The folks at Alteva, a Philadelphia-based unified communication solution provider, are really hoping that their Phillies can successfully defend their World Series championship against the dreaded Bronx Bombers, the New York Yankees. A series loss would not only wound the Philly faithful, but force the Alteva staff to don Yankee pinstripes and deliver authentic Philadelphia pretzels to their New York rivals, Stage 2 Networks.
As baseball fans ready for tonight’s kickoff of the World Series, Alteva and Stage 2 Networks announced their friendly bet. If the Yankees capture their 40th championship, Alteva will present pretzels to Stage 2 in Times Square and pose for pictures. If the Phillies repeat, the Stage 2 team will put on the red and white colors of Philadelphia and deliver authentic New York bagels to Alteva; they will also have their photo taken in front of the Rocky statue. (Perhaps the Liberty Bell or Freedom Hall would be a better backdrop than a bronze statue of a fictional movie character, but it’s their bet.)
Bets like this are taking place up and down the Interstate 95 corridor between the two cities (that great place holder between New York and Philadelphia is known to some people as “New Jersey”). New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter have pledged to paint a school in the other’s city should their team lose.
Which team are you rallying behind? What’s your bet? And whom are you betting with? Place your bets with us.
(For the record, Channel Insider has one Philadelphia staffer who is rooting for the local pride. For myself and editor Carolyn April, the World Series is meaningless since the Red Sox were eliminated. There’s always next year.)