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GARY: I haven't left since the seventh game of the World Series, Paula

PAULA: Gary, it's got to be a totally different atmosphere at the Metrodome today. Before the seventh game of the World Series, tension was really thick. You could cut it with a knife. No one knew what was going to happen. Now, it's just let everything rip. We've won the World Series. Champions are on their way. I can imagine there's going to be a lot of noise at the dome to this afternoon.

GARY: Well, 63,000 people are supposed to show up here. And I would imagine you're absolutely right, Paula. They've got the parade on the-- this is the way to go. There was a reason they built the Metrodome--

PAULA: Yeah.

GARY: --after all, here in Minnesota. And while my friends are out there shivering, it's nice and toasty in here. And we have the parade on the big screen. And concession stands will be open. Very, very pleasant. 63,000 people are supposed to show up, and there's no reason to believe they won't. There are some trickling in already, marching bands and speeches. Back in 1987, I remember standing at the State Capitol, which was supposed to be the culmination of the parade and was.

PAULA: [? Mmh. ?]

GARY: The thought was that once they got to the State Capitol, there would be lots of speeches and so on and so forth. But by the time the players got there, they were so drained from the parade that, I think, Bert Blyleven got up in behalf of the team and said, thanks a lot. And that was pretty much it. I'm guessing this is going to be a lot livelier because it's warm in here, and the parade seems to be moving along nice and smoothly. And so this should be a good show.

PAULA: And they're giving them a little bit of a break too between the two cities, which should help out a little bit. It seems like the traffic control situation is better than it was in 1987. Just having a number of people out there to keep the crowds away from them, they literally could not get through--

GARY: Right.

PAULA: --four years ago. And hopefully, they'll be moving through today pretty well. Do you know what kinds of activities-- you said [INAUDIBLE] marching bands and things like that. But it's really-- I think that the fans are really going to want some kind of entertainment, something to help them sustain this excitement--

GARY: [? Mmh. ?]

PAULA: --other than the players standing around on the field. Any idea what they might do to accomplish that?

GARY: No. Frankly, I'm not entirely sure what they have planned yet. Although my guess is that what they're going to end up doing is having a lot highlight films. You remember in 1987 when they had the spontaneous welcome home celebration from Detroit, when they opened the dome up and the place filled up and there was--

PAULA: Right.

GARY: --it filled up.

PAULA: Right.

GARY: And there was nothing actually planned. But the crowd itself, as I recall, sat here a good three hours waiting for the team to arrive. And without any organized activity, entertained itself with cheers. They put up highlight films on the scoreboard of the team and so on. I'm guessing that even if nothing is planned, the fans will more than take care of their entertainment here. It should be a lot of fun.

PAULA: Well, I'm--

GARY: It should be a lot of fun.

PAULA: I'm sure that you're going to have a great time, Gary. We'll be--

GARY: This is not one of the worst assignments.

PAULA: Yeah.

[LAUGHTER]