by sheila morris
the fastest?
slow and steady?
What words of Wisdom do you have for your followers, Old Woman Warrior who has lived seventy and eight years when the sun rises in the east tomorrow?
The Race is sometimes won by fast and furious,
sometimes won by slow and steady,
but it is never won from the sidelines.
And that, my cyberspace friends, is the best I can do. Life is, indeed, short.
Don’t skip the Race.
The Parade was a huge success according to Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenman with the largest crowds ever seen for any parade he could remember in the city. Estimates placed the number at more than 20,000 people who celebrated from where the Parade began on North Main Street to where it ended on the steps of the Statehouse two hours later.
The following photos were taken by Alex Hicks, Jr. for the Greenville News at the 2024 Gamecock National Championship Parade in Columbia on Sunday, April 14rh. so full credit to him for the images I wish I could have captured.
You Win Some, You Lose None
Gamecock All Tournament Team Guard Raven Johnson greets “fams”
crowds waiting for pep rally at Parade’s end
Coach Staley and her team salute throngs of well-wishers
from South Carolina statehouse steps
National Championship MVP Kamilla Cardoso counts to three championships
Coach Staley delivers heartfelt thanks, inspirational words
following 38-0 perfect season and NCAA Championship
Finally, if you are an American looking toward the November general elections with fear and trepidation, Alex Hicks, Jr. captured this sign during the parade:
********************
P.S. Our granddaughters were among the 20,000 at the Parade Sunday, and although they had an awesome time, a couple of disappointments couldn’t be erased.
I never saw Cocky at the parade, four-year-old Ella told me
two-year-old Molly said, I never got ice cream
(last two photos by Upstate Dawne)
Deputy Coroner Susan Moore-Cooke, huge Gamecock women’s basketball “fam,” seen waving aboard this clever float from the Richland County Coroner’s Office
(each R.I.P. headstone had a score for every post-season game including championship game with Iowa which the Gamecocks won 87-75)
Let’s go, Gamecocks!
hand in hand
we’ll march later for world peace, world hunger, equal justice, democracy —
but today we march for Coach Staley and her Gamecocks
granddaughters Molly and Ella mesmerized by parade
Nina, ice cream! ICE CREAM!
Spurs Up!
Gamecock Brian and Ella having fun waiting for the next float
But where did ice cream truck go?
Go Gamecocks!!
More to come on Parade…stay tuned.
Sunday, April 14th. the city of Columbia welcomed thousands of University of South Carolina Gamecock women’s basketball fans to downtown Main Street for a two-hour parade that began at 2:00 o’clock under a bright blue sky and blazing sunshine with 90-degree temperatures to celebrate the third NCAA Championship under head coach Dawn Staley (2017, 2022, 2024). Coach Staley calls her Gamecock fans “Fams” because she has steadily built a culture of loyal followers in the community who have become family to her, her staff and the women’s basketball team during her historic sixteen-year career at South Carolina.
Our little band of “fams” had great seats in the shade thanks to positions staked out by the upstate duo of Pretty’s sister Darlene and Dawne who got up before daybreak Sunday morning to drive two hours, check into their room at the Sheraton and set up chairs on Main Street by 10 a.m. Pretty and I weren’t nearly so punctual but by the time we arrived downtown an hour later after a 15-minute drive from our home in West Columbia, parking places were scarce which added another twenty minutes of walking to meet them.
thanks to Darlene and Dawne (seated) for great spot on Main St
granddaughters Molly (2) and Ella (4) were shy when they arrived at 12:30…
…but soon got into the spirit of the day by playing on Main Street in front of us
Molly and Ella brought their parents Drew and Caroline along
to celebrate perfect 38-0 season on the road to the NCAA Championship
(Drew still recovering from ACL surgery, but wild crutches couldn’t keep him away)
Did this parade have actual floats, marching bands, marching Girl Scouts, Gamecock women’s basketball players current and alumni, sporty convertibles carrying occupants from politicians to princesses, pretend coffins from the coroner’s office, fire trucks, EMS vehicles, police cars, a Championship Trophy carried by Gamecock star player Kamilla Cardoso who was drafted third in the WNBA draft in New York City the next night, and even the great Coach Dawn Staley herself who stole the show as she always does? You betcha!
To be continued. Please stay tuned.
Hint: first names (l. to r.) A’ja, Serena, Coach
(thanks to Pretty for Twitter image)
WNBA Gamecock superstar A’ja Wilson at statue unveiling
(in front of Colonial Life Arena on MLK Day in 2021)
Coach Dawn Staley statue unveiling 02-24-24 downtown Columbia
(Gamecock women’s basketball coach won third national championship in 2024)
Tennis GOAT Serena Williams at US Open Tournament in 2013
Occasionally Pretty sends me an unforgettable image from her Twitter Scrolls – this one made my visual week highlights – three of my favorite Black women in sports.
Good start to Celebration Sunday with National Championship Parade this afternoon! Go, Gamecocks!
I'll Call It Like I See It 
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