NBA | Boston enjoys victory celebration

BOSTON — Through a haze of his own cigar smoke, Paul Pierce peered through sleepless eyes at the sea of green-clad fans and thrust his golden MVP trophy skyward.

His day had finally arrived. A day to ride in his own championship parade. A day that gave normal people a chance to wave signs, paint their faces in Celtics colors and scream their hearts out for the latest team to bring a title to town.

"We're tired of watching these parades on TV. Now we get to enjoy our own," Pierce said after a fantastic season that followed nine frustrating ones in his Boston career. "I haven't had any sleep yet, so now I'm still enjoying it."

The Celtics earned Thursday's "rolling rally" celebration with an amazing comeback season topped off by a stunningly dominant 131-92 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Pierce was the series MVP.

It was the Celtics' first title without Red Auerbach, the team patriarch who died in October 2006 after being part of the other 16 championships, nine as coach. The cigars smoked by players and fans were a tribute to Auerbach's custom of lighting one up on the bench in the waning moments of still another win.

"We wish he could be here," Pierce said before he lit his cigar on his duck boat, "so I'm doing this to honor him."

Players rode in the amphibious tourist vehicles like those used by soldiers in World War II. They also transported the New England Patriots after their Super Bowl championships in February of 2002, 2004 and 2005 and the Boston Red Sox after their World Series victories in October 2004 and 2007.

Now it was time for Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and their teammates to travel a nearly 2-mile route from TD Banknorth Garden, the arena where the title was won in the team's 108th game of a grueling season — 82 of them wins — to Copley Plaza near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

"We've seen plenty of people go through their championship parades," Allen said, "and never did I think I would be a part of one. It's great to definitely do it here in Boston."

Police reported 21 arrests, mostly for disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace. But fans had one last chance to enjoy the team's first title in 22 years and the area's sixth in 6 ½ years.

"Who would have ever thought? Boston. Title town," said Ryan Stillman, 21, who was born five months after Boston won its last NBA championship on June 8, 1986.

Boston went 66-16 one season after going 24-58, the second-worst record in the league.

The mastermind was general manager Danny Ainge, who traded for Garnett and Allen, the former Sonic. The field general was coach Doc Rivers. Both let the players absorb the glory.

"As an executive," Ainge said before the rally, "these guys are like my kids."

All along the route, fans held signs declaring "Sweet 17," the number of Celtics championships, and "Have a Cigar."

Thursday's rolling rally didn't make any stops, but fans saw Pierce, Garnett, James Posey, Leon Powe and Sam Cassell chomping on stogies.

Many adults at the parade were struck by the youth of the crowd.

"I think the Celtics have a new following that's more the early-20s crowd," said Alan Sprinsky, 55, of Braintree, who surveyed the scene from a lawn chair in front of the St. Paul's Cathedral on Tremont Street. "I bet there's not too many kids in school today."

The weather helped the turnout that was 20 to 30 people deep at spots. The Red Sox celebrated in November and the Patriots in February, but the Celtics' parade took place under sunny skies that allowed the crowd to leave the coats at home and come out in shorts and T-shirts.

Note

• The NBA Finals were the six highest-rated and most-watched programs so far in June, the first time that has happened in seven years. Boston's victory over the Los Angeles Lakers averaged a 9.3 rating for the series, up 50 percent over the 6.2 for San Antonio's sweep of Cleveland last year. The Celtics' Game 6 clincher Tuesday earned a 10.7 rating on ABC, averaging 16.9 million viewers over the course of the game.