I spent my lunch hour watching the Penguins take their victory parade through the streets of Pittsburgh. Theirs was a magic victory Friday night and exuberance was the general mood among the thousands of fans. Oh, I suppose you could find some frustrated motorist somewhere, confounded by streets closures, but where I was people were happy.
Together with a colleague, I went to the same vantage point I used to watch the Steelers' Super Bowl parade back in February - a small parking lot fronting the Boulevard of the Allies and across from PPG Place. The last time I was here a small mound of ice and snow allowed a higher perch but today we had to peer over the forest of bodies from lot level. We still had a pretty good view.
My impression was the crowd, admittedly viewed from a small section of it, was every bit as big as for the Steelers and every bit as happy - but tended a bit younger (which makes sense given that most schools are out). The fine, sunny day also helped make the parade a success.
Thirty years ago, such a scene for the Penguins would have been unimaginable because, back then, Pittsburgh wasn't much of a hockey town. It just goes to show what winning can do for a team and a city. Pittsburgh Pirates, please take note.
Posted
Jun 15 2009, 01:46 PM
by
Reg Henry