With both cities facing monumental budget deficits, Mayors Rahm Emanuel of Chicago and Tom Menino of Boston exercised fiscal reasonability by agreeing on a Stanley Cup bet that would send Jim Belushi to Beantown if the Hawks lose, and Matt Damon to the Windy City if the Bruins drop the series.
A statement from both mayors said, “These two great cities are billions in debt, so it would be irresponsible for us to make the usual bet, like 200 pounds of Vienna beef hot dogs and a couple of frozen deep-dish pizzas for a few dozen lobsters and a gallon of chowder.”
“As a result, we’re going to lay it all on the line by offering each city’s most beloved actors as the prize.”
Mayor Menino told the Boston Globe, “Not since Paul Revere has a Boston resident been more cherished than Matt Damon. I am so confident in the Bruins that I am willing to make this bet.”
One Chicago newspaper report quoted Emanuel as saying, “Who cares about Belushi? The guy hasn’t lived in Chicago in 35 years, yet he acts like he still lives in a bungalow in Bucktown.”
