“Walkabout” @ LA Lakers Parade


The people here in Los Angeles love to see parades, most especially yesterday when the LA Lakers paraded themselves on top of  firetrucks and two-deck buses in celebration for winning the Championships in the 2009 NBA Finals. This event had been customary for the LA Lakers to have this kind of Victory Parade from the City Hall to the Staples Center and last one happened in 2002. After seven years, the Lakers got the NBA Championship back but instead of the usual route of the parade, they made it to start at the Staples Center and ending at the LA Coliseum which is about a 2-mile distance along Figueroa Street.

Thousands of fans lined up along the edges of Figueroa Street up to the LA Coliseum and I was there to observe and take pictures. Most of the people in the parade were wearing LA Lakers Jerseys and LA Lakers T-shirts and I was one of the few who was wearing a different attire for the day. I positioned myself about 100 yards away from the starting point of the parade which was the entrance of the Staples Center. After waiting and standing for at least 20 minutes, the parade finally started at 11:22 AM. It was a sunny day and there was a festive mood everywhere at Figueroa Street.

Thousands more of fans were waiting at the LA Coliseum as a Program was prepared for the fans to celebrate the victory of LA Lakers as the 2009 NBA Champions. Reports and estimates from the LA Police showed that the LA Lakers Victory Parade was attended by 250,000 fans coming as far as San Diego and other cities near Los Angeles. After almost few minutes of the firetrucks and two-deck buses where the players rode had passed my position, I decided to go back to my “walkabout” routine for the day.

I did at least 3 hours of walking along the different streets at Downtown Los Angeles and it was my workout for the day.

The following were the pictures taken during the parade.

"Go Lakers" at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel (Under Construction)
"Go Lakers" at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel (Under Construction)
Lakers Fans Walking Towards The Staples Center
Lakers Fans Walking Towards The Staples Center
BR at the Vicinity of Staples Center
BR at the Vicinity of Staples Center
LA Lakers Dancers & Cheering Ladies (?)
LA Lakers Dancers & Cheerleaders
Fisher on the Left Side
Derek Fisher on the Left Side
Gasol On the Right Side
Other LA Lakers Members
Glimpse of Kobe On the Right Side
Glimpse of Kobe BryantOn the Right Side
It's Time To Go Back To My "Walkabout"
It's Time To Go Back To My "Walkabout"
Kobe Bryant @ 2009 LA Lakers Victory Parade (Photo Courtesy of Ben Gaetos)
Kobe Bryant, His Family & Mayor of Los Angeles at the 2009 LA Lakers Victory Parade (Photo Courtesy of Ben Gaetos)
Pau Gasol @ 2009 LA Lakers Victory Parade (Photo Courtesy of Ben Gaetos)
He’s Sasha Vujacic, not Pau Gasol at the 2009 LA Lakers Victory Parade (Photo Courtesy of Ben Gaetos)

7 thoughts on ““Walkabout” @ LA Lakers Parade

  1. b2bwayne's avatar sfrunner

    Great photos BR! The question now is can they repeat? They have a couple of people who are free agents (no, Kobe’s not going anywhere). Also, will Phil jackson come back as coach? I hope all of the answers are yes!

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  2. run unltd.'s avatar run unltd.

    This was great Sir Jovie. Being a laker fan, celebrating with their victory is a long time dream of mine. Congratulations, para na rin ako nakapunta. See you again.

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  3. runnerforchrist's avatar runnerforchrist

    Astig! Kobe proved that he can win a championship even without Shaq, but I’m hoping that they re-unite before the Big Diesel retires…

    See you soon!

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    1. kingofpots's avatar kingofpots

      yup! i was there with the rest of 250,000 fans lined up along figueroa street and those waiting at the LA Coliseum. it was a nice experience!

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