Parade for champion Mavs sets out early Thursday

[June 16, 2011]  DALLAS (AP) -- Thousands of fans have begun lining up for a party 31 years in the making -- the celebration of the Dallas Mavericks' first NBA championship.

The fun begins at 10 a.m. Thursday with a parade through downtown, but hours earlier fans began staking out their favorite spots. Streets along the parade route were being closed two hours before the event, as organizers urged fans to avoid traffic delays and use public transportation.

More than 250,000 people were expected to cheer on a fleet of three floats, 10 convertibles and a dozen trucks featuring star player Dirk Nowitzki, club owner Mark Cuban and everyone from team founder Don Carter to Nowitzki's guru, Holger Geschwindner.

The guest of honor, of course, would be the Larry O'Brien Trophy, the shiny gold statue given to the NBA's top team.

The parade route was to end at the team's arena, followed by a bash inside for 10,000 season-ticket holders.

The Mavs won the title by beating LeBron James and the Miami Heat on Sunday.

[Associated Press; By JAIME ARON]

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