / June 21, 2010) |
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LOS ANGELES -- Thousands of cheering fans paid tribute to the 2010 championship Lakers during a two mile parade through the streets of downtown Los Angeles.
The crowd screamed with excitement as a flatbed float carrying Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Derek Fisher, Ron Artest and all the Laker players passed by. A number of open-air buses and other vehicles carrying the Laker Girls, coaches and staff were also part of the procession.
Bryant, who has won five titles, said "this is the best one by far because it was the hardest one to get." He told reporters that he's ready to do it again next year. "When next season starts, we'll be ready, that's for sure," Bryant said.
The parade was the culmination of a season that ended Thursday with an 83-79 game 7 victory over the Boston Celtics and a 16th NBA title for the Lakers.
Eager fans began lining up along the two-mile parade route more than six hours before the event kicked off shortly before 11:30 a.m. Monday.
Some said it was something they'd never forget. Others said they had hoped for more festivities including music and entertainment. Unlike last year, there was no rally at the Coliseum.
Many fans also criticized the city for not having enough "Porta Potties" available for fans. Some businesses capitalized on the oversight and charged fans to use their restrooms. At least one gas station reportedly charged people $5 to use the bathroom.
The parade route stretched from Staples Center on Figueroa Street to about two miles south toward USC, then east on Jefferson Boulevard, ending at Grand Avenue.
Officials estimated the parade might attract as many as two million fans, but far fewer showed up. Police estimated the crowd at more than 65,000 fans.
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck held a news conference Monday morning and warned any troublemakers that police would not tolerate a repeat of the violence that occurred Thursday night following the Lakers' victory over the Boston Celtics in the NBA's Game 7 at the Staples Center.
"If you're coming here to vandalize, if you're coming her to disrupt, well, then you're going to stay because we are going to put you in jail."
9 people were arrested for fighting and disturbing the peace during the Victory Parade, according to LAPD officials. Two children were separated from their parents during the parade, but both were found and reunited with their parents.
The Lakers have promised to reimburse the city for the cost of the police, transportation workers and barricades needed for the parade.
The estimated cost to put on the event is more than $1.5 million, according to a spokesman for Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Traffic officials told fans to avoid driving to the parade. They advised taking the Metro Blue Line light-rail train. But that ended in a commuter mess with hundreds of people waiting in line to get on the Blue Line after the parade.
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More parade information: http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/2010_championship_parade_info.html
The crowd screamed with excitement as a flatbed float carrying Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Derek Fisher, Ron Artest and all the Laker players passed by. A number of open-air buses and other vehicles carrying the Laker Girls, coaches and staff were also part of the procession.
Bryant, who has won five titles, said "this is the best one by far because it was the hardest one to get." He told reporters that he's ready to do it again next year. "When next season starts, we'll be ready, that's for sure," Bryant said.
The parade was the culmination of a season that ended Thursday with an 83-79 game 7 victory over the Boston Celtics and a 16th NBA title for the Lakers.
Eager fans began lining up along the two-mile parade route more than six hours before the event kicked off shortly before 11:30 a.m. Monday.
Some said it was something they'd never forget. Others said they had hoped for more festivities including music and entertainment. Unlike last year, there was no rally at the Coliseum.
Many fans also criticized the city for not having enough "Porta Potties" available for fans. Some businesses capitalized on the oversight and charged fans to use their restrooms. At least one gas station reportedly charged people $5 to use the bathroom.
The parade route stretched from Staples Center on Figueroa Street to about two miles south toward USC, then east on Jefferson Boulevard, ending at Grand Avenue.
Officials estimated the parade might attract as many as two million fans, but far fewer showed up. Police estimated the crowd at more than 65,000 fans.
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck held a news conference Monday morning and warned any troublemakers that police would not tolerate a repeat of the violence that occurred Thursday night following the Lakers' victory over the Boston Celtics in the NBA's Game 7 at the Staples Center.
"If you're coming here to vandalize, if you're coming her to disrupt, well, then you're going to stay because we are going to put you in jail."
9 people were arrested for fighting and disturbing the peace during the Victory Parade, according to LAPD officials. Two children were separated from their parents during the parade, but both were found and reunited with their parents.
The Lakers have promised to reimburse the city for the cost of the police, transportation workers and barricades needed for the parade.
The estimated cost to put on the event is more than $1.5 million, according to a spokesman for Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Traffic officials told fans to avoid driving to the parade. They advised taking the Metro Blue Line light-rail train. But that ended in a commuter mess with hundreds of people waiting in line to get on the Blue Line after the parade.
----
More parade information: http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/2010_championship_parade_info.html
