Fans' Cheers Greet Lakers at Airport

Fans’ Cheers Greet Lakers at Airport

By RICHARD MAROSI and KURT STREETER

June 17, 2001 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITERS

The champions have returned.

Fresh from their National Basketball Assn. championship series victory in Philadelphia, the Los Angeles Lakers touched down Saturday to a raucous airport reception from a small crowd of purple-and-gold attired fans.

Star guard Kobe Bryant was the first player to emerge from the plane. Perched on the staircase landing, he thrust the shimmering NBA championship trophy over his head, sending the crowd into a banner-waving frenzy.

“We’re bringing the trophy home,” Bryant told a throng of reporters. “It’s great to be back.”

The brief airport reception went off without a hitch, like most celebrations across the city in the wake of the Lakers’ second straight title. Police were on high alert after last year’s melee that caused about $700,000 in property damage around Staples Center.

But authorities said this year’s revelry was mostly peaceful. As the crowd of 18,000 fans poured out of Staples Center on Friday night--waving pennants, honking horns and occasionally lighting firecrackers--there were only a few isolated incidents that appeared ready to get out of control.

Horse-mounted police units turned away one unruly group that lighted trash on fire and threw rocks at officers. Another rowdy crowd was dispersed when officers fired foam-like cone projectiles that hit the ground and bounced without harm.

Officials said there appeared to be no major property damage and only slightly more emergency calls than usual for a Friday night. Police said only a few people were taken into custody.

“There weren’t that many people getting out of control,” said Officer Jason Lee, an LAPD spokesman.

The tranquil scene Saturday afternoon at Staples Center and surrounding neighborhoods contrasted sharply with the massive cleanup required last year. Aside from a few crumpled newspapers and fast-food wrappers strewn across the parking lot, there were few signs that thousands had flooded the streets the night before.

The main activity involved keeping up with the demands of memento-hungry fans. By noon, about 1,000 people had visited the souvenir shop.

“The amazing thing is no one is just buying one thing--they are buying three to four items,” said Alan T. Fey, the store’s director of merchandising.

Though fans will get to cheer the Lakers at the parade through downtown Monday morning, a few hard-core rooters wanted to be the first to greet their heroes.

So about 100 congregated Saturday afternoon behind a cyclone fence about 200 feet from the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport’s Imperial terminal. As the Northwest jetliner carrying the team taxied to a stop about 1 p.m., the chants began.

“Let’s go, Lakers! Let’s go, Lakers!” the fans yelled in unison.

When Shaquille O’Neal emerged from the plane holding aloft his trophy for being named the Finals’ most valuable player, another chorus boomed.

“MVP! MVP! MVP!,” the crowd roared.

Forward Rick Fox said he enjoyed coming home to “feel the energy of the Laker fans.”

“We’re looking forward to the parade,” he told reporters.

After the players walked to their cars at a private parking lot, the crowd moved to the access road where they cheered as the players drove by in their luxury vehicles. Some players honked and waved to the fans.

“It’s inspiring because it showed what hard work does,” said Mar Vista resident Bryan Millman. “They had to overcome so much adversity this year.”

Jesse Govea held a blown-up photograph of him and O’Neill.

“It’s great. Great,” he said. “They brought back the trophy.”

Suddenly, the crowd spotted Coach Phil Jackson driving out in a Mercedes.

“There’s Phil!” someone shouted.

Then 14-year-old Odai Rteimeh hollered to the smiling Jackson his prediction for another championship.

“I’ll see you next year!” he yelled.

Times staff writer Nedra Rhone contributed to this story.