Andrew Mollenbeck, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – A wager between two local leaders is putting a different spin on the idiom “political football.”
Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, a Baltimore Ravens fan, has put swagger on the line when his favorite team takes on the Redskins Sunday at FedEx Field.
On the other end of the wager: Rushern Baker, his friend and counterpart in Prince George’s County.
Here’s the opening line: If the Ravens win, Baker has to wear a Ravens jersey in his office for a full day.
Ulman says in the, ahem, unlikely event of a Redskins win, he would wear a Redskins jersey for a day in Howard County.
“I’ve told him that when the Ravens win, I will personally deliver my Haloti Ngata No. 92 jersey and that it will be a purple Friday in Prince George’s County,” says Ulman.
Ulman is talking a big game, even as the Redskins have rolled through three consecutive division rivals while the Ravens fell at home last week to the Steelers.
“Redskins fans shouldn’t get too full of themselves after a big win against the Giants,” he says, tongue firmly in cheek.
Ulman has posted a video of his challenge online.
Still, he has a contingency plan if the Burgundy and Gold pull out a win.
“If I have to wear a Redskins jersey, it could only be an RGIII jersey,” he says, referring to Robert Griffin III.
“I gotta give some respect to RGIII the way he’s playing.”
High-ranking officials close to Baker say he’s analyzing the challenge and may try to pull off a “one-upper.” He’s considering upping the ante.
“Bring it on, Rushern,” Ulman says.
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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
