TORONTO — Mayor John Tory will send three types of Toronto craft beer to Kansas City in an ALCS bet made with Mayor Sly James, offering the people of Kansas City a chance to drink “real beer” for the first time in their lives.
The city some have dubbed the “BBQ Capital of the World” issued the mouth-watering challenge to Toronto ahead of Friday night’s opening game of the American League Championship Series between the Royals and the Blue Jays.
“I want to say thank you to Mayor Sly James of Kansas City for putting up his side of the bet on this series between the Blue Jays and the Royals. I think that his offer of three different kinds of barbecue from Kansas City is most appropriate and most welcome and I’m actually counting on receiving it,” Tory said.
“However, I want to make an offer to him in return that will be paid off even when the Blue Jays win, because I think it’s very important if they eat all that barbecue down there, that they should have something to wash it down.”
Tory said that not only are the Blue Jays hitters and pitchers stronger, but our city’s beer is stronger as well.
“And I think it is time that people in Kansas City, up to and including the mayor, have a chance for the first time in their lives to drink some real beer,” he said, adding that he will send three different kinds of Toronto craft beer to the city.
“So don’t get carried away Mayor James, on the beer that is, we’re going to look forward to receiving that barbecue.”
WATCH: Toronto mayor John Tory said he is looking forward to eating the ribs wagered by Kansas City mayor Sly James in the privacy of his office after the Jays beat the Royals in the ALCS
Kansas City Mayor Sly James said Thursday he wouldn’t lose the bet.
“I wouldn’t start getting your knives and forks out, however, because we plan to win this thing,” he said at an outdoor news conference surrounded by Royals’ fans.
James offered some advice to Toronto though: forget the maple syrup.
“I will warn you in advance we have our own maple syrup, so something else maybe,” said James.
James also tweeted Friday that he’s looking forward to receiving the beer from Tory, if the Royals win.
Tory told reporters Friday morning he still intended to send Canadian maple syrup to his southern counterpart, but appeared to have changed his tune later in the day.
“The mayor said they had their own maple syrup and I wasn’t aware of the burgeoning Kansas City maple syrup industry. But I think even if they have a very excellent maple syrup industry, with what I’m sure is a quality product, it’s not the real thing,” said Tory.
“Regardless of the outcome of this series, I will be sending him some maple syrup that is real maple syrup, real Canadian maple syrup, on the basis that he shouldn’t be denied the opportunity to sample that, especially if it’s being used to drown his sorrows.”
Tory capped off his announcement by flipping a bat into the fountain at the reflecting pool outside of Nathan Phillips Square, but his attempt at a bat flip did not go as well as Jose Bautista’s in Game 5 of the ALDS — after Tory came close to hitting a cameraman.
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