No rain was going to dampen this parade.
A couple thousand fans gathered in downtown Jacksonville to celebrate the Jacksonville Sharks' ArenaBowl championship.
The festivities started at City Hall, where Mayor Brown issued a proclamation declaring August 18, 2011, Jacksonville Sharks Day.
Then, it was off to a damp Hogan Street, where the players, coaches, owners and staff of the Sharks paraded to the Landing to the cheers of their adoring fans.
"This is the second coolest thing -- the first is winning," shouted Terrance Smith from the car he was riding in.
At the Landing, fans viewed a replay of the ArenaBowl, watching the last play with baited breath, despite already knowing what had happened (Aaron Garcia connected with Jacksonville native Jeron Harvey for the game-winning touchdown as time expired).
After speeches by owner Jeff Bouchy, head coach Les Moss and several players, their ArenaBowl jerseys -- strewn with advertising as they were -- were auctioned off, with the more than $11,000 raised going towards saving school sports in Duval County.
