DYNASTY RINGS LAKERS FAITHFUL HIT STREET FOR PARADE.

Byline: Lisa M. Sodders and Rick Orlov Staff Writers

With their three national championship trophies held high, the Los Angeles Lakers romped Friday through the streets of downtown, then on to a raucous rally at Staples Center, where they vowed to continue their winning streak.

``Put the fours up!'' Finals MVP Shaquille O'Neal roared to a vast throng outside Staples Center, holding up four fingers on each massive hand.

Guard Kobe Bryant boasted to cheering fans: ``I told you we would win back-to-back-to-back.''

The crowd celebrating the Lakers sweep Wednesday of the New Jersey Nets in the NBA Finals screamed its approval.

``It's the start of a new dynasty,'' predicted Sidney Francia, 27, a Van Nuys resident who took the day off from his job at a nursing home to attend the parade, which drew an estimated 150,000 Lakers fans.

``No team in NBA history has won four times in a row, and this is the team that will do it - not only four but maybe five,'' Francia predicted.

Coach Phil Jackson, who skipped the parade because of the hot afternoon sun, later joined the team at its rally outside Staples Center, where about two dozen spectators were treated for heat-related illnesses.

There were no significant problems or arrests, authorities said.

Earlier in the day, the Lakers were greeted by 3,000 cheering fans as team members arrived aboard double-decker buses outside City Hall. Players held up the three national trophies as the theme from ``Superman'' - O'Neal's favorite superhero - was played.

Mayor James Hahn presented O'Neal and Bryant with proclamations declaring Friday Lakers Day in Los Angeles and California, the latter courtesy of Gov. Gray Davis.

``We are the sports capital of the world,'' Hahn proclaimed during a noisy, 30-minute rally, which featured performances by the Lakers Girls and blaring rock and rap music that had people dancing on the South Lawn as purple and gold confetti fluttered around.

O'Neal took over as master of ceremonies, introducing some of his teammates and leading the crowd in a chant of ``Robert, Robert, Robert'' for Robert Horry, who made a key shot to keep the team's hopes alive in the Western Conference finals against the Sacramento Kings.

In a reference to the campy ``Batman'' TV series of the 1960s and 1970s, Horry told the crowd outside Staples Center: ``Same place, same time, same Bat channel.''

Forward Mark Madsen also got into the groove. He danced again this year, to the beat of House of Pain's ``Jump Around,'' and in Spanish led the crowd in a bid for a fourth national title.

``Go, Mad Dog! Go, Mad Dog,'' Shaq chanted, as the crowd cheered on the 7-foot-1-inch player from Louisiana State University.

Lakers play-by-play announcer Chick Hearn, who missed his first broadcast in decades earlier this year because of open heart surgery and, later, a broken hip, waxed poetic about the team's future.

``I was thinking during the parade three-peat/that's not a bore/let's go for four,'' he told an indulgent crowd.

As the parade rolled down Figueroa Street, downtown was transformed into the city's biggest party venue with vendors hawking grilled hotdogs with onions and bacon, ice cream, bottled water and, of course, Lakers souvenirs: championship T-shirts for $10, banners for $5 and feather boas for $15.

Many in the crowd had staked out seats at dawn, among them Marta Leon and her 6-year-old son, Gregorio, who awoke at 5 a.m. to drive from their home in Temecula.

``Only for my baby. He's my life, my son,'' Leon said of Gregorio who was born with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. ``When born, one pound. He's very special, my baby.''

The moment wasn't lost on Gregorio. Wearing an ear-to-ear grin and a jersey bearing O'Neal's No. 34, he chanted his hero's name repeatedly.

Ruby Fields was also among the crush of fans. Clutching a fistful of pennants and sporting a top hat in the two most popular colors in downtown, the Bellflower woman continued a tradition she has followed for the past 12 years: taking a day off from work to pay homage to the Lakers.

``I have a national Lakers vacation day. Everybody knows (about) it at work,'' said Fields, 50, an accounting coordinator at Mitsubishi Motors Co. in Cypress. ``I am a die-hard Lakers fan. I have followed them forever.''

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) NBA Finals MVP Shaquille O'Neal, right, speaks to the crowd while fans hold up the team's three championship trophies Friday.

(2 -- color) San Pedro residents Josh Luna, left, and Tony Montoya show their support for the Lakers by waving a familiar flag - last year's championship banner.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer

(3 -- 4) Lakers guard Kobe Bryant above, waves the three-peat sign to fans who braved the heat Friday to celebrate in L.A. Double-decker buses, right, carry the Lakers down Figueroa Street in downtown during the team's victory parade.

Steven Georges/Staff Photographer

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer