San Antonio welcomes home champion Spurs with parade

The four-game sweep of Cleveland was their fourth title in nine years.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs’ black and silver was joined by another color Sunday — the gold of the team’s fourth championship trophy in nine seasons.

Lining the banks of San Antonio’s famed River Walk, tens of thousands of fans decked out in the Spurs’ colors waited in the oppressive heat to catch a glimpse of their favorite players and congratulate the team.

“You guys continue to come out and support us,” Spurs star Tim Duncan said. “Hopefully we can get another one.”

Spurs point guard Tony Parker was joined by his bride-to-be, actress Eva Longoria.

“I’m so happy — I feel very blessed and it’s a privilege to play with a great team,” said Parker, who carried his finals MVP trophy with him on one of the early barges of the river parade. He joked that he’d slept with the trophy for the last couple of nights.

“I put Eva on the couch,” he said.

Famed tenor Placido Domingo sang a mariachi-flavored version of the national anthem and led the crowd in chants of “Go Spurs Go.”

Owner looking for repeat

Spurs owner Peter Holt, joined by the team’s mascot, a coyote, told the crowd he wants a repeat next year.

“Never gets old,” he said.

Michael Finley and Jacque Vaughn, two of the Spurs players who won their first championship rings this year, were joined on a boat by Robert Horry, who has now won seven rings. They said another title run is a definite possibility.

“I could get used to this,” Finley said.

“I say, why not back-to-back?” Vaughn added.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich introduced members of his coaching staff and thanked the fans.

“You all supported them all year long, we appreciate that,” he said. “We’re going to continue to try to do it the right way.”

Fans said they came several hours ahead of the river parade to claim a spot. Many fans could be seen dunking their feet in the brown waters of the San Antonio River in an attempt to cool off. Others were dining at restaurants along the river to get their own comfortable front-row seat.

“If you’re born in San Antonio, you have to follow the Spurs,” said James Waclawczyk, 32, who was wearing the No. 20 jersey of his favorite player, Manu Ginobili. “It’s remarkable. To win it once is awesome — it takes a lot. But to win it four times, now that is something to be real impressed with.”

Swept past Cavaliers

The Spurs beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in Ohio for the title on Thursday. If the Cavs had managed to win just one game, the Spurs would still be in Cleveland, preparing for Game 5, which would have been Sunday night. Instead, the Spurs swept the Cavaliers in four games.

“I think it’s great. I think they’re a dynasty,” said Andres Palma, who wore the No. 50 jersey of retired San Antonio Spurs star David Robinson. “I think they can get it next year.”

The Spurs also won the NBA championship in 1999, 2003 and 2005.