Bring on the Bets

One or two of you may be aware that there is something going on called the World Series. ("What world would that be?" asks this crotchety old guy in his 80's whom I've known for years.) It's the end of the baseball season, and this year it is being played by (my) defending champion Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees.

As is traditional, the mayors of the two cities involved have engaged in a friendly wager. In past years, this has usually taken the form of a food exchange ("cheesesteaks or cheesecakes"). This year, though, you have to admit that Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg have really raised public service (and from "public servants", no less!) to a new level:

Regardless of the outcome, both mayors will host public arts projects. Nutter would join Mural Arts to paint a mural on the side of a recreation center. Bloomberg would partner with Public Color to paint the interior of a school.

If the Phillies win the series, Bloomberg will travel to Philadelphia to take part in the day of service while wearing a Phillies jersey. If the Yankees win the series, Nutter will travel to New York to take part in the day of service while wearing a Yankees jersey. The mayor of the losing city will also buy the mayor of the winning city and his fellow volunteers lunch.

That's just cool.

What it's really done, of course, is to completely reset the bar for all future mayoral sporting bets. Who's going to have the nerve to offer up a case of the local brew against some regional delicacy after this kind of event? Bravo to both of them!


PS: Breaking news from New York: