What do you call one million Detroit Red Wings fans packed into a crowded city square?
Brett Hull calls them "the greatest group of hockey fans that could ever be assembled anywhere."
"Hockeytown's" long-running love affair with the Red Wings was in full bloom Monday, celebrating the team's third Stanley Cup championship in six years.
The Red Wings captured the Stanley Cup last Thursday, beating the Carolina Hurricanes, 3-1, to take Game 5 at Joe Louis Arena. They also won the President's Trophy as the NHL's best team during the regular season.
"The Red Wings have come back," said Bill Tebor, 53, of Farmington Hills. "It's been a long, hard road for the city of Detroit as well, but we're getting there. This parade is a celebration. Just look at the crowd down here today."
The fans wore raincoats, carried umbrellas and stood in puddles waiting for the parade's start. Then the clouds parted and the ceremony was held in bright sunshine.
"This is great for the city and great for the team," said Edwin Jordan, 23, of Inkster who sported a Red Wings jersey with Dominik Hasek's name on the back. "The Stanley Cup is very difficult to win, and we should celebrate."
"The parade rolled by the glistening Comerica Park and nearly completed Ford Field; past lofts that are bringing people back to live downtown; past the Compuware Building, where the shell of the old downtown Hudson's cast a shadow for decades, Ron French wrote in the Detroit News.
"I grew up in Detroit, and I work down here," said Angelo Ciotta, 37, of Livonia. "I think what's happening with the rebuilding of the downtown area is fantastic."
Jerry Oliver, Detroit's police chief, said Monday's parade showed Detroit united behind something that benefited the community.
"People need something to rally around and today we gave it to them," he said. "Today, the inner-city and suburbs rallied as one giant family, reminding us that we are one community, having fun together as a very large family."
