Heat championship parade set for Monday in Miami

Get out the white, red and black, and sprinkle on a bit of trophy gold!

The celebration for the Miami Heat's 2012 NBA Championship will be marked by a nearly two-mile parade Monday through downtown Miami.

And for Broward and Palm Beach County fans? There was nothing announced as of Friday afternoon, a Heat official said.

Though players like Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller own Broward properties, they'll have to commute south like the rest of the team's devotees, whose Heat car flags could be seen on game nights waving along I-95.

The city of Miami announced the 90-minute parade will begin at 11 a.m. from the corner of Southwest 8th Street continue east and turn north onto Brickell Avenue. Marchers will proceed across the bridge that spans the Miami River, continue north on Biscayne Boulevard and end at the Heat's house, AmericanAirlinesArena.

Broward has not always been shut out when a pro team wins a championship. The then-Florida Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! celebrated their 2003 World Series win with a Miami tickertape parade, followed that night with a celebration farther north.

"The owners were very enthusiastic about doing something that had never been done before---a water ticker tape [boat] parade here in Fort Lauderdale," said Nicki E. Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

She added, "It is a great win for all the South Florida fans supporting the Heat, wherever the celebrations are held."

Fort Lauderdale business owner and "ecstatic" Heat season ticket holder Scott Windsor, 34, agreed, even though he'd love to watch a boat parade with friends from his downtown balcony.

"We understand it's the Miami Heat, and their Dade County fans would be the priority," Windsor said. He won't attend Monday's parade because of work and the expected crowds.

"If they did something for Broward County, I would make every effort to be there," Windsor said. "It would be great if it happens. But I don't think they owe us. With the economy, are they going to throw a parade in all three counties?"

Monday's plans were announced 12 hours after the Heat won their second NBA title, a long six years after their 2006 triumph when parade was also held in front of the triple-A.

After Thursday night's win, jubilant fans held impromptu processions of their own through the Westchester section of Miami and elsewhere. They'll have to make like Emilio Estefan ? who plays the congas for fans during games ? and keep the beat alive for two more days until the spectacle takes to the streets yet again.

Oklahoma City tried to delay the party, but Miami stole their thunder and Game 5 of the series, 121-106.

The 2011-2012 season ? shortened because of a lockout ? was intense.

Once play resumed, labor issues were forgotten by fans as the countdown games that really mattered began in April against the New York Knicks; Indiana Pacers; the Boston Celtics and finally, the Thunder.

It's a sweet victory for Heat nation. Especially after the team's heartbreaking defeat to the Dallas Mavericks in the finals a year ago during the first Heat season for LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

So take a breath, Heat stars and fans, and rest up.

There's more partying to come!

ltrischitta@Tribune.com, 954-356-4233 or Twitter @LindaTrischitta

IF YOU GO: Transporation Options for Monday's Heat Parade

Tri-Rail and Metrorail will offer regular weekday service for fans who don't want to drive to downtown Miami for the parade.

Fans switching between Tri-Rail and Metrorail will need to pay a $2 transfer fee in cash each way. Exact change is required.

You also can take either the new 595 Express buses or Broward County Transit buses to Aventura Mall, then switch to Miami-Dade buses for the rest of the trip downtown.

More details will be available in Sunday's paper.

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