Took the kids into the city to see the All Star Parade. All the hoopla was happening in front of Fox News and Radio City, so we scored a front row view at 54th, where there were thinner crowds and fans could have a back and forth with the players. Two solid hours of All Stars (110 said MLB.com!) rolling by in Chevy trucks, most with family joining them in the back of their pick ups. Every Boston player was booed. Terry Francona still waved, but was straight faced. David Ortiz smiled, not caring, or maybe because he had an Access Hollywood crew along for the ride. When asked to please take the mound that evening, Bob Gibson grabbed his shoulder and gingerly rotated his pitching arm, to the delight of the crowd. Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Yogi Berra, Reggie Jackson and Lou Piniella got huge crowd love: deafening applause and tons - repeatedly, adoringly - shouting their names. Ozzie Smith made a point of calling out to children and waving to them. Mariano Rivera's son was asleep on his lap. Ichiro Suzuki's wife, Yumiko, won best dressed female, in an daylily orange dress. Striking. Steve Carlton yelled "Hey! Lady in Red!" to a woman next to us. A Phillies shout out? Mike Schmidt is still sporting fab hair and stache. A-Rod was eating up the attention, a huge grin for all, despite a guy behind us yelling Madonna lyrics. Leaving the city later, saw Derek Jeter's parents and rolled down our window to have a quick yap, including how we enjoyed seeing them in the parade.
