Snatching victory from the jaws of deficit

As the Lakers wrap up their 15th championship, the story shifts to the victory parade. With L.A. and the whole Golden State facing an immense deficit and looming layoffs of some of the city's civil servants, the $1 million price tag for your typical ticker-tape parade might be just too hard for the City of Angels to swallow.

The city council seems split on the decision. Some think the franchise or the NBA should foot the bill. Others believe that the city has an obligation to put on the parade. One such zealot is Bernard Parks, who said "This is one of those things that happen once a decade."

Really? Apparently math is not one of the prerequisites of chairing L.A.'s Budget and Finance Committee. Because that would mean the Lakers is a storied 150-year franchise.

The team already won. Hopefully the city can find a creative solution that's a win for the fans, too.