Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Steelers Jerome Bettis holds the Vince Lombardi trophy on the stage during a parade for the Super Bowl XL champion Pittsburgh Steelers Tuesday in Downtown Pittsburgh. Click photo for larger image.

Like nature's confetti, plump snowflakes floated past Joey Porter as he prepared to speak to thousands of fans whipped into a Terrible Towel-waving frenzy.

"This is them bells and whistles I was talking about, baby," he yelled from the reviewing stand at the end of yesterday's parade route.

But as he continued speaking, something unexpected happened to the man whose mouth has recently earned him nationwide notoriety: He nearly lost his voice.

"We're going to tear the roof off this city," he screamed, as his voice cracked. Jumping up and down, he asked fans to "let me see you bounce with me."

While those in attendance were happy to oblige, Porter's encouragement was hardly needed to fuel their hysteria.

The reviewing stand, a mobile stage that sat in the middle of the grassy area along Liberty Avenue near

Gateway Center, formed the focal point for thousands jammed at the end of the parade route.

The rally, emceed by KDKA-TV sports anchor Bob Pompeani and Steelers broadcasters Bill Hillgrove, Tunch Ilkin and Craig Wolfley, featured speeches by about 20 Steelers players and other dignitaries, including Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, Dan Rooney and Bill Cowher.

The crowd repeatedly broke into personalized, impromptu chants for players at the microphone, such as "re-sign him" for Antwaan Randle El or "thank you, Bus."

Allegheny County police on horseback waved Terrible Towels, while entrepreneurs sold $10 T-shirts out of duffel bags and unlucky parents attempted to maneuver strollers through the crowd.

Steve Mellon, Post-Gazette A city police officer snaps a photo of Steelers head coach Bill Cowher as he passes by in yesterday's parade. Click photo for larger image.

Jerome McNeill, 28, of Murrysville, arrived at the rally with a clear agenda for the day. Last week, he quit his job as a construction worker at the William S. Moorhead Federal Building after being informed that he would have to work during the Super Bowl.

"If we had lost, I would have jumped off the Hot Metal Bridge," he said. "Today, I'm relishing in my decision. It was worth it."

Like many other fans, Mr. McNeill spent much of his time angling to get a better view of the reviewing stand. While he and his friends opted to back away from the stage to reach higher ground, the most agile fans climbed trees and traffic lights.

Others formed cheerleader-like pyramids, with grown men holding one another up in the air or standing on each others' backs.

Craig Stephan, a landscaper, was on his way to a doctor's appointment when his dusty maroon Ford van was stopped by a throng of people clogging Stanwix Street.

With nowhere to go, Mr. Stephan allowed more than a dozen people to climb on top of his van and hang off the bumper, providing the necessary leverage to see the reviewing stand.

Out of gratitude, several handed him $5 bills as they dismounted.

George Gerber, 65, of Bethel Park, had a more typical parade experience.

"I haven't been able to see a thing," he said. "I'll stay home and see it on TV the next time, assuming we'll have a next time, which I am assuming."

Those who found prime real estate knew that the secret was perseverance and punctuality.

Seven members of the Dzurilla family left their home in Ashburn, Va., at 7 p.m. Monday, reaching family in Uniontown several hours later.

At 5 a.m. yesterday, the group left Uniontown, then set up camping chairs and sleeping bags in the front row of the reviewing stand crowd at about 7 a.m.

"It was all worth it," said Renee Dzurilla. "I wanted to come to Pittsburgh to watch the Super Bowl, but they said 'no,' so I said, 'We're going to the parade.' "

From their perch, the Dzurillas were able to see and hear all of the speeches.

Former Steelers wide receiver and current Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann was the first to take the microphone, hushing chants of "governor, governor" by telling fans that "this day is not about anything other than the black and gold."

Team owner Dan Rooney held up a cheer card that simply said "Thanks," one of many commercially-printed and handmade signs floating in the crowd.

"This sign says it all and that is for you," he said. "Thank you, you're terrific."

Several players, including Roethlisberger and Randle El, made short speeches expressing their appreciation for the devotion of the fans.

"This is incredible," said kicker Jeff Reed. "You guys are crazy for real."

As the clock ticked toward 1 p.m., Mr. Swann re-appeared to introduce Hines Ward, one Super Bowl MVP making way for another.

To chants of "MVP, MVP," Ward told the crowd that "I got chills down my back right now looking at the sea of black and gold."

Wearing a yellow foam Steelers sombrero, he then introduced the final speaker of the day, Bettis, calling him "the greatest Steeler of all time, in my book."

"You supported us win, lose or draw," Bettis said, holding up the Lombardi Trophy that he carried through the parade. "So I want to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for all the memories you've given me, and the way that you've taken me in."

He interrupted a chant of "Thank you, Bus" to say "No, thank all of you. God bless you. Thank you."

As he left the stage to officially begin his retirement, the snow intensified and gold fireworks burst across a gray sky.