FLORAL FANTASIES ABOUND IN TOURNAMENT OF ROSES.Byline: David R. Baker Daily News Staff Writer The flawless dawn couldn't calm Donald Adamek's tension-tied stomach Thursday as he stood with his tuba tuba (t  `bə) [Lat.,=trumpet], valved brass wind musical instrument of wide conical bore. on a Pasadena
street, watching an army of 1 million occupy nearby lawns and sidewalks
and waiting to play in the parade he has seen since childhood.
A senior in the University of Michigan (body, education) University of Michigan - A large cosmopolitan university in the Midwest USA. Over 50000 students are enrolled at the University of Michigan's three campuses. The students come from 50 states and over 100 foreign countries. Marching Band Noun 1. marching band - a band that marches (as in a parade) and plays music at the same time band - instrumentalists not including string players , Adamek was used to big crowds. But this was the Tournament of Roses parade The Tournament of Roses Parade was established, and first held, on January 1,1890, in Pasadena, California, eight miles (13 km) northeast of Downtown Los Angeles. Rooted in tradition, this parade is broadcast on multiple television networks, watched by upwards of one , and he grew up in nearby La Canada Flintridge. Never mind the swarm of television helicopters overhead - his family and friends would be somewhere along the parade route, watching. ``I've been dreaming of this ever since I picked up a tuba,'' he said. ``It's always nerve-racking when you perform, but the Rose Bowl is just unreal.'' After months of frenzied preparations, of details sweated down to the last minute, the 109th Tournament of Roses parade Thursday played out like a dream. A warm sun shone on cue and a fleet of immense mechanical fantasies rumbled down the parade route perfectly on time. The weather - warm enough for shorts, clear enough to see snow blazing on distant mountains - surprised even longtime parade veterans and stunned visitors from frostier climes. The floats - a giant's toy box of building-size monsters, space ships and bugs - sent ripples of amazement through the crowd and speckled speck·led adj. 1. Dotted or covered with speckles, especially flecked with small spots of contrasting color. 2. Of a mixed character; motley. Adj. 1. the breeze with drifting flower petals. And true to the tournament's reputation for tight timing, the entire 105-unit, 5.5-mile parade ran just four seconds longer than planned. Although an estimated 425 million people worldwide watched on television, people lining the parade route Thursday said the spectacle could only be appreciated in person. ``There's no comparison,'' said Vince Martinez of Wilmington, parked in a curbside chair right at the parade's starting point Noun 1. starting point - earliest limiting point terminus a quo commencement, get-go, offset, outset, showtime, starting time, beginning, start, kickoff, first - the time at which something is supposed to begin; "they got an early start"; "she knew from the on Orange Grove Boulevard. ``There is nothing like being here and seeing it all right in front of you. It's an experience, you know?'' For many in the crowd, the spectacle began well before sunrise. By 5 a.m., a quiet, murmuring crowd was milling around floats lined up on Orange Grove Boulevard, sneaking up close looks at the giant, flower-coated machines. The pre-dawn ritual belongs to Rose Parade veterans, those who know to park absurdly early, dress in layers and bring a flashlight. Moving quickly from float to float at 5:45 a.m., Tom and Karen Henderson of San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. said they were already a little behind schedule for their sixth year at the parade. Their flashlight sought out flowers and vast shapes in the darkness as they hurried to see every float before parade time. ``We missed midnight for this,'' said their friend Rosemary West Rosemary Pauline West (born November 29, 1953 as Rosemary Letts) is an English serial killer, now an inmate at HMP Bronzefield, Ashford, Middlesex. Together with her husband Fred, she is believed to have tortured and murdered at least 12 young women[1] of South Pasadena South Pasadena (păs'ədē`nə), city (1990 pop. 23,936), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a residential suburb of Los Angeles; inc. 1888. Medical supplies, clothing, and transportation and electronic equipment are manufactured. . ``I wish we'd missed it by more,'' Tom Henderson