Parade must wait, but it won’t be 32 years
Mayor Garcetti vows to have a celebration for city’s champions when it’s safe to do so.
Within minutes of the Dodgers winning the World Series on Tuesday, LeBron James took to Twitter, pleading for a championship parade.
“I know we can’t but … I wanna celebrate with our Lakers and Dodgers fans!!!” James wrote. “LA is the city of CHAMPIONS.”
Later, Mayor Eric Garcetti weighed in, promising that the Lakers and Dodgers would celebrate with their fans.
“I definitely intend to have the opportunity for Angelenos to celebrate the Lakers and, on their own day, the Dodgers,” Garcetti said Tuesday night.
Dodgers fans have waited 32 years to celebrate a championship, their sixth since moving to Los Angeles. The wait for the Lakers wasn’t as long — 10 years — but their title was equally anticipated.
How those celebrations might take place is uncertain, with social distancing still mandated as the coronavirus continues its significant spread throughout Southern California.
On Wednesday, in a statement released to the media, the Dodgers assured their fans they eventually would reach out to connect.
“This season was everything we believed it could be. It was just missing one thing: The best fans in baseball,” the team said.
“While the wait for a World Championship is finally over, a celebration worthy of our great fans and the City of Los Angeles will unfortunately have to wait until it is safe to do so. We can’t wait to celebrate together!”
One idea Garcetti threw out for the Dodgers shortly after they defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3- 1 in Game 6: a hilltop reign at Griffith Park.
“Stick them up at the observatory,” he said, “and watch them preside over the town as champions.”
He said he is open to all suggestions, with the Lakers and Dodgers ultimately deciding what f its each team best.
Garcetti said he watched Tuesday night’s game at home with his family. He said he tried to explain to his 8year- old daughter that many years can pass without championships. After the final out, he said, he stepped outside and waved his Dodgers cowbell.
“I listened to the city screaming, and all the f ireworks,” he said. “It was a pretty special night.”
The titles won by the Lakers and Dodgers marked the 10th time multiple professional sports teams from L. A. won championships in the same year.
“There are a few things that comprise our DNA in L. A.: sand, sunshine, the Lakers and Dodger blue,” Garcetti said. “To have two of them come through, to give us the joy we so badly need this year, is really exceptional.”
The Lakers’ NBA championship and the Dodgers’ World Series title were won only 16 days apart.
“They’ll never be a month like this,” Garcetti said, “just as we hope there is never a year like this.”