We have no issue with the tradition of elected officials placing wagers on various sporting events that their local teams are involved in. They're harmless, chuckle-worthy events, and a little friendly bragging rights war never hurt anyone.

However, we think that the D.C. and St. Louis mayors could do better than the stakes they came up with. From Mayor Vincent Gray's website.

The Mayors have agreed that, if the Nationals win the series, a special version of the DC flag emblazoned with the District's "Taxation Without Representation" motto will fly over City Hall in downtown St. Louis for a day. Conversely, if the Cardinals take the series, St. Louis' "three rivers" flag will fly over the District's John A. Wilson Building (the seat of the Executive Office of the Mayor and the DC Council) for a day.

Really? Flags? That's the best we can come up with? They couldn't even make a decent food bet? How about putting up a gross of food from Ben's Chili Bowl or Five Guys burgers against some toasted ravioli and frozen custard from Ted Drewes? We're upset we're event wasted time writing about this, frankly.