Thomas Edward "Tom" Henderson (born January 26, 1952 in Newberry, South Carolina) is an American former professional basketball player. A tough-minded 6'4" guard from the University of Hawaii, Henderson was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the 1974 said. They, too, wouldn't settle for watching the event on television. Still others had been camping on the route for days. Dan and Carol Busser of San Dimas staked their claim to a curb near tournament headquarters around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. They brought their two children, camping gear and food for three meals. ``I come here for the excitement of saying you saw the Rose Parade in person, of getting inches from the floats and smelling the flowers,'' he said. Tracy Ward and Megan Gruber came to represent their small Kansas town before the world. Drum majors in the Derby High School Derby High School could refer to several high schools:
``It's a different caliber out here,'' said Gruber, 17, shaking her green-and-white capped head. ``We're not used to this level of band.'' But as snares and trumpets ricocheted off houses across the street, Gruber said her band would be ready for the challenge ahead. ``Everybody's really tired, really cranky crank·y 1 adj. crank·i·er, crank·i·est 1. Having a bad disposition; peevish. 2. Having eccentric ways; odd. 3. right now, but once we get out there and hear our parents screaming and see everyone, we'll wake up,'' Gruber said. Starting at 8 a.m. sharp, the parade route rumbled to life. Floats lumbered down sun-flooded streets. A trailer-size tiger, its claws aimed at the crowd, stood poised to jump through a ring of real fire that rippled the air above. A caterpillar towering stories above the street danced a wobbly Macarena. A fire-breathing, Spock-eared monster emerging from behind a movie screen grabbed a frightened usher, over and over again. As the line of immense figures inched down Colorado Boulevard Colorado Boulevard (or Colorado Street) is a major east-west street in Southern California, United States. It runs from Griffith Park in Los Angeles east through Glendale, the Eagle Rock section of Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Arcadia, ending in Monrovia. toward the blue of far-off mountains, Reta Floyd of Pasadena said she was impressed by how well the event represented not just her city, but the entire region. On the floats, in the bands and on horseback on the back of a horse; mounted or riding on a horse or horses; in the saddle. See also: Horseback , she had seen seen Asian-American, African-American, Latino and white faces, all together. ``The parade is more diversified this year,'' she said. ``There are lots of people of color Noun 1. people of color - a race with skin pigmentation different from the white race (especially Blacks) people of colour, colour, color race - people who are believed to belong to the same genetic stock; "some biologists doubt that there are important . It really represents Southern California. The L.A. school band - it looked like the United Nations.'' Some veterans called this year's crowd relatively quiet. Indeed, while the audience gasped in amazement at some of the displays, few floats brought them to their feet. Even the police had a relatively quiet time. After a fight on the parade route New Year's Eve ended in a non-life-threatening stabbing and an arrest, Pasadena police fielded relatively few calls, said Lt. Dave Richter. The total number of arrests reached just 73, compared to 400 just a few years ago. ``This was extremely quiet,'' TROPHY WINNERS Trophies were awarded Thursday to 23 floats in the 109th Tournament of Roses with the parade theme ``Hav'n Fun.'' The winners, including theme and sponsor, were: Sweepstakes Trophy: ``Adventures in the Rain Forest,'' Rain Bird Manufacturing Corp. Most beautiful entry with outstanding floral presentation and design. Lathrop K. Leishman Trophy: ``Frolic'n Fun,'' Portland Rose Festival The Portland Rose Festival is an annual civic festival held during the month of June in Portland, Oregon. It is organized by the volunteer non-profit Portland Rose Festival Association with the purpose of promoting the Portland region. . Most beautiful float entered by a noncommercial sponsor. President's Trophy: ``Special Garden,'' Unocal. Floral excellence. Most effective overall floral presentation, use of flowers and design of floral arrangements. Grand Marshal's Trophy: ``In the