He’s two bets down, but Mayor Menino has yet to give up a single lobster bake to St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay.
And with a little help from Tom Brady and company, there will be a few more spared crustaceans in New England waters this weekend.
Menino once again wagered a lobster dinner, complete with steamers and chowder, on a New England playoff victory. But, this time, the stakes are much higher, as the Patriots will have to defeat a heavily favored St. Louis squad in the biggest game of the year.
In a phone conversation yesterday, Menino told Slay the Patriots would put down quarterback Kurt Warner and the NFC champion Rams this weekend in New Orleans. If all goes Menino’s way, he’ll be collecting some toasted ravioli and O’Doul’s beer, as well as frozen custards and a five-and-a-half pound solid chocolate football.
Slay, however, told Menino he would have to kidnap Warner and running back Marshall Faulk for that to happen.
“We got the Brady Bunch out there,” Menino said. “The Brady Bunch will do it again.”
Menino wouldn’t comment on Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s decision to start Brady over three-time Pro Bowler Drew Bledsoe, who stepped up last Sunday to carry New England past Pittsburgh.
“I think Drew Bledsoe, he was just a champion last Sunday,” Menino said. “The guy takes a starting position and didn’t play since the second game of the year, and he just came in and did his job. It felt so good to see Bledsoe out there doing his job.
“It’s a working man’s team,” he said. “There’s no superstars on this team. It’s a bunch of football players who want to do their job, just go out there and do it every day.”
Slay, too, had kind words to say about the Patriots.
“We’ve got a lot of respect for the Patriots team; they’ve done well, particularly in the second half of the season,” Slay said.
“So, given all that, I predict the Rams will win by 12 points,” he said.
Menino proved a little less bold than Slay, predicting a Patriots victory by a much smaller margin of 33-29. Still, he got his shots in on the St. Louis mayor, cracking a few jokes at the Midwest city’s expense.
“The Rams have been everywhere, haven’t they?” he joked with Slay, picking on the oft-relocated franchise.
Menino, who has yet to collect on pirogues promised by Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy after the Patriots pulled a win away from the Steelers last week, asked Slay when he can expect his prize to be delivered.
“We’re not expecting to have to do that,” Slay said.
Menino said Boston will hold a rally Tuesday on City Hall Plaza for the Patriots, “whether they win by four or win by 12.” He wasn’t fazed, however, when asked what will happen if the Patriots should lose Sunday.
“Well, I have a lot of power,” he said. “And I’ll declare it New England Patriots Championship Day, one way or the other.”
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