The Lakerhead

The Parade

I’m not a huge fan of parade.  Yes, Mark Madsen dancing was hilarious over 7 years ago, but the only parade I’ve watched that really mattered to me was the series finale of The Wonder Years.

Ask This Guy About Memorable Parades.

That’s where Kevin Arnold’s voice-over tells us his father dies of a heart-attack in a year, and the next time he sees high school sweetheart Winnie Cooper, it’s with his wife and two kids.  How can you top a parade so memorable?  You just can’t do it.

But the Laker parade Wednesday meant a lot to me.  It was different.  It was coming off 7 years of Kobe struggling to win a championship.  It comes at a time where Los Angeles has over a 12% unemployment rate.  Everyone needed this parade as a joyous mark in time.

Kobe Struts With His Cool Four-Fingered Ring Shirt.

There were great silly moments.  Like when Luke Walton said “My dad has been talking trash for years now about how he’s an NBA champion.  But uh…I got one ring…but the thing is…my ring is with the better franchise than his ring is with, because he had to win one with the Celtics and we got one with the L.A. Lakers.”

Um…burn?  Rivalry burn?  This is what happens when you allow Luke Walton to trash talk.  Remember when daddy was Finals MVP, though, and led the Blazers to a ring?  Bill Walton can still talk all the trash he wants.

Hey Luke, Ever Try Outplaying Someone As Good As Kareem in the Western Conference Finals?

Who knows where everyone will be in a year?  Will Lamar Odom be wearing a Laker jersey?  What about Trevor Ariza?  Will the economy recover?  Can we afford to keep Shannon Brown? What will I feel if I don’t see Phil Jackson on the bench, coaching again? Will I still be writing for the Lakerhead?  The answer to all the questions is: hopefully.

But parades are a time where you can just celebrate the accomplishments of today and not worry about the future.  As 95,000 filled the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Lakers team stood as purple and confetti gold fell all over them.

Gasol Embraces Kobe As Odom Decides to Go With Blue Pants & A Cigar.

There’s always a chance that none of the players will be as happy about basketball and their careers as that moment.  Just ask Paul Pierce how long his limelight lasted if a then 34-year old Kevin Garnett doesn’t return as the old KG again.  Moments of glory last a nano-second.  Enjoy it, Los Angeles.