Center Ring,'' Reser's Fine Foods Reser's Fine Foods, Inc. (incorporated 1960) is a United States corporation, based in Beaverton, Oregon, that manufactures and distributes fresh and frozen prepared foods, most notably frozen burritos. . Excellence in creative concept, design, dramatic impact and effectiveness. Directors' Trophy: ``Building the American Dream,'' Building Industry Association. Outstanding artistic merit in design and floral presentation. Theme Trophy: ``Girls' Night Out,'' Dr Pepper. Excellence in presenting parade theme in design and flowers. Judges Special Trophy: ``Saturday Matinee,'' Arco. Most spectacular showmanship and dramatic impact. Queen's Trophy: ``Family and Friends,'' Eastman Kodak. Most effective use and display of roses in concept, design and presentation. Isabella Coleman Trophy: ``Party Time,'' Odd Fellows & Rebekahs. Best presentation of color and color harmony through use of flowers. Princesses' Trophy: ``Adventures on the South China Sea,'' China Airlines. Most beautiful float 35 feet or less in length. Animation Trophy: ``Fantastic Journey,'' Twentieth Century Insurance. Best use of animation and motion. Fantasy Trophy: ``Parlor Games,'' Sparkletts Water Co. Most outstanding display of fantasy and imagination. Humor Trophy: ``Rock Concert,'' Countrywide Home Loans. Most comical and amusing entry. International Trophy: ``Welcome to Our Celebration,'' the Philippines. Most beautiful entry from outside the continental United States United States territory, including the adjacent territorial waters, located within North America between Canada and Mexico. Also called CONUS. . National Trophy: ``Your Own Back Yard,'' Optimist International. Best depiction of life in the United States. Governor's Trophy: ``Our Science Project,'' Edison International. Best depiction of life in California. Founders' Trophy: ``Countryside Joyride,'' Cal Poly Universities, Pomona and San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo (săn l `ĭs ōbĭs`pō), city (1990 pop. 41,958), seat of San Luis Obispo co., S Calif., near San Luis Obispo Bay; inc. 1856. . Most beautiful float built and
decorated by volunteers from the sponsoring community or organization.
Mayor's Trophy: ``Mama's Day Off,'' city of Burbank. Most outstanding entry from a city (U.S. or international). Tournament Special Trophy: ``High Flying Fun,'' city of La Canada Flintridge. Exceptional merit in multiple classifications. Volunteers' Trophy: ``Roller Bunnies,'' city of Downey. Best floral design of parade theme, 35 feet or less. Extraordinaire ex·tra·or·di·naire adj. Extraordinary: a jazz singer extraordinaire. [French, from Old French, from Latin extra Trophy: ``Macarena,'' Sunkist Growers Inc. Most spectacular entry including floats that cannot retract TO RETRACT. To withdraw a proposition or offer before it has been accepted. 2. This the party making it has a right to do is long as it has not been accepted; for no principle of law or equity can, under these circumstances, require him to persevere in it. to 55 feet in length. Past Presidents Trophy: ``Reptile Wonderland,'' U.S. Postal Service The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) processes and delivers mail to individuals and businesses within the United States. The service seeks to improve its performance through the development of efficient mail-handling systems and operates its own planning and engineering programs. . Most creative design and use of both floral and nonfloral materials. Craftsman Award: ``Amazing Thailand,'' Thai Airways. Outstanding showmanship and dramatic impact over 55 feet in length. Associated Press CAPTION(S): 6 Photos, map, box PHOTO (1 -- color) Musical dinosaurs score humor points for the Countywide Home Loan ``Rock Concert'' float. (2) Nifty moves with a rope and a handmade charro outfit help Benny Martinez Jr. and his horse stand out in the Tournament of Roses parade Thursday in Pasadena. (3) Rose Parade Grand Marshal Carol Burnett waves to the throng Thursday. (4) The Washington Township High School Washington Township High School may refer to:
(5 -- 6) The Twentieth Century Insurance float, ``Fantastic Journey,'' above, captured the award for best animation with its futuristic vehicles. At left, the float's supervisor, Cindy Diaz, right, reacts to the good news. Photos by Myung J. Chun and Gus Ruelas Map: Viewing the floats Daily News Box: Trophy winners (see text) |
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