San Francisco City Hall is being lit up in red and gold starting today as the 49ers prepare to face the Green Bay Packers in the NFL playoffs this weekend.
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and Mayor James Schmitt from Green Bay, Wisc., announced on Thursday a friendly wager over who will win Sunday’s NFC Wild Card playoff game, which is taking place at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field.
The losing mayor will have to visit a school in his city while wearing the hat of the winning city to read to children and teach them a lesson about sportsmanship, according to Mayor Lee’s office.
The losing mayor will also send chocolates and desserts from his city to the winner. Mayor Lee is wagering Ghirardelli Chocolates and donuts from Bob’s Donut & Pastry Shop on Polk Street, while Mayor Schmitt is betting chocolate from Beerntsen’s Candies and kringle, the official pastry of Wisconsin.
The game is scheduled for 1:40 p.m. Sunday, with freezing temperatures forecast in Green Bay.
49ers star defensive lineman Justin Smith was quoted on the team’s website as saying he doesn’t think the cold will favor one team over another.
“Everybody is going to be out there in it,” Smith said. “I don’t think anybody is going to have an advantage or disadvantage at that point.”
The 49ers and Packers played once already this season, with San Francisco winning 34-28 in the season opener on Sept. 8.
The 49ers also beat the Packers in last year’s playoffs after beating them in that season’s opener, which Mayor Lee said was a sign that the San Francisco team will prevail again on Sunday.
“History repeats itself,” Lee said. “I have every reason to believe that, once again, Red & Gold will prevail over Green & Gold.”
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
