The mayors of Denver and Charlotte got a little carried away in what was supposed to be a friendly wager between the home cities of this year’s Super Bowl rivals. It all started on a media call when Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts put a box of local pastries on the line and Denver’s Michael Hancock reciprocated with passes to a Colorado ski area. “Do you want to make this a little more interesting?” asked Roberts.

Hancock replied, “Oh, I know my Broncos are going to kick Panther tail. If they don’t win, I’ll climb Pike’s Peak in the winter. Naked.”

“If the Panthers don’t win, I’ll cover myself in honey and tie myself down on a fire ant colony.”

“How long?”

“Twenty–four hours.”

“You call that civic pride? I’m so sure Denver will win that I’ll personally buy a bronco—a real horse—and I’ll sacrifice it on the lawn of City Hall if my orange and blue don’t destroy you. I’ll let the blood run down my chest.”

“Yeah? If we lose, I’ll pick one of my cabinet, they’ll draw straws, and then I’ll throw the loser into the fucking panther cage at the zoo!”

Mayoral aides on both sides terminated the call at that point.