Politicos make wagers on KU’s Orange Bowl

One week from today, the Kansas Jayhawks will take the field in the Orange Bowl.In preparation, local political leaders are making friendly wagers on the outcome of the game. Mayor Sue Hack and the Lawrence City Commission bet Blacksburg, Va., Mayor Ron Rordam and the Blacksburg Town Council that the losing city must wear the opposing team’s hat to the Jan. 8 commission or council meeting.”I told our players, we don’t look good in your colors, so we hope you look good in Kansas red and blue,” Hack said via phone this morning to Rordam.Hack and Rordam said that though neither would be making the trip to Miami, both were excited that their teams had advanced to such a prestigious bowl.”I appreciate you being willing to make this friendly wager,” Rordam said.It’s not just the mayors, however, that are placing bets on the outcome of the game. A spokeswoman for Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said she had made a wager with Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine.The winner in that wager won’t just get to revel in the humiliation of his political counterpart. Instead, if the Jayhawks win, Sebelius will get to enjoy a Virginia ham. And should the Hokies win, Kaine will get to sample some choice cuts of Kansas beef.But confirming that these wagers aren’t confined to politicians, the leader of the Kansas and Richmond race tracks also placed a wager.Should the Hokies win there, Kansas Speedway President Jeff Boerger, a Kansas graduate, will provide all the employees at Richmond International Raceway with Kansas steaks and sunflower seeds. Should the Jayhawks win, it’s Virginia ham and peanuts for all the Kansas track employees from Richmond President Doug Fritz, a Virginia Tech alum._For more on this story, and to see scenes from this morning’s teleconference between Hack and Rordam, tune in to 6News at 6._