Ten years, 10 championship games for Boston’s professional sports teams. That run has offered many opportunities for making wagers — and no bets are of a higher profile than the ones made by mayors eager to put their cities’ best food, drink, and experiences on the line. While the real winners are the charities who receive most of the spoils, mayors have been eager to drive the stakes higher every year. Here are some of the items Boston’s City Hall has won and lost over the years.
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Boston City Hall’s championship bets
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Super Bowl 2002 | Patriots vs. St. Louis Rams | W 20-17
Mayor Thomas M. Menino
Lobsterbake with steamers, chowder, corn on the cob, and pots and pans to cook it all with.
Mayor Francis Slay, St. Louis
Toasted ravioli, a St. Louis delicacy; nonalcoholic O’Doul’s; Ted Drewes frozen custard; and heavenly hash from Crown Candy Kitchen.
Super Bowl 2004 | Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers | W 32-29
Mayor Thomas M. Menino
A trip to Boston; 38 pounds of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee; three dozen of Dunkin’s Boston Kreme doughnuts; a Legal Sea Foods clambake for four.
Mayor Patrick McCrory, Charlotte
A trip to Charlotte; a gallon of tea; 12 dozen original Krispy Kreme doughnuts and 12 cups of coffee; a Bojangles chicken dinner.
World Series 2004 | Red Sox vs. St. Louis Cardinals | W 4-0 games
Mayor Thomas M. Menino
A portrait of Ted Williams; a Legal Sea Foods dinner; a spread from Dunkin’ Donuts; Au Bon Pain bread; a case each of Harpoon and Sam Adams beer; other sweets, food, and trinkets from Boston-area businesses.
Mayor Francis Slay, St. Louis
Anheuser-Busch products; toasted ravioli; Bissinger Chocolate; and his winnings from previous bets with other mayors that season.
Super Bowl 2005 | Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles | W 24-21
Mayor Thomas M. Menino
A Legal Sea Food lobster; nine littleneck clams; one pint of New England clam chowder; one-half pound of linguica sausage; one Legal Sea Foods lobster pot, including cooking instructions and a claw-cracker kit.
Mayor John F. Street, Philadelphia
Collection of music by Philadelphia artists such as Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes, Patti LaBelle, The Intruders, The O’Jays, The 3 Degrees, Billy Paul, Lou Rawles.
World Series 2007 | Red Sox vs. Colorado Rockies | W 4-3 games
Mayor Thomas M. Menino
100 cups Legal Sea Foods clam chowder; 100 cups Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and Boston Kreme donuts; 100 “Curse Reversed” ice cream sandwiches from Brigham’s Ice Cream.
Mayor John Hickenlooper, Denver
100 burritos from Chipotle; 100 Quiznos sandwiches; 100 cups of Celestial Seasonings teas; 100 servings of Great Western Tortilla Chips; 100 servings of Epic Valley Salsa; 100 scoops of Liks Rocky Road ice cream.
Super Bowl 2008 | Patriots vs. New York Giants | L 14-17
Mayor Thomas M. Menino
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