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NYC's Canyon of Heroes roars with Yankee pride.
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Hideki Matsui, World Series MVP Photo Copyright David Brezler 2009
On a cold blustery day in November that gave hints our fair city is in for a sharp and biting winter, hundreds of thousands of Yankee fans crowded the streets of Lower Manhattan, lining the Canyon of Heroes for the home team that brought home the win this week. Packed in tighter than sardines in a refrigerator, excited fans of all ages and sizes kept their spirits high from the early hours of the morning until the last float went by.
Led by George Steinbrenner's son Hal and Joe Girardi in the first float, proudly brandishing the 27th World Series trophy, and the first to be ensconced in the house that Michael Bloomberg built, the series' MVP appeared relaxed, and all smiles for his adoring fans to cheers of 'MVP! MVP!' all along the way. Other crowd favorites included Mariano Rivera, Johnny Damon, and CC Sabathia, all of whom garnered tremendous applause and amazingly energetic shouts from fans braving the elements for just a glimpse at their sports idols. Alex Rodriguez was a bit more reserved than his team mates, though perhaps more just slightly more satisfied with the win now that he's showed up everyone who ever doubted him for the post-season. Jorge Posada appeared energized by the repeated chants of 'Hip, Hip, Jorge!!!' and sported his characteristic wide grin.
Construction workers and residents peer out from their elevated viewing decks along Broadway. Photo Copyright David Brezler, 2009
Office workers in the vicinity took every advantage of their proximity to the parade to toss out some of the several thousand pounds of recycled paper confetti that was handed out in lieu of ticker tape - which hasn't actually been used since the 1960s. Construction workers and anyone else with a balcony overlooking Broadway between Battery Park and City Hall stopped what they were doing to take the time to watch the watchers, take prime snapshots of the team members, and generally just enjoy the experience.
A young fan proudly displays his World Series Championship hat. Photo Copyright David Brezler 2009
With all the partying going on in Lower Manhattan this week, between the hizzoner's narrow third term win with sliding poll numbers, this afternoon's festivities, and what's sure to be a raucous weekend, there's bound to be quite a shock come Monday morning. There are still unplaced teachers, classrooms in need of a reduction in rosters, a deficit to manage, and the Atlantic Yards controversy with which to grapple. Back uptown, the atmosphere around Yankee stadium is much calmer than it was just two nights ago: no earnest fans asleep in folding chairs awaiting the opening of the ticket booth, no legions of pinstriped attendees marching ant-file toward the stadium. Right now, the focus is all on March, but according to some fans, the 2010 Series is already wrapped up.
