The City Bet

Last week, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels was challenged to a bet by the Governor of Maryland. Initially, Daniels rejected it, saving his bets for the Super Bowl. When the Maryland Gov. called him out, Daniels finally agreed to a bet. If the Colts won, the Gov would receive crab cakes and something like Season 3 of "The Wire". If the Ravens won, Gov. Daniels would send St. Elmo's shrimp cocktail and some sort of cake, and the complete first season of "Hang Time".

This week, Mayor Ballard issued a press release calling for a bet with the Mayor of New York. Again, St. Elmo's shrimp cocktail was on our end of the wager. The Mayor of New York offered up some sort of pizza.

This morning when I turned on the morning news, the Fox59 anchors had a bet going on with their sister station in New York. I couldn't take it anymore. The pseudo trash talking had finally taken its toll on me. When the red-headed male anchor said something about having someone "whacked", I had one of the worst cases of second-hand embarrasment that I've had in a while.

(I will give the anchor credit, though, as he called the male and female New York anchors The Situation and Snookie. Gotta give props when props are due.)

I've always liked the "City Bet" for big playoff games. It's a good way for politicians to get some positive coverage and to get involved in some of the most uncomfortable trash talk you've heard (Close your eyes and think of the most un-athletic person in your life. Then proceed to think about them talking trash about sports.)

With the Colts documented success over the past decade, the "City Bet" has grown tiresome. Movies such as American Pie and She's All That taught me in my formidable years that a bet is always the way to go: Can we just move on from the St. Elmo's shrimp cocktail? Also, when news anchors start getting involved, all bets gotta be off!

Here's my proposal for the politician bet: The winning team gets to send 25 students to the losing team's city for two days. These would be kids who are underprivileged, yet thriving in the academic world. It would also go on the losing city's dime. With politicians being politicians, the losing city wouldn't completely lose out, as they'd generate a small amount of souvenir business. The kids would get to see a city that they otherwise have yet to have the opportunity and the post-bet would make for good press (unlike the food bets, where we never hear of them again). It's a feel good bet and could make a difference for some youngsters.

OR........

The winning team sends 150 kids from the Juvenile Detenion Center to the losing city on that city's dime. Kids are still involved, but this puts the negative consequences of a bet into play. All bets are off once they check into the 4 star hotel.

Like the game of football, the "City Bet" needs to evolve. And under no circumstances should politicians or news anchors talk trash.

Unless, of course, it's New Jersey trash.