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Politicians place wagers on Vikings vs. Saints: king cake or wild rice and purple ice cream

As the Vikings face the Saints on Sunday, local leaders are making bets.

By Adam Belz

January 12, 2018 at 6:19PM

1:08

Sunday's divisional playoff between the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings is drawing politicians to the betting table.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, after a morning back-and-forth on Twitter, have agreed to the following terms: If the Vikings win, the city of Minneapolis will receive a shipment of king cake, the sweet brioche consumed during Mardi Gras. If the Saints win, the city of New Orleans will receive a shipment of wild rice.

"Mayor Landrieu is a man of integrity and sound judgment — but he made a mistake in betting against the Vikings at home in Minneapolis," Frey said in a statement. "We thank him and the entire 'Who Dat Nation' in advance for their generosity and kind donation following a serious butt-kicking."

Landrieu fired back.

"Our Saints are on fire behind the league's best offense," he said in a statement. "I know Mayor Frey is just starting out in office, so I'll give him a little leeway. But I made sure he knew that the Saints have a little extra motivation this year. There would no better way to kick off New Orleans' 300th anniversary than to bring home the Lombardi Trophy again for the Who Dat Nation."

U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and John Kennedy, R-La., made a bet of their own, with Klobuchar wagering purple-colored homemade ice cream and Kennedy also wagering king cake.

"I'd like to remind my friend Senator Kennedy that the Vikings kicked off this season with a win against New Orleans — and I know we can do it again!" Klobuchar said. "I look forward to enjoying a Louisiana king cake after a sweet win Sunday. The only thing sweeter will be the Vikings playing in the Super Bowl right here in Minnesota."

Kennedy said he has no doubt the Saints will win and ultimately advance to the Super Bowl.

"I am so confident that we will win, I bet Senator Klobuchar a king cake," Kennedy said. "I'm going to make good on the bet regardless of the game's outcome. At least having a king cake will make it easier to stomach a loss this weekend. Who Dat!"

The game is 3:40 p.m. Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Adam Belz • 612-673-4405

In this Sept. 11, 2017, file photo, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs, left, catches a 2-yard touchdown pass over New Orleans Saints cornerback De’Vante Harris during the first half of an NFL football game in Minneapolis. The Vikings finally have their first postseason opponent set with the Saints, a team they beat handily in the opener when both teams looked a lot different than they do now. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu traded wagers on Twitter. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in New Orleans, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015. Landrieu says the city is on the right track nearly a decade after Hurricane Katrina but points to coastal erosion as a major threat to the cityís future. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)