Seeing Kobe Bryant smile is worth it all for some Lakers fans [Updated]
As the Lakers' victory parade ended about 12:20 p.m., police estimated the size of the mostly orderly crowd at more than 65,000 and said there were nine arrests for fighting and disturbing the peace.
Out in the crowd, the sound was deafening, with many hollering "Kobe," "MVP" and "L.A.!" Some men burst into tears.
Kayla Brown, a student at Pepperdine, shouted, "Kobe, I love you."
Minutes later, after the parade buses passed, she turned to her friends and said, "Oh, my God, I'm still shaking," then immediately began scrolling through her cellphone to see what photos she had been able to take. She was thrilled to see she had gotten a close-up of Kobe Bryant.
She added: "Now we have to go sit in traffic for hours, but it was well worth it."
Isaiah Tellez, 12 and his step-brother Daniel Saulcedo, 11, both of Whittier, were leaning against the guardrail with expressions of wonder and disbelief on their faces at actually seeing the players in the flesh.
Pierce Nemore, 18, said he was surprised by how many people turned out.
"Seems like there are a billion Lakers fans," he said.
Gabriel Graciano, 28, of Baldwin Park said he wished there had been more festivities to keep the fans busy before the parade started.
"I thought it was pretty cool," he said of the parade. "But we need more music or entertainment. We were out here for about four hours."
After the buses went by, Alphonso Sierra of Montebello dismantled a tent he had built to shelter about 25 family members from the sun as they waited for the parade.
"Now, back to reality," he said.
[Updated at 1 p.m.: Two children, Alan Sandoval, 10, and Donald Porter, 8, were separated from their parents during the parade and were still missing at 1 p.m., police said.]
-- Jessica Garrison, Esmeralda Bermudez, Gale Holland, Sam Allen, Alexandra Zavis and Richard Winton
Photo: Aerial view of the Lakers team float making its way down Figueroa during today's victory parade. Credit: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times.
EDITOR'S PICKS:
Kyle, Did I miss something? How many women were "allegedly raped by Kobe? RRW, If I had wanted to attend the parade, I could have called in and taken some "vacation time" and did it occur to you that not everyone has a 9 to 5 job? Some work other hours? Frequent Visitor, I know that the unemployment rate is high in L.A., but it is unlikely that 65,000 were unemployed; LongBeach, get a life! Gee you people are so unhappy and cynical.
Posted by: Yvonne Bell | June 21, 2010 at 03:47 PM
Why would have a parade on Monday!,unless you did not want most of the working class to attend the event. I think KOBE is a great player and person. However it remains a team sport,it is not boxing or liken sports. As such lets give credit and respect to the entire team and also team administration. Michael C Cathedral City CA.
Posted by: michael p comorre | June 21, 2010 at 03:48 PM
Gotta love the trolls that infest these boards. NOT! Bunch o idiots!!
Sweet 16!!
Posted by: BigDaddyBruin | June 21, 2010 at 03:48 PM
lakers the team that everybody loves to hate!!!!!!!!!! face it we won and thats it!
Posted by: rick | June 21, 2010 at 03:54 PM
@RRW there are such thing as Days off? People don't always have 9-5 jobs and work Monday thru Friday? this is a city with 4 million people in it at a county with 10 million people could it be possible out of those millions just a measely 65,000 people have a monday off?
Posted by: RageXtreme | June 21, 2010 at 03:57 PM
There are no heroes that I know of who perform degenerate sex on an innocent girl.
Posted by: Charles Di Bartolo | June 21, 2010 at 03:58 PM
Just want to post that it is so amazing how short memory span is..............I doubt the young woman in Colarado is happy just to see Kobe smile. His smile just infuriates me and causes me so much fustration at a system and society who rewards this self proclaimed gladiators and heroes, (neither of which I agree with.)while at the same time ignores the good will and morality of those selfless individuals who teach our children each day or who brave hostile governments, or who simply have the forsight to know that protecting our environment is protecting ours and our childrens' future......Those should be our heros, those should have a parade, not these oversized "atheletsa" who contribute little to the society they take so much from.....Yes.........I am a bit tift at how silly our LA fans are.
Posted by: Leonor C. Gonzales | June 21, 2010 at 03:59 PM
I wish I could have been there but I had advertising deadlines to meet today. If I could I would have taken the day off to be there. Say what you want haters but bottom line is, the trophy is here with us in LA. Why do you guys get so mad anyway? Seems like you guys should be accustomed to the Lakers winning the championship by now. We've done it so many times in the past
Posted by: MAC Daddy | June 21, 2010 at 04:12 PM
Just too bad people don't do this for Nobel Prize winners, Academic Decathlons, etc. Shows you what people really value! Depressing!
