Modesty took a holiday among San Francisco 49ers fans celebrating a record-setting fifth Super Bowl win.
"It's the best team in history - definitely," said Rosa Mora, one of an estimated 300,000 people who stood in the drizzle Monday for San Francisco's victory parade honoring the 49ers.Mora waved a 6-foot 49ers flag over police barriers hoping to catch a glimpse of quarterback Steve Young, wide receiver Jerry Rice and the rest of the team as it crept through the heart of downtown in vintage cars.
Lifelong fan Les Paulson said he was at the parade celebrating the 49ers' first Super Bowl victory, back 1982.
"It was phenomenal then, and now we're five-time winners. That's something to come out in the rain for," he said.
Fans stood at least 10 deep along the parade route on Market Street. Arches made of hundreds of red and gold balloons were positioned over the street every block or so.
At the head of the parade, 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. held aloft the gleaming silver Super Bowl trophy that the 49ers earned for their 49-26 blowout of the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX on Sunday.
DeBartolo was joined in the convertible by 49ers coach George Seifert and San Francisco mayor Frank Jordan.
Tackle Steve Wallace borrowed a microphone from a television crew to tell the fans gathered what everyone already knew.
"We are No. 1 in the world, baby!" he bellowed.
Deion Sanders, in a black baseball cap worn slightly askew and sunglasses, drew shrieks from delighted fans. As Rice rode by, the crowd chanted "Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!"
Scott Stewart was selling 49er paraphernalia to the thousands of revelers who gathered early for the victory parade. He said his best-selling item was a $4 pennant.
"I'm not a big fan, but today I am," he said.
The well-behaved crowd contrasted with Sunday night's booze-fueled exuberance, which ended in 183 arrests, most for minor alcohol-related offenses. Two men suffered minor gunshot wounds, and one girl was stabbed.
In 1990, when San Francisco last won the Super Bowl, at least 14 people were treated for injuries related to the postgame celebration. Seven were stabbed, four were shot and three were in traffic accidents.
Monday also was declared "49ers Day" statewide by acting California Gov. Gray Davis, who is filling in while Gov. Pete Wilson is out of the state.