High Flying Wager: Fly the Winners Flag Over State Capitol

The 2007 Little League World Series is getting a lot of action. I mean A LOT. This is the 2nd Friendly Political Wager that we've chronicled this year alone. Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, a Warner Robins American Little League alum has participated in both wagers. The first one was an interesting "for spite" Friendly Political Wager with Governor Bob Riley of Alabama. Perdue had offered a gallon of "North Georgia's finest, 100 percent locally mountain-grown headwaters" to Riley if the Alabama team won. In his most recent wager, Perdue went for "state pride" against Texas Governor Rick Perry. The U.S. Championship of the Little League World Series pits the team from Georgia against a squad from Texas. The winner gets to fly their state flag over the Capitol of the loser. That's a big wager on a bunch of kids!

In a news release Friday, Perdue, who plans to attend this afternoon's game in Pennsylvania, said, "The Texas team has played great so far. But I am confident our boys from Warner Robins American will play hard and represent Georgia well."

The Texas governor said, "When Texans go for something they make it their business to go big or go home. . . . And we look forward to seeing the Lone Star flag shine bright at the Georgia capitol."

The two state leaders made their wagers Friday afternoon, but the bet apparently required some wrangling.

Perdue's press secretary Bert Brantley said he didn't get the impression that Gov. Perry was following the Lubbock team as closely as Perdue has followed the Warner Robins boys.

I'm sure it will go over well with the legislators at both Capitols. Imagine the delight of Texas legislators when they see their flag flying high above Atlanta. This wager will have the intended consequence of getting the Governors on camera for the news. Win or lose, the media will cover this story. Nice bet, guys!