The mayors of Seattle and Minneapolis have struck a friendly football wager before the Seahawks playoff game Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
The mayors of Seattle and Minneapolis have struck a friendly football wager before the Seahawks playoff clash Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
If the Vikings sail past Seattle, Mayor Ed Murray will send Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges a gift package including fresh salmon from Pike Place Fish Market, coffee from Starbucks and baked goods from King Donuts, Murray said.
If the Seahawks beat Minnesota, Hodges will send Murray beer from Indeed Brewing Company, a “North” stocking hat, mittens from Askov Finlayson, dates from the Karmel Mall and a Prince T-shirt, she said.
The mayors talked some trash in their joint news release about the bet Friday.
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“The Seahawks won big in Minnesota back in December — I can see the Hawks winning there again by an even wider margin now that Marshawn Lynch is back, healthy, and playing,” Murray said in a statement.
“The Hawks are experienced NFL champions, while the Vikings have never won an NFL title in their five decades of existence. With a win on Sunday, the Hawks take the first step in returning to a third straight Super Bowl.”
Hodges said the weather in the Land of 10,000 (frigid) Lakes will give the Vikings a boost.
“The Seahawks are really great, what with their brutal loss in last years’ Super Bowl and all. And yes, they beat us this year when we were missing our three best defensive players,” she said.
“But I get the feeling they might just come in to TCF Bank Stadium on Sunday and fall flat on their faces because Teddy Bridgewater and our dominating defense are clearly ready for revenge. Plus we’ve got the true 12th Man, the cold.”
Last year, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh refused an offer by Murray to bet against the Seahawks before their Super Bowl bout with the New England Patriots.
Walsh was on a sports-wager losing streak; the Pats had lost to the Denver in the 2014 AFC Championship and the Boston Bruins had been knocked out of the 2015 NHL playoffs by Montreal.
The founders of King Donuts, a popular bakery, restaurant and laundromat in the Emerald City’s Rainier Beach neighborhood, were victims of an assault and robbery outside the business a year ago.
Heng Hay and Chea Pol opened King Donuts in 1987 after coming to the U.S. as refugees from Cambodia. Patrons and well-wishers donated more than $23,000 to an online crowdfunding page to help with the couple’s medical care.