Advertisers

Swift, other politicians ratchet up trash talk over Super Bowl

By JIM SUHR
Associated Press Writer

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Wagering lip-smacking offerings, politicians from Missouri and Massachusetts spent Wednesday talking smack in what has become a real clambake over which state's team is the best bet to win Sunday's Super Bowl in the land of gumbo.

From the city halls of Boston and St. Louis to Capitol Hill and the Statehouses of both states in between, politicians stepped up their trash talking -- and friendly wagering -- in advance of the St. Louis Rams and New England Patriots squaring off in New Orleans.

So much for bipartisanship in this great debate, launched Monday when acting Massachusetts Gov. Jane Swift warned St. Louis that her state's Patriots shouldn't be overlooked by the favored Rams.

"The Rams are going to find out very soon that these underdogs have a painful bite," the Republican Swift said during a Boston rally.

On Wednesday, she put her money where her mouth is, offering Missouri's Democratic Gov. Bob Holden some clam chowder, a pot of lobsters, and a case each of Massachusetts-made Samuel Adams and Harpoon brew. Holden countered with an Italian dinner of Missouri ingredients, washed down by wine and brew of the Show Me State.

"The Patriots could start Tom Brady, Drew Bledsoe and Jim Plunkett and the outcome would still be the same -- a Rams victory," Holden spokesman Jerry Nachtigal said in announcing the deal. Brady and Bledsoe are Patriot quarterbacks, Plunkett long gone from New England and the game.

On Capitol Hill, Missouri's Sens. Jean Carnahan and Kit Bond put St. Louis-famous Ted Drewes frozen custard on the line against their Democratic counterparts from Massachusetts, "in the highly improbable event of a Patriot victory." Democrats Ted Kennedy and John Kerry pledged to pay up with a traditional New England clambake for four from Boston's Legal Seafood, if the Rams win.

"I commend Senators Kennedy and Kerry for their tremendous courage in making this wager in the face of almost certain defeat," said Mrs. Carnahan, a Democrat who sees the chowder as comfort food in Washington, "a cold and desolate place in the winter."

The GOP's Bond said he could already taste the chowder "because this is one safe bet."

Kennedy scoffed.

"The Rams have an excellent team, and their quarterback was the league MVP, but we all know that having two great quarterbacks is better than one," Kennedy said, putting stock in Brady and Bledsoe.

Kerry found his would-be winnings tough to swallow.

"Custard?" he said.

Rep. Marty Meehan -- a Massachusetts Democrat and longtime Patriots fan -- bet a case of Sam Adams and a gallon of New England clam chowder on a Pats victory. Democratic House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt from Missouri countered with a case of Budweiser, Gus' pretzels and toasted ravioli.

Meehan said he was in Pittsburgh last weekend when the AFC's top-seeded Steelers lose to the wildcard Patriots he called underestimated, "and I will be there to watch the St. Louis Rams make the same mistake."

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino plans to talk by telephone with local Mayor Francis Slay to finalize their bet, which has Menino putting up a clambake with lobster, steamers and chowder. Slay's offering: toasted ravioli, chased by some O'Doul's and frozen custard.

Menino already is riding high, later this week expecting to enjoy the pirogies and a new Sony TV he'll get from Pittsburgh's mayor, courtesy of their wager on last weekend's game.