The Miami Heat and their NBA Finals MVP Dwyane Wade took in a
massive championship celebration in front of family, friends and
adoring fans on Friday.
Floats carrying owner Micky Arison, Miami radio and television
crews and the Heat dance team followed an entourage of trucks
holding Wade, star center Shaquille O'Neal and head coach Pat Riley
among others, reports from Miami said.
The parade traveled between throngs of fans that lined both
sides of Biscyane Boulevard on a bright, breezy afternoon in south
Florida. Fans lined the streets since the early morning hours clad
in Heat gear, holding signs and showing their appreciation for a
club that fought back from a two-game deficit to defeat Dallas and
capture its first NBA championship.
At times the players looked as excited as the fans, climbing out
of the trucks and greeting them with high-fives and handshakes.
"I want to make this one a little more personal," said O'Neal.
"I just wanted to get out to touch some people."
Confetti and streamers flowed through the sky as an expected
crowd of 250,000 welcomed the party-like atmosphere.
The Heat overcame a 13-point deficit in Game 3 to stave off an
insurmountable series deficit, then held serve on their home floor
in both Game 4 and 5.
Wade followed with a performance that conjured memories of
Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan, hitting clutch shots and
willing his club to a victory in Game 6 that clinched the NBA
title.
"I'm just wowed about winning a championship," said Wade. "We
deserve it. We put a lot of hard work in. Our fans deserve it."
The core of the champions -- Wade, O'Neal, Jason Williams,
Udonis Haslem and Antoine Walker -- will return for a title
defense. The only question marks are James Posey, Gary Payton and
61-year-old head coach Pat Riley, who pushed all of the correct
buttons after moving from the ownership suite to the bench early in
the season.
(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2006)