Published June 4, 2010

The mayor of Los Angeles is challenging the mayor of Boston to a bet.

If the Celtics beat the Lakers in the Finals, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will offer up Hollywood’s own Jack Nicholson to put on some green and shoot a tourism commercial for the city of Boston.

But if the Lakers win, he would like Matt Damon and Ben Affleck to record a public service announcement for LA, “where the climate, the beaches, and the food are far superior.”

Mayor Menino, will you respond? (I might be more inclined to accept that wager if it weren’t Jack Nicholson. No offense, Jack.)

Here is Villaraigosa’s offer to Menino, via The Los Angeles Times:

Mayor Menino:

As the brilliant essayist and cultural observer Chuck Klosterman wrote:

“There is no relationship that isn’t a Lakers-Celtics relationship.

It emerges from nothingness to design nature, just as Gerald Henderson emerged from nothingness to steal James Worthy’s errant inbound pass in game two of the 1983 finals.” Although Klosterman clearly has questionable allegiances, I think Celtics and Lakers fans alike can agree that he makes a very valid point.

Once again, we find ourselves replaying the rivalry that defined a decade. The Lakers, having triumphed over the Phoenix Suns, and the Celtics, having defeated the Orlando Magic, will face off for the NBA Championship for the twelfth time in history. Only this time — unlike two years ago — it’s our turn to win and finally tie the Celtics for the most championships of any NBA franchise.

The wager:

Should the Celtics prove victorious, we will generously permit Hollywood legend and Lakers fan extraordinaire, Jack Nicholson, to don green and film a commercial touting Old North Church, the Common, and all there is to see in Boston. Should the Lakers prevail, we will gladly accept your hometown boys, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, as spokespersons for a public service announcement extolling the virtues of the City of Los Angeles, where the climate, the beaches, and the food are far superior.

How’d you like them apples?

Additionally, should the Lakers fall short in their quest, we will humbly set aside a few minutes in the middle of every fourth quarter for “Gino Time.” Conversely, should the Celtics finally let the Lakers tie their record, we full expect the TD Garden to air the footage of Magic Johnson’s game winning “baby hook” from Game Four of the 1987 Finals.

In all seriousness, win or lose, the NBA Finals will bring an estimated $34 million to the City of Los Angeles and have a comparable economic impact on the City of Boston, but the positive yields do not end there.
As a former member, I was thrilled to see that the Boys & Girls Clubs of Los Angeles and Boston are leveraging the media attention on our two cities by engaging in a friendly fundraising challenge. I fully support this effort as I am sure you do as well.

I leave you with the words of two basketball greats, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird: “Rivalries are born, but they never die.” May the best team win!

Who would you want for a Boston tourism ad?

Another way to beat LA: Text BeGreatBos to 20222. A $5 donation goes to the Boys & Girls Club. The Boston chapter is trying to raise more than its LA counterpart. Read more here.