Vindy tags along with Youngstown group to Cavs' historic parade

CLEVELAND

As wine-and-gold confetti rained down on this city Wednesday, 52 years worth of championship angst seemed to dissolve into thin air.

Joy over the Cleveland Cavaliers’ victorious championship run — the first in franchise history, and the first Cleveland sports championship since 1964 — was palpable not only in the raucous atmosphere of Wednesday’s downtown parade and rally, but in the numbers.

As the day wore on, the estimate of how many people attended climbed to more than 1.3 million — nearly four times the city’s population.

Among the massive crowds that throttled the parade route for the all-day affair were a number of Mahoning Valley residents.

The Mahoning County Board of Development Disabilities sent a group from its MASCO workshop, and let The Vindicator tag along.

Workshop member Robert Hewitt, 43 — like many other erstwhile Cleveland-sports fans — has been waiting for a home team victory his entire life.

Unlike some others, however, Hewitt never lost faith in the Cavs’ now-coronated king, LeBron James.

“I’ve always followed LeBron James. I’m a true fan,” said Hewitt.

From the group’s vantage point near Progressive Field, the King was difficult to spot — he was seated in a convertible with his family — but the group was nonetheless thrilled to get a glimpse of him.

Read more about the parade and the Youngtown contingent in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.