By HOWARD ULMAN, AP
June 20, 2008
BOSTON - Through a haze of his own cigar smoke, Paul Pierce peered through sleepless eyes at the sea of green-clad fans and thrust his golden MVP trophy skyward.
His day had finally arrived. A day to ride in his own championship parade. A day that gave normal people a chance to wave signs, paint their faces in Celtics colors and scream their hearts out for the latest team to bring a title to town.
"We're tired of watching these parades on TV. Now we get to enjoy our own," Pierce said after a fantastic season that followed nine frustrating ones in his Boston career. "I haven't had any sleep yet, so now I'm still enjoying it."
The Celtics earned yesterday's "rolling rally" celebration with an amazing comeback season topped off by a dominant 131-92 win over the Lakers on Tuesday night in Game 6 of the NBA finals. Pierce was the series MVP.
It was the Celtics' first title without Red Auerbach, the team patriarch who died in October 2006 after being part of the other 16 championships, nine as coach. The cigars smoked by players and fans were a tribute to Auerbach's custom of lighting one up on the bench in the waning moments of another win.
"We wish he could be here," Pierce said before he lit his cigar on his duck boat, "so I'm doing this to honor him."
Players rode in the amphibious tourist vehicles like those used by soldiers in World War II. They also transported the Patriots after their Super Bowl championships in February of 2002, 2004 and 2005 and the Red Sox after their World Series victories in October 2004 and 2007.
Now it was time for Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and their teammates to travel a nearly two-mile route from TD Banknorth Garden, the arena where the title was won in the team's 108th game of a grueling season to Copley Plaza near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
"We've seen plenty of people go through their championship parades," Allen said, "and never did I think I would be a part of one."
Police reported 21 arrests, mostly for disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace. But fans had one last chance to enjoy the team's first title in 22 years.
"Who would have ever thought? Boston. Title town," said Ryan Stillman, 21, who was born five months after Boston won its last championship on June 8, 1986.
