1.   Crowds formed along the parade route three hours before its noon start.

2.   Play was then rescheduled for a noon start, but intermittent showers blotted out any meaningful activity except that of the squeegee and blow-drying crews.

3.   That would now be a noon start, due to a sudden network shift last night after the Yankees went up two games to zip.

4.   The game was going to be broadcast nationally by CBS, with a noon start in the East.

5.   The noon start also might have contributed to an atmosphere more suited for a Sunday pickup game.

6.   Unfortunately for them, Shawn Kemp saw no need to impress, preferring a late-night drinking escapade before the noon start.

7.   The noon start, however, likely contributed to the thousands of empty seats in the upper sections of Enron Field.