Posted on 06/15/2009 8:35:27 AM PDT by flattorney
06.15.09: Pittsburgh Officials Prepare for 350,000 fans at Penguins' Victory Parade
The City of Champions has gone Cup crazy. As Pittsburghers basked in the glow of a second pro sports championship in four months, the Stanley Cup toured PNC Park on Sunday, Sidney Crosby talked about the excitement of a two-title town and people crammed hotels in advance of today's celebration parade Downtown. "It's been an amazing couple of days," Penguins winger Bill Guerin said after throwing out the first pitch at yesterday's Pirates game. "This city is just crazy about it right now. It's awesome. Pittsburgh's such a huge sports town. The fans ... incredible. It's been wild." The Penguins' Stanley Cup victory parade starts at noon today and will take the same route the Steelers did in February after they won their sixth Super Bowl title. It will proceed through Grant Street, loop to the Boulevard of the Allies and end at Stanwix Street. Several Downtown streets will be closed. Pittsburgh officials are planning for the parade to draw as many as 350,000 people, the number who turned out for the Super Bowl victory parade, said Joanna Doven, a spokeswoman for Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.
"For over a thousand years Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of triumph, a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeteers, musicians and strange animals from conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conquerors rode in a trimphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children robed in white stood with him in the chariot or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting. - General George S. Patton Jr.
Live internet feeds are being recorded.
TAB
They should have given the referees the Conn Smythe Trophy this year. They were clearly the most important people on the ice for the Penguins.
Have to agree here. I really think Bettman wanted to be able to push Crosby ahead of AO as the top gun in the league
They let the boys play.
I'm not sure Malkin even belongs in the NHL; I know Tablot does not - spearing a player on his knees with the point of stick, knocking him over after the game was clearly over!. Sure, Malkin can score, and has talent, but his temperement reminds me mostly of the 70's-era Flyers (who spent more time fighting than playing).
Still, it was an interesting series to watch (it's fun for the fans when a series goes all 7 games). We'll see what happens now that Crosby was given his Stanley Cup and Mario is placated. Oh . . . and the Wings handled it all with class, and I think Babcock (Wing's coach) is the best in the league . . . right up until he lame excused the loss as "ran out of gas". C'mon! Game 7 of the Stanley Cup playoff? Your team does not run out of gas! It's what the players have been playing for all their lives, the chance to win back to back championships. That is really rare, and proves any previous win was no fluke! You dig down deep and pull out a win.
Ran out of gas, my eye!
TV coverage is great. They claim 250,000 have shown up. Very fun to watch.
Well...hooray for the Penguins. ‘Burgers must be really going wild. Now if they can only motivate the Pirates this baseball season to be a winning team! Then in Pittsburgh it will be three for three with the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates. Go ‘Burgh! My hometown!
My daughter works on Stanwix Street...she thinks the crowd is BIGGER than for the Stillerz (Warmer weather...that’s for sure!!!)
It was a great game...and a story book ending to the season. I hope Dan Blysma buys Power Ball tix...he is one lucky man!!!
Now you guys just need an NBA team.
Yes, they “let the boys play”, but that generally favors the teams with most goons. Had the Red Wings had more goons, then Buttman would have told the refs to call the game tightly instead. At least the overrated Cindy Crosby didn’t win the Conn Smythe. Z owned Cindy throughout the series.
now if the pirates can take the worls series...that would be awesome!!
Congrats Penguin Fans! Enjoy!
(Great Shots of the Cup & Conn Smythe—The NHL has the most classic trophies in sports!)
I think they did “run out of gas.” They seemed flat...almost like all they would have to do was show up at the Joe and collect the Cup.
Geno NOT NHL worthy??? Ya gots to be kidding!
I think we got to keep jeffc away from the punchbowl.
THANKS!
Will they be lotting and burning the city in celebration? If not, how can they call themselves fans? /semisarc
looting, that is.
I’m surprised it took this long for some whiney grouch to blame the refs.
Thanks for showing up!
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