Posted by: Dawud | June 21, 2010 at 04:18 PM
Why would these idiotic parents take their small kids in this crowd knowing how people act, fights, trampling etc. What idiots. I hope these kids are found safe and sound.
Posted by: Evelyn R. | June 21, 2010 at 04:21 PM
Kyle, Oh gosh, really? Isnt the rape issue done and over? Get over it!
Posted by: Evelyn R. | June 21, 2010 at 04:21 PM
haters,haters go away,you must like because you're today
Posted by: LA Di | June 21, 2010 at 04:23 PM
RRW: True, who can take a day off for a parade?
Kyle: Get over it! THe rape issue is so old already!
Gaucho420: If these people were out of jobs then they should have been at a temp agency or out looking for a job instead of the parade.
Posted by: Evelyn R. | June 21, 2010 at 04:24 PM
huh?!?! only 65k showed up? I thought they said it is 2 million people expected.. hahaha thank you lakers for paying the bill
Posted by: bily | June 21, 2010 at 04:42 PM
Having a championship team like the Lakers is a true blessing, I enjoyed watching them all year, what an exciting team, and it is not just Koby, but the whole team. Way to go guys. Let's do it again next year, hope Phil comes back as well.
Posted by: Pam Maples | June 21, 2010 at 05:06 PM
this is what happens when you let celtics fans on the message boards.
Posted by: brandon | June 21, 2010 at 05:20 PM
#1 posting Kyle you need to grow up . Glad to see there was a orderly crowd. Again congrats. to the Lakers on thier championship win.
Posted by: chuck | June 21, 2010 at 05:28 PM
Generally, people (fans) are complete idiots also. Can we become any more stupid?
Posted by: Swami | June 21, 2010 at 06:29 PM
I don't know about anybody else, but I really enjoyed the parade in the confort of my own TV. There were no hassles, nor did I get stump or pushed by the crowd, but it was fun to see all those smiling faces and how happy everyboy was. This is what sports is all about. Don't be a hater, but enjoy the Laker's victory, for we were all rocking the boat together. Win or lose, Laker's did it. You Go Lakers, let's do it one more time. Repeat in 2011.
BTW: I made a prediction that Lakers would win. So, if Jeffrey T is reading my post, you owe me a pack of cigarrets
1.L
2.B
3.L
4.B
5.B
6.L
7.L
Posted by: NativeAmerican | June 21, 2010 at 06:57 PM
Congratulations to all the Lakers and to all those fanatic fans that helped them win. LA is the best.
Posted by: NativeAmerican | June 21, 2010 at 07:01 PM
wow... 65,000 people showed up? Two years ago, Boston won it's 17th championship and more than 2 MILLION people showed up for the parade, and they had already seen 16 championships beforehand... have to say it, Lakers fans are pathetic, show some support for your team, you never know if they will be back here again (regardless of them having Kobe the Rapist and Pau "Too Ugly for my Face" Gasol)
Posted by: disappointed | June 21, 2010 at 07:06 PM
65 thousand? Chicago Blackhawks had 2 million! LA, even when they win their still loosers.
Posted by: DaBulls | June 21, 2010 at 07:45 PM
LAKERS -- can't even think up their own team name. Had to steal it from Minnesota. What losers.....they should be called the L A THUGS.
I enjoyed seeing Kobe CRYING a couple years ago.
Posted by: CaliPHOBE | June 21, 2010 at 08:28 PM
Wow oh Wow.. How hurt you Laker Haters are.. lol .. Can think of everything negative, but you all know who the Champs Are.. And they are the LAKERS.. Keep on hating laker haters.. Lets face it.. You gotta let that frustration out somewhere.. lol
Good luck to you LOSERS.. Lakers Are The Best and The Champs! Have a Nice day clowns.. ha ha that. YES! LAKERS ARE NUMBER 1!
Posted by: Hotwire | June 21, 2010 at 09:20 PM
Can I Hear BACK to BACK Champs from the Laker haters? I Thought so.. No Back to Back wins for your sorry Celtics in the 2000 era.. Do I need to repeat ..
LAKER ARE THE BEST.. BACK to BACK CHAMPS! 09 and 10.. YES!
Can You handle that you Laker Haters? I thought so, always going back in history to justify your hate.. This is a new day, a new year... Get a Grip..
Posted by: Hotwire | June 21, 2010 at 09:26 PM