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Welching on a Bet, the Illinois Way

We cheeseheads don’t expect much of Bears fans. We say: Take your two Packer losses a year like men, wear your ugly Ditka sweaters, and reminisce about the Cade McNown era all you want. We don’t even mind that you still think the mustache/sunglasses look can be enjoyed unironically. But when your governor welches on a bet, the gloves come off.

Illinois governor Pat Quinn pulled a move reminiscent of Jay Cutler and decided to quit on his bet with Wisconsin governor Scott Walker on the NFC Championship game last year:

Gov. Scott Walker delivered Wisconsin foods to a Kenosha food pantry Monday morning, but noticeably absent was the man who was supposed to be there with him, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn.

Walker bet on the Packers last winter in their National Football Conference championship game, while Quinn backed their opponents, the Chicago Bears, in the friendly wager.

Because Walker won, Quinn had been supposed to work in a Wisconsin food pantry while wearing a Packers jersey. But after the controversy surrounding Walker’s legislation ending collective bargaining, Quinn hasn’t made a move to head north across the border.

So Walker himself delivered foods from Wisconsin Monday, which included brats, cherry pies, cranberries and honey. He tweeted news about the delivery this morning and Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie confirmed the delivery.

Oh, and by the way: When Cutler inevitably misses half the season with a chronic case of halitosis, does Quinn get to sell his starting job to the highest bidder?

Tags: NFL

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COMMENTS   4

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   07/18/11 16:54

On the other hand, the Packers saddled the world with the insufferable Brett Favre.

On that score alone, I think the Bears win.

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   07/19/11 07:19

Dude, that's "welshing on a bet."

Please spell your ethnic insults correctly.

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   07/19/11 12:00

Sherman is right on the spelling. Interestingly, it seems that the ethnic insult is to the English. According to Wiktionary:
To not follow the terms of an agreement. Although many Welsh people regard this phrase as insulting towards the Welsh, the likely etymology is the reverse, as it apparently refers to the poor behaviour of King Edward I of England who refused to honour a treaty (the Treaty of Montgomery (1267)) concluded by his father (Henry III)with Llywelyn ap Gruffydd.

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Jeremiah
   07/19/11 15:05

Oh dear, I am a Chicago Bears fan - but most assuredly not a Pat Quinn fan. Please do not equate the Bears with the political culture in Illinois. In fact, the Bears are one of the bastions of Chicago culture that celebrate such Republican values as work ethic, responsibility, individual accountability, etc. I sometimes think that if a man watches and enjoys football long enough, he is bound to develop a few rational values

The Bears are one of the few tools we have to help spark a conservative rennaissance here. Please don't take that from us, or we Illinois conservatives will be bereft of hope.

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