The Team Leela Trophy Tour: A Parade Nobody Asked For
Oh, the trophy tour. The parade. There is nothing quite like it. A team wins a championship, establishes itself as the best among the rest, and suddenly an entire city is ready to celebrate. Streets are blocked, banners go up, news crews arrive, and a rather impressive double-decker bus is brought out of retirement for the occasion. People take the day off work, find their favourite team jerseys and line the streets, waiting for the arrival of their sporting heroes. And then, finally, the bus appears. The players are smiling, the champagne (or whatever is flowing that day) is flowing, and the trophy is being passed around, kissed, hugged and held aloft. There is an extraordinary amount of love, enthusiasm and collective relief on display. Even if you're standing somewhere in the crowd, you can feel it. Eventually, the bus reaches its destination. The players get off, the coach and a few key members of the squad take to the stage, and the trophy makes another appearance. There are s...