bet Archive

It’s that time of year: World Series time! That means city and state officials have made meaningless wagers on the championship series. So you know that Mike Bloomberg, who is seeking re-election next week, and David Paterson had to get in on that action.

These weren’t your run of the mill political wagers. This year, nobody put the typical “basket of apples” (or some other random locally-themed item) on the line. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter made “a first-of-its kind wager” that involved community service. If the Yankees win, Nutter will have to help re-paint a school. Conversely, Bloomberg will have to assist in the painting of a mural in Philadelphia if the Yankees lose. It’s an interesting bet but I have to believe that Bloomberg’s re-election played into the unique terms of the bet. It would also be more entertaining if they did something a bit more demeaning such as picking up trash or cleaning toilets.

The New York and Pennsylvania governors also made a bet. Their bet isn’t a run-of-the-mill wager either. In the bet between New York Governor David Paterson and Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell, the losing state will host a contest winner for a vacation. A New York winner would stay at the Park Hyatt in Bellvue, PA while a Pennsylvia winner would stay at the Sheraton New York in midtown Manhattan. You can enter the contest at http://www.iloveny.com.