PORTLAND'S CHAMPIONS MAKE HISTORIC RETURN IN GRAND FLORAL PARADE 1977 Trail Blazers Named Grand Marshal for 2017 Spirit Mountain Casino Grand Floral Parade Posted: May 09, 2017 PORTLAND, Ore. (May 8, 2017) – In honor of the 40th anniversary of the moment that Blazermania captured the entire State of Oregon, The Portland Rose Festival named the 1977 World Champion Portland Trail Blazers Grand Marshal for the 2017 Spirit Mountain Casino Grand Floral Parade, Saturday, June 10, at 10 a.m. “We are honored that the Rose Festival selected our 1977 Championship team with this distinction,” said Trail Blazers President & CEO Chris McGowan. “Much like the Grand Floral Parade, our organization takes tremendous pride in its history and our relationship with the people in this community. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the 40th Anniversary than with Trail Blazers players parading the streets of Portland once again.” Founded in 1970, the young Trail Blazers became only the second team in NBA history to go all the way in their first trip to the playoffs. Down two games to start the seven game series the Trail Blazers roared back to win it all and took the fans along on one of history's greatest playoff rides. “Many of us here at the time remember exactly where we were that day,” said Brett Baker President of the Portland Rose Festival Foundation. “For Oregonians, it was bigger than the moon landing and when that final buzzer sounded the entire state jumped for joy. I am thrilled to relive that moment a little and honor the team as Grand Marshal on their 40th Anniversary.” Team members Bobby Gross, Lloyd Neal and Larry Steele are scheduled to represent the team in the parade. Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com, the Rose Quarter Box Office (M-F, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.), or by calling 800.745.3000. http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/portlands-champions-make-historic-return-grand-floral-parade
Bill Walton is on my top 10 list of most annoying people in sports. Kinda glad he's not involved. I can't watch/listen to games he's commentating.
"I remember it like it was just yesterday, the sweat on the brows of my compatriots as we walked along the streets of this great city into the history books..."
No kidding. I was 24 years old at the time and went downtown to see the parade. Walton, Ramsay and the rest of the guys, except Lucas, cruising by in convertibles waving to the crowd. Lucas, from what I heard, had a dislike for crowds. Neil Goldshmidt, mayor at the time (before we knew he was a perv) was directing traffic and strutting around smiling from ear to ear. Never would anyone have been able to convince me at the time that we wouldn't have another championship parade for 40 plus years. Damn!
