25,000 Turn Out to Welcome Boris Becker in His Hometown
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LEIMEN, West Germany — More than 25,000 cheering West Germans gave Boris Becker a hero’s welcome Friday as the Wimbledon champion rode home in a motorcade through streets festooned with flowers, flags and welcome-home signs.
Signs saying, “Leimen Greets Boris,” spanned the route of the motorcade as the 17-year-old tennis sensation rode in an open Mercedes to the cheers of thousands lining the streets.
One sign said: “We Know Boris! Who is (John) McEnroe?”
Leimen, south of Heidelberg, has a population of 17,000, but police said several thousand visitors had turned up for Becker’s homecoming after his Wimbledon triumph last Sunday.
A specially composed song, “Boris, Boris, in Wimbledon that was a day like never before, Boris King of Wimbledon,” blared from loudspeakers installed in front of the town hall.
“He looks a bit embarrassed, but no wonder in this hustle,” said a lady in the throng.
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