APRIL
22, 2004 --
LPR, having traveled
to Hartford, Conn., April 18 for the UConn Victory Parade honoring
the unprecedented twin tournament triumphs of the men's and women's
basketball teams, herewith are some photographic impressions of
that very warm for April day.
About an hour
before the parade was to step off (the parade got underway about
half an hour beyond the 1:30 P.M. announced start) large crowds
had already taken positions along the parade route. LPR noticed
a young boy carting his hand-made sign Huskie artwork. This was
right after the LPR camera drew some waves from people awaiting
the festivities on Capitol Avenue.
LPR thanks the
Greater Hartford Arts Council and the MetroHartford Alliance -
parade organizers-- for the "All Access" credentials
that permitted LPR to take pictures on State Capitol grounds and
also along part of the parade route. The "All Access" card
got LPR, camera and Shana on the Capitol grounds where it could
snap away, including photos of the UConn Cheerleaders limbering
up, and of the covered up license plate on one of the double-decker
buses that would take the basketball teams along the parade route
-- a Springfield, Massachusetts-based bus.
Not that anyone
would have noticed the license plates -- or cared if they were
out-of-state. This throng was out in force to cheer their men's
and women's Division I NCAA basketball teams, and cheer, indeed,
roar, they did, as soon as the buses were spotted leaving Capitol
grounds and proceeding down Trinity Street to the Soldiers and
Sailors Memorial Arch.
Cutting back
to the Capitol along Elm Street, LPR noticed banners on light poles
announcing that "The Producers" would be playing at the
Bushnell, from August 24 to September 5. This Mel Brooks musical
is in its fourth year and has sent a strong softball team to the
Broadway Show League, having won its championship in 2001 and 2002.
A soft-drink
oasis seemed to be doing a thriving business on Elm, and LPR thanks
the proprietors for letting Shana have some of their Igloo ice
water-- as they had run out of bottled water. Back on Capitol grounds,
Shana settled down next to the throng, and LPR went to the platform
in search of photo ops, including Charlie Villanueva with camera,
Diana Taurasi thanking fans on behalf of her teammates, and Coach
Calhoun, acknowledging cheers from the crowd on word that he would
throw out the first ball in Boston's Fenway Park the next day,
before the game between the Red Sox and the New York Yankees. (The
Red Sox battled back from being down 4-1 to win the game, 5-4.
LPR has learned that Coach Auriemma grew up a Phillies fan, and
still roots for them, as well as for the Red Sox. Perhaps the Phillies
ought to ask the coach of the women's national basketball champions
to give them a lift by throwing out a first ball, as well.)
After the celebration,
LPR caught sight of Coach Calhoun signing a few autographs before
he drove away, careful to avoid UConn tuba players.
As Governor Rowland
was effectively docked -- not at all present -- Lt. Gov. M. Jodi
Rell was the highest state official, and, accordingly the first
speaker, at the rally. Groans, perhaps even some boos, from the
crowd on news that several other politicians would speak perhaps
encouraged the shortest series of statements from pols in state
history, possibly. (If UConn attends the summer's political gatherings
in Boston and New York, the conclaves would be done with their
work in a day's time, clearly.)
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They
sure did!
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Pennants
for the masses.
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UConn-grats!
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Site
of Geno Auriemma's new restaurant due to open in the near
future.
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Fans
applaud the passing champions.
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