The Miami Heat celebrated their second straight NBA championship with a parade through downtown Miami on Monday. Players, family, friends and members of the organization rode through the downtown area on flatbed trucks, buses and cars and were met by an estimated 400,000 screaming fans.
Several players used super-soaker water guns to spray the fans during the mid-90s summer day. Chris Bosh held the NBA championship trophy while LeBron James stood atop a double-decker bus.
Confetti filled the air and rained down onto the streets while music blared through the team's vehicles as they drove past honking their horns at fans. Team managing general partner Micky Arison and president Pat Riley stood in front of one of the parade buses.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra - wearing a backward team championship hat - waved and clapped to adoring fans while superstar shooting guard Dwyane Wade pointed back to admirers while marching.
The Heat are scheduled to hold a rally inside American Airlines Arena late Monday afternoon.
The Heat's parade also included a vehicle with uniformed members of the military. Miami honors members of the armed forces before every home game and has done so for several years.
"It's the excitement of something that doesn't come around too often, even though we've been lucky to experience it two years in a row," said Heat fan Blake Thames, who made the trip down from Palm Beach County.
Police working the scene had bomb- and drug-sniffing dogs working through the large crowd. City officials banned backpacks from the parade, although several people were spotted wearing them and were searched for security purposes.
Authorities reported no major problems during the celebration. The parade was delayed from its original start time due to rain.
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