In a display of civic pride and sportsmanship, the mayors of Dallas and Boston have embarked on a friendly wager based on the outcome of the NBA Finals showdown between the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics.
Mayor Eric Johnson of Dallas and Mayor Michelle Wu of Boston took to social media to announce their tasty bet, adding a savory twist to the excitement surrounding the finals series.
Should the Mavericks win, Mayor Wu has pledged to send Mayor Johnson an assortment of Boston’s culinary specialties, including clam chowder and lobster from Legal Sea Foods, accompanied by desserts from Sweet Teez Bakery, reported Fox 4 KDFW.
In fact, according to The Dallas Morning News, Mayor Wu intends to send Mayor Johnson a whopping 18 gallons of chowder and 18 pounds of lobster rolls if the Mavericks win.
However, if the Celtics win the series, Mayor Johnson will have to concede defeat by sending Mayor Wu a package of Pecan Lodge barbecue, showcasing Dallas’ renowned barbecue tradition. The package will include a whole brisket, a rack of ribs, and 12 sausage links, per The Dallas Morning News.
“I am beyond thrilled to have the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals for the first time in over a decade, and another friendly wager only amplifies my excitement,” Mayor Johnson said, per Fox 4. “I am grateful to Mayor Wu for playing along, and I look forward to trying the signature Boston seafood she will send after the Mavericks take the championship,” he added.
Mayor Johnson’s enthusiasm for friendly bets is well-documented. His previous victories in similar wagers include winning Dancing Bear Chocolate from Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey when the Dallas Mavericks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, and a Colorado belt buckle from Denver Mayor Mike Johnston when the Dallas Stars beat the Colorado Avalanche.
However, Mayor Johnson is no stranger to defeat. After recently losing a bet with Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, Johnson must pay his debt by making a video of himself wearing an Edmonton jersey and cheering for the Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final.
As for the latest bet, the odds are currently tipped in favor of Mayor Wu, as the Boston Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks by a wide margin of 18 points in the first game of the NBA Finals on Thursday Night.
In the history of the NBA Finals, teams that win Game 1, regardless of whether they played at home or away, have gone on to win the series 54 times. This statistic translates to an ultimately successful rate of 70% for teams that win the first game within the series, reported Fansided.
