The mayors of Minneapolis and Phoenix have made a friendly wager on the WNBA series between their two cities.
Mayors bet apples vs. hot sauces before Lynx and Mercury tip off
There is more at state than a Western Conference title in the Lynx-Mercury series.
September 22, 2011 at 8:33PM
R.T. Rybak of Minneapolis is putting up sweet tango apples from Pepin Heights Orchards in Lake City, MN., against a basket from Phoenix mayor Phil Gordon with Arizona-made hot sauces and salsas.
The best-of-three Western Conference finals between the Lynx and Mercury starts tonight.
"We know it's going to be a good series," Rybak said in a news release from the Lynx. "These two teams played the highest-scoring game in WNBA history against each other this season, but the Lynx are tough competitors and I'm confident that Minnesota's women hoopsters will carry the day.
"I look forward to trying Arizona's best hot sauces and I'm only sorry for Mayor Gordon that he won't get to taste our delicious Minnesota apples."
Gordon's rebuttal: "Minnesota won an impressive number of basketball games this year, but they need two more and won't get them. Phoenix has the edge because Phoenix has the Mercury. I'll make that bet all day long — while eating their wonderful apples."
His winning time of 15 minutes and 35 seconds put him ahead of Minnetonka’s Sean Fries by 17.4 seconds in the boys championship division race.
![Minnesota Women's Volleyball head coach Keegan Cook speaks to his team before taking on Purdue Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, at Maturi Pavilion at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn. ]](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/4OBHJXJZSMLM3X5JPHXQYH2EJI.jpg?&w=252&ar=3:2&fit=crop)