The Stanley Cup has begun but it’s not just hockey teams facing off. Two U.S. Senators have a lot riding on the competition.
It’s become something of a time honored tradition for lawmakers to place wagers of hometown goods on sporting events between their respective constituencies. With the Tampa Bay Lightning facing off against the Chicago Blackhawks for the Stanley Cup, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) couldn’t resist.
So, what are the stakes?
If the Lightning wins, Nelson gets beer from Goose Island Brewery and some Garrett Mix popcorn. But should the Blackhawks take the series, Durbin gets a box of Cuban sandwiches.
And in a final twist, the loser will also have to do as many push-ups as goals are scored in the best of seven tournament. For two senators in their seventies, it’s perhaps a good thing hockey tends to be a low scoring affair.
