LA Kings Victory Celebrated Beyond Los Angeles

Thousands of people flocked to downtown Los Angeles and lined both sides of Figueroa Street near Staples Center today for a parade and rally honoring the Stanley Cup-champion Los Angeles Kings.

The parade began at noon today at the corner of Figueroa and Fifth streets, where it headed south on Figueroa to Staples Center, the site of an hour-long rally held in front of a capacity crowd.

"I never thought they would make it this far," said J.B. Myer,  Burbank resident who wore a Kings jersey with the name on the back "Fan Since'' and the number "84.''

Myer, who said he went to his first Kings game at the Forum in 1990, brought his 4-year-old son Braden to the parade -- noting that they took the subway from North Hollywood rather than fight traffic.

"I just want to see the Stanley Cup for the first time in my life,'' he said. "My son just wants to see (goaltender) Jonathan Quick.''

Kings players and their families, coaches, staff, broadcasters, alumni, the Ice Crew and mascot Bailey piled into six double-decker buses and other decorated vehicles along with the Stanley Cup, the Conn Smythe Trophy, which was awarded to Quick as the most valuable player in the playoffs, and Clarence Campbell Bowl, emblematic of the team being champion of the Western Conference.

Among the fans gathering was self-professed "super fan'' Kent Bentley, who lives in Toronto, Canada, but has been a Kings fan since the 1980s.

"This is the greatest moment of my life,'' Bentley said.

While fans from Southern California and abroad celebrated in downtown Los Angeles, Kings pride also reached Glendora where a 's marquee read, "The King Overcomes the Devil. L.A. Kings Cup Champs!"

- City News Service