New York City has a time-honored tradition where the mayor places a friendly wager with the mayor of the opposing city when the local sports teams are in the playoffs. With the Knicks and Rangers gearing up for postseason runs against the 76ers and Capitals, questions arose regarding any bets being made by NYC Mayor Eric Adams. While on a radio show to promote NYCFC’s new stadium in Queens, Adams mentioned that he had not yet made any wagers with the mayors of Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., but he was planning to reach out to them.
After being prompted by co-host Tiki Barber on the radio show, Mayor Adams decided to make a friendly wager involving a vegan cheesecake with the mayors of Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. This suggestion was met with some humor and a groan from the other co-host, Evan Roberts. The idea of offering a vegan cheesecake as a bet in sports games seemed unconventional to Roberts, but Adams and Barber shared a laugh over the unique proposal. Despite the light-hearted nature of the proposed bet, it symbolizes the sportsmanship and camaraderie between the cities during playoff games.
This is not the first time a New York City mayor has made a unique sports bet with a counterpart from another city. In the past, bets have included singing the other city’s song on a talk show, sending cases of local delicacies, and other creative ideas. In 2014, Mayor Bill de Blasio bet then-Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti that the loser would have to sing the other city’s song on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” when the Rangers and Kings faced off in the Stanley Cup Final. These friendly wagers have become a tradition that adds an element of fun and excitement to the playoff games for both cities involved.
During a previous sports event in 2001, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani had to send a bevy of New York delicacies to Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley after the Giants were defeated in the Super Bowl by the Ravens. This exchange of local goods and friendly competitions between cities through sports bets has become a way to showcase the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie among civic leaders and their communities. It adds an extra layer of excitement and friendly rivalry to the playoff games, creating memorable moments and fostering relationships between city officials from different locations.
As the Knicks and Rangers continue their postseason runs against the 76ers and Capitals, Mayor Adams plans to uphold the tradition of making sports bets with the mayors of Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The proposed wager involving a vegan cheesecake serves as a lighthearted way to symbolize the competitive spirit and camaraderie between the cities during playoff games. These friendly bets reflect the longstanding tradition of sportsmanship and community engagement among civic leaders, showcasing the fun and excitement that come with playoff games and fostering goodwill between different cities across the country.
