Legal Aid Society and PNC are so confident that the Indians will win this World Series that they are each betting Cleveland pierogi against Chicago-style deep dish pizza in wagers between the two Great Lakes rivals.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland and PNC Financial Services' Cleveland office are so confident that the Cleveland Indians are going to win this World Series that they are each betting Cleveland pierogi against Chicago-style deep dish pizza in friendly wagers between the two Great Lakes rivals.
Legal Aid is betting 300 to 350 Cleveland pierogi against the 25 to 30 Chicago deep-dish pizzas put up by its counterpart in the Windy City, Chicago LAF (formerly the Legal Assistance Foundation).
Diana White, executive director of the Cleveland LFA (formerly the Legal Assistant Fund), "The folks at LAF Chicago reached out to us, and asked if we wanted to do a friendly wager. We said yes!" said Melanie Shakarian, director of development and communications for the Legal Aid Society.
She said Legal Aid's staff, including 40 full-time attorneys, 25 other employees, and 2,900 volunteers hasn't done a lick of research about where to buy or how to ship the pierogi if the Cleveland Indians lose the best-of-seven series, because they don't expect to pay up.
Legal Aid and Chicago LAF are the largest civil aid organizations in their hometowns, offering free civil legal services to the most vulnerable people in their regions, including those living in poverty, victims of domestic violence, consumer fraud, and unfair evictions.
"While Cleveland Legal Aid is one of the largest in the United States, LAF is one of the few larger than us," Shakarian said. Legal Aid serves about 20,000 people a year in Northeast Ohio. Chicago LAF's staff of 150 serves 35,000 to 40,000 people in Cook County and Chicagoland.
Anakin Morris, marketing and development officer for Chicago LAF, said they made a similar wager with Bay Area Legal Services when the Chicago Blackhawks were facing off against the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 2015 Stanley Cup. Chicago won in six games, and Morris got a box of 40 fine cigars (he doesn't smoke).
It all starts today. Bring it on, @LegalAidCLE! We can taste the pierogis already!https://t.co/5ik7L11e3C pic.twitter.com/klcQyt2Eul
-- LAF Chicago (@ChicagoLAF) October 25, 2016
"For the last 50 years, LAF has flown the 'W' flag in our courtroom for people living in poverty in our community," said LAF Executive Director Diana C. White, in a statement. "We're so excited to cheer on the Cubs and Chicago in the World Series!"
Colleen Cotter, executive director of the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. Colleen M. Cotter, Cleveland Legal Aid's executive director, said: "The last time Cleveland won the World Series, our Legal Aid was celebrating its 43rd year of serving the community. I don't think our attorneys back in 1948 ever imagined our Legal Aid would be celebrating its 111th year when we win our next World Series."
Oh... all this time we thought it was a W for #Windians! Hmmmm @ChicagoLAF - we shall see!
-- Legal Aid Cleveland (@LegalAidCLE) October 25, 2016
Morris said: "We've been talking smack on Facebook and Twitter," and expect things to get more heated over the next seven games.
"We've been waiting 108 years," he added.
#CLEwinsin4 vs. #FlyTheW
Over at PNC, Cleveland Regional President Paul "#CLEwinsin4" Clark and Chicago Regional President Scott "#FlyTheW" Swanson have their own wager riding on the 112th World Series.
If the Cubs win, Clark will send Chicago a "Taste of Cleveland" basket with pierogi, Slyman's Restaurant's corned beef, Mitchell's Homemade Ice Cream, and a case of Cleveland's Great Lakes Brewing Co.'s Christmas Ale.
If the Indians win, Swanson will send Cleveland a "Taste of Chicago," including Lou Malnati's Chicago-style pizza, Vienna Beef (the official hot dog of Wrigley Field), Garrett Popcorn, and a case of Pabst Old Style Beer.
Plus, the defeated team's regional president has promised to wear the winning team's jersey all day, "even if that includes community events." Each has ordered a team jersey with his adversary's name on the back.
"I'm so excited that I'll get to try some pierogies, corned beef, and ice cream from Cleveland next week," Swanson said, in a statement. "Paul's jersey is also on its way.
Paul Clark, PNC Regional President in Cleveland. "While I'm excited that there are so many great things going on in Cleveland, the Indians won its last title in 1948 -- three years after the Cubs' last World Series appearance, and 40 years after the Cubs' last title. It's our turn!" he said. "The Indians are a great team, and this will be an historic series. Paul, I can't limit my words for you and the Indians' fans, but I"ll try: 'Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo. Game on!'"
Clark said: "The side bet between the markets is a lot of fun, and I've already ordered Scott's Indians' game day jersey with the number 2 on the back.
"But what I'm most excited about is how this World Series keeps the momentum going in Cleveland," he said. "What a year! The Monsters, the Cavs, the Parade, the RNC, and now the Indians. The Cubs are not to be underestimated. Scott, I have only two words for you and the Cubs fans: 'Andrew Miller!' Game on!"