CBS 2 News This Morning

NEW YORK (CBS) ― Millions of Yankee faithful from all parts near and far lined the streets of lower Manhattan Friday as floats carrying the World Series champions passed slowly up the storied "Canyon of Heroes."

Crowds roared and church bells pealed as the Yankees' celebration revved up with a ticker-tape parade.

As the players on floats made their way through Wall Street toward City Hall Plaza, a loud roar rose above Broadway as confetti rained down on the parade.

Revelers arrived early Friday to get a good spot along the route. After the jubilant baseball players ride on parade floats to City Hall Plaza, the mayor will give them the keys to the city.

At a subway station near the parade route, fans packed the staircase chanting, "Let's go Yankees!" They also sang "New York, New York."

Vincent Rogner, an 18-year-old senior at a Catholic high school in Queens, skipped classes Friday with some friends to attend the parade.

"I'm a die-hard Yankees fan," he said. "I love the intensity."

Gov. David Paterson, former mayor Rudy Giuliani, and rapper Jay-Z were among those in the parade.

It's the way we honor the people who inspire us. A victory procession worthy of ancient Rome, but uniquely New York. It's a move along a narrow street past skyscraper facades, a celebration that is as much about us as it is about them.

"The greatest feeling in the world, living in the best city in the world with the best team in the world," said "Mike," a Yankee fan from Brooklyn.

Fans packed lower Broadway to see the championship ballclub, and the lucky ones who got to sit curbside said they earned their spots by showing up during the night.

"We got to Penn Station about 10:30 and got here around 11 o'clock," said Yankee fan Joe Ingraffia. "I'm tired!"

But by arriving early the avoided the fate of thousands who ended up behind barricades on Church Street, a full block from the parade. Seeing the Yankee stars up close, though, seemed to make the memory of the long wait dissolve.

"Oh it was amazing, the crowds, the fans, the energy," said Yankee fan Regina Moore.

There was enough energy to light up all five boroughs of the city, as the crowd roared for all their favorite from Derek Jeter to Alex Rodriguez to Marian Rivera, and of course, series MVP Hideki Matsui.

"A-Rod was so sexy in those glasses and that little black hat and Derek Jeter, Oh my God, forget it," said Yankee fan Rosa Fernandez.

Said fan Gina Palmieri: "Oh my God, I love it. It's amazing. This is our first time down here at the ticker tape parade. The Yankees rock. Nick Swisher, you're the best, love you!"

There was a small fire at one point, and a guy in a Mets outfit who attracted some trouble, but overall it was smooth sailing. Smooth, but loud.

"Awesome, awesome. New York all the way! Next year #28, #28 baby!" one fan screamed to CBS 2.

CBS 2 HD was on hand with several reporters along the route, including Chris Wragge, Sam Ryan and radio personality Craig Carton of WFAN anchoring the broadcast.

Wragge and company spoke with Paterson, who called today a "great day for New York," adding that the champs were an inspiration to the city.

Some 200 ticker-tape parades have been held at the "Canyon of Heroes," for heroes ranging from astronauts to sports champions to five-star generals.

Yankees players, coaches, and team members, and some lucky significant others, were riding up Broadway on a dozen parade floats assembled by workers in Clifton, N.J.

Bond Parade Floats has been responsible for creating the floats for the Yankees' parades since 1996. The owner, Rob DeVito, said it never gets old.

"Ever since the first parade – the first parade was, of course, the best – but this is good," DeVito said.

CBS 2's Lou Young was with a group of die hard fans when captain and heartthrob Derek Jeter passed in a float, accompanied by girlfriend Minka Kelly. The fans surrounding the veteran reporter, most of them women, lost their cool, screaming and jumping for the future Hall of Famer.

Reggie Jackson said the Yankees' 27th title has him thinking "a lot" about owner George Steinbrenner.

"I wish he was here," Jackson said.

George Steinbrenner has made few public appearances since his health deteriorated in recent years. He attended the first two games against the Phillies, returning to the new Yankee Stadium for the first time since opening day.

His son, Hal, took over the day-to-day operations of the team last November.
"A magical day," Hal Steinbrenner said. "New York just has the best fans in the world."

Former Yankee great Chris Chambliss was also on hand and talked to CBS 2 about what it meant to be a part of the parade.

"This is an exciting time, I remember this and you don't see anything, but a sea of people. It's just exciting and you see all the ticker-tape coming down and it's just wonderful," said Chambliss, who won two championships with the Yankees as a player and four as a coach.

The World Series victory comes during the inaugural season of a newly built $1.5 billion Yankee Stadium. Attendance this year was 3.72 million, or an average of 45,918 for 81 regular-season home games. That's down from 4.29 million, an average of 52,928, for the final season at the old Yankee Stadium.

CBS 2's Magee Hickey, who had been reporting on the Yankees throughout the playoffs, spoke with fans Mike Rajendran and Joanna Rothschild, who happen to know Yankee Stadium quiet well. The couple got hitched before more than 250 relatives in The Bronx while their favorite team was taking on the Red Sox in Boston.

"This was the perfect way to end a perfect year," said Rothschild, overwhelmed with excitement. "The Yankees gave us the perfect wedding present. They need to do this every year.

"Thank you Yankees."

The ticker-tape parade began at Broadway at Battery Place and wrapped up at City Hall where newly re-elected Mayor Mike Bloomberg, MC's Michael Kay and John Sterling, presented the team with keys to the city in a special ceremony before cheering Yankee faithful.

Bloomberg set the stage for the ceremony.

"Any Yankees fans out there?" he shouted. "Welcome to City Hall for the biggest party in town. We've been waiting a long time for this day, and what an incredible ride," he added, moments before Kay and Sterling introduced the world champions.

Sterling then gave his signature call, "Ball game over, World Series over. Yankees win, the Yankees win." He then introduced former greats, Reggie Jackson and Yogi Berra before the current Yankees made their way on stage. Strolling out last was shortstop Derek Jeter, carrying their 27th World Series championship trophy.

"I'll tell you what," Jeter began, "It's been too long." Above the roar of the crowd, the Yankees captain continued.

"It feels good to be back."

And, in classic New York style, both fans and players let it be known that they didn't plan to relinquish their title anytime soon.

The crowd at City Hall chanted "28." Manager Joe Girardi said he had already talked on the phone with George Steinbrenner about not letting up next year.

"He told me this morning ... the only thing greater than this celebration is doing it two years in a row," Girardi said. "So he asked me to remind everyone, pitchers and catchers report in 96 days. Be ready to defend it."

It couldn't have ended any other way than having native New Yorker and Yankees fan Jay-Z on stage for the song that has become something of an anthem during the Bombers' post season run, "Empire State Of Mind."

For complete World Series coverage, be sure to check out WCBSTV.com's World Series section.



 

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