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PARKER: Pennsylvania guv balks at Ritter's offer of wager

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 5, 2007 at midnight

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Let the betting begin.

You know when there's a big-game series at stake, city officials and boosters start throwing bets on the ball field.

Gov. Bill Ritter's office pitched a wager to Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell on Wednesday after the Rockies defeated the Phillies in Game 1 of the five-game series.

"We have extended an offer of a box of steaks - beef and buffalo - if they win," said Ritter's press secretary, Evan Dreyer. "The initial indication is they do not want to place a friendly wager. I don't know why."

Where's the Brotherly Love?

Mayor John Hickenlooper stepped up to the plate with a wager with Philadelphia Mayor John Street. "When" the Rockies win their division, Street will send a Philly cheesesteak sandwich and three trees to Denver as part of the city's tree-planting program, according to Hick's office. If the unthinkable happens, Hick would send a buffalo cheeseburger and three trees to Street.

Meanwhile, Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau chief Richard Scharf has bet the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau buffalo burgers vs. a Philly cheesesteak package, according to Denver's spokesman Rich Grant.

"I think they should send the first cheesesteak right now," Grant said. "Of course, buffalo is appropriate to come from America's thinnest city, since it is leaner than beef with less calories than chicken. I don't know what a gooey, messy, heart-clogging, dripping cheese-steak says about Philly. Go Rockies!"

Bouquets owners BJ Dyer and Guenther Vogt prefer fighting with flowers. They've sealed a deal with Chad and Scott Kremp of Kremp Florist in Philadelphia for a box of locally grown posies.

"We're in this for the long haul," said Vogt, a New York native. "And I look forward to the Rockies slugging it out again with the Yankees at Coors Field, this time for the World Series championship title."

If it gets as far as a Rockies- Yankees matchup, the loser will work in the winner's flower shop for a weekend and create a grand bouquet to congratulate the 2007 World Series championship team.

MURPHY'S MAN: Actor John Ashton of Beverly Hills Cop and Beverly Hills Cop II fame hasn't seen his co-star Eddie Murphy in years. But on Friday, Ashton will drive from his Fort Collins home to downtown Denver to find Murphy while he's filming NowhereLand and catch up.

"I'm going down there and see Eddie so I can talk him into Cop IV," Ashton said.

NO ROOM AT THE INN: Word is that mega movie star Murphy is not staying at any of Denver's hotels but likely is lodging at a private residence while shooting NowhereLand.

According to my spy, Murphy's peeps looked at the loft on top of the Hotel Teatro, but deemed it too small. "Apparently, he needed 2,500 to 3,000 square feet, and they really wanted a private residence," my insider said.

ADIOS: Chama, the Mexican eatery in Belmar from chef/owner Sean Yontz, closed Monday.

"It was operational and managerial differences with our developer," Yontz said. "I can't legally go into it."

Instead, Yontz will concentrate on Tambien in Cherry Creek North and Mezcal on East Colfax. He and partner Jesse Morreale will also launch Culinary Catering and Special Events in a couple of weeks.

THE SEEN: Smashing Pumpkins lead singer Billy Corgan taking in the tiebreaker against San Diego on Monday at Coors Field. He was also spotted dining at The Keg before the game.

Penny Parker's column appears Tuesday through Saturday. Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail .