World Series Wagers: Beef, Lobsters, and Chowder, Oh My…

There’s nothing quite like the Fall Classic to bring out the friendly political wagers. This year’s World Series features the Red Sox from Boston against the Rockies from Colorado. This is the first time the Rockies have made the Series and the interest from politicians in Colorado reflects that fact. While the Rockies have won 21 of 22, the folks from New England are pretty confident that they’ll be bringing back the spoils after the Series. Thus far, we’ve seen the Governor and both sets of Senators get in on the wagering action. That’s already in addition to Congressmen and the Mayors of Denver and Boston. Like we said, nothing brings out the wagers like the World Series!

U.S. Sens. Wayne Allard and Ken Salazar of Colorado are wagering Colorado-raised beef, while Massachusetts Sens. Edward Kennedy and John Kerry are countering with New England clam chowder and lobster rolls.

The senators who lose the bet will donate the grub to a charity chosen by the senators who win.

Reps. Mark Udall, Diana DeGette and John Salazar of Colorado have their own bet against Boston-area Reps. Edward Markey, Stephen Lynch and Michael Capuano.

If the Red Sox win, the Colorado representatives treat their counterparts to a meal of steaks and chili. If the Rockies win, the Massachusetts trio foots the bill for chowder and lobster.

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper wagered sub sandwiches, herbal tea, tortilla chips, salsa and ice cream against Boston Mayor Thomas Menino’s clam chowder, coffee, doughnuts and ice cream sandwiches. The winning mayor will serve the treats at a charity of his choice.

The Governor’s are also getting in on the action. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Colorado Governor Bill Ritter hosted a conference call today detailing the wager.

Patrick is putting up lobsters and ice cream vs. beef from Ritter.

Bottomline: The sheer volume of “action” on this game raises the stakes considerably for us at OurCivicPride. Using our new “Daley Meter” and rating scale, we’re happy to give this “set” of wagers an above average rating of 48 Daleys. The sheer number of folks anteing up, coupled with the types of food waged equals 48 Daleys. It’s no Chicago spread, but it’s pretty good.

NFL Playoffs: Green Bay, Wisconsin: Home of the Root Beer Bet?!?

The NFL Playoffs are in full swing and that, for us at least, most notably means that the Mayors and Governors are out to represent their hometowns. We’re a bit biased on these food wagers, both for the good wagers (Chicago) and the notable bad antes. One of the traditional “bad” antes has always been Seattle. We’ve always kind of perceived Seattle as a “bad” wager because the products they put up in these wagers were typically a little “light”. “Light” meaning not exactly the things you think of when you think “food wagers”. Maybe it’s our age, maybe we’re softening a bit, but we’re coming around on the Seattle wagers. (It may also be that our hometown Bears’ rivals are playing the Seattle Seahawks this weekend!). In the spirit of the Playoffs, both Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels have put up some local products in a friendly political wager.

Green Bay, Wisconsin is a hearty, midwest, blue-collar town. We expect Mayor Schmitt to wager equally “midwestern” items and he doesn’t let us down. A gift basket on Schmitt’s desk included Schreiber Foods cheese, Maplewood Meats and American Foods Group products, Titletown Brewery Sno-cap root beer, a Green Bay-opoly game and a cheesehead hat.

Nickels, not to be outdone, has staked smoked sockeye salmon, a selection of Washington state wines and green-apple flavored Jones Soda in the event of a Seahawks loss.

During the playful press conference call, both Mayors asked for the stakes to be raised. Schmitt asked for a Starbucks franchise, while Nickels requested Packer quarterback Brett Farve as part of the wager.

“It’s brats, not Brett,” Schmitt replied.

He’s 1-1 so far with his bets on the Packers. Schmitt had to send cheese and sausage to Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert after the Packers lost to the Dallas Cowboys 37-27 on Nov. 29.

He won a collection of Motown music and Motor City memorabilia from Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick after the Packers defeated the Lions 34-13 on Thanksgiving Day.

The mayors aren’t the only ones making friendly wagers on Saturday’s game. The chefs at Lambeau and Qwest fields also have a bet.

If the Packers win, Qwest Field executive chef Jon Sevenson and his culinary team will eat brats and cheese curds in their honor.

If Seattle wins, Lambeau Field executive chef Leo Dominguez and his team will consume salmon BLTs, a Northwest specialty made with grilled salmon, smoked bacon, tomatoes, lettuce and dijonaise and served on a roll.

Both chefs work for Levy Restaurants, which operates the concessions at the Green Bay and Seattle stadiums.

The Green Bay Packers host the Seattle Seahawks at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. We have our money on the NFC North Packers. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get a picture of Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels with the Cheesehead hat on!

Bottomline: Cheese, meats, bratwurst and…root beer?!?!? Huh? Where’s the Miller products? Miller Lite? High Life? Come on, Green Bay. Seattle is sticking to the salmon, but they need to be adding Starbucks, in our opinion. This seems like both Mayors had fun and because of the requests for a Starbucks in Downtown Green Bay and the added request for Brett Farve to move to Seattle, we like this wager.   A nice touch is the chef’s “side bet”.  Imagine those fro-fro chefs in Seattle hossing down Cheese curds!  It falls into the “above average” category and we give it 48 Daleys.