Daley bets on the Bears
The culinary comparison between Chicago and Indianapolis is — dare we say it? — as lop-sided as the statistical competition between Bears quarterback Rex Grossman and the Colts’ Peyton Manning.
No problem. Mayor Daley has grown accustomed to getting the shaft when it comes to betting on Chicago sports team — even when they win.
On Wednesday, the mayor laid the mother of all Taste of Chicago spreads and threads on the line that the Bears will beat the Colts and bring the Lombardi trophy back home to Chicago after a 21-year hiatus.
(AP)
“All this will be turned over to Mayor [Bart] Peterson in the highly unlikely event that the Bears lose on Sunday. And I should never even include that in my statement. Thank you to my speechwriter.”
He added, “I want to warn Mayor Peterson that we have a great winning record when it comes to these wagers. Over the last 16 months, betting on the White Sox and the Bears, I’ve won bets with the mayors of Boston, Anaheim, Houston, Seattle and New Orleans.”
Good thing the mayor is so confident about a Bears victory. The booty laid out at the Cadillac Room at Soldier Field would take a moving van to truck down to Indy.
It includes such Chicago staples as cheesecake, ribs, burgers, sausages, nachos, pizza, beer, wine, nuts, hot dogs, Italian beef, popcorn, pretzels, coffee, candy and cinnamon rolls.
But, Daley has also thrown in 18 new items, including a shirt, belt buckle, necktie, cufflinks, kabobs, catfish, English muffins, pasta, catfish, corned beef hash, caramel cake, sandwiches and a whole pig on a spit. There’s even a pastel drawing of Millennium Park by an award-winning senior at Whitney Young H.S. and a chair and ottoman with the Bears’ color and logo left over from the Suite Home Chicago street furniture program.
Peterson hasn’t placed his bet yet. But, when he sees what Chicago is offering, he’s likely to be intimidated, to say the least.
“What we’re trying to show is that Chicago is a great city with hospitality — great fashion designs. We have all types of food from every part of the city. We have family-owned businesses for years. We have people who invented things. What we’re really showing is what the character and fabric of the city is all about,” Daley said.
“This is a great opportunity for them to display their wares—to talk about their business [and] relationship with Chicago. And when tourists come here and conventioneers, we want them to see what Chicago is all about…This is what Chicago is all about.”
Daley said his administration has been working with the Bears “behind the scenes” to plan a victory celebration. But, he doesn’t want to talk about it publicly for fear of seeming “arrogant” and providing bulletin board material for the Colts.
But, the restaurant owners who stepped to the podium Wednesday were as Bear-ish as they could be.
Dutchie Caray of Harry Caray’s Restaurant even went so far as to call the game as she believes her late husband would have before betting his favorite dish: chicken vesuvio.
“As Harry would say, `It might be. It could be. It is. Bears win. Bears win the Super Bowl. Holy Cow!” Dutchie said.
Not to be outdone, Mark Malnati of Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, donned a pair of sunglasses like the Punky QB Jim McMahon and did an updated version of the Super Bowl Shuffle.
“I heard the mayor’s got to make a bet. Well, Chicago pizza is the best thing yet. Now, I’m not here to cause no fussle. I’m just here to do the pizza man hustle,” he said.
“Who said Saturday Night Live is dead in Chicago. We could put this show on the road,” the mayor said, letting out a belly laugh.
Win or lose, Daley came out ahead. He got three Bears jerseys from Bridgeport-based Grandstand Ltd. The mayor’s grandson Jack got a Brian Urlacher jersey. His granddaughter Maggie got a Grossman No. 8. And the mayor got No. `07, for what he hopes will be re-election victory on Feb. 27.
fspielman@suntimes.com