Governor Rell, Kentucky Governor Beshear Offer

Friendly Wager on Championship Hoops Game

Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that she and Kentucky Governor Steven Beshear have made a friendly wager on the outcome of Tuesday’s final match-up between the University of Connecticut and the University of Louisville in the NCAA women’s college basketball championship tournament.  (Tipoff at 8:42 PM Eastern Standard Time on ESPN.)

            Governor Rell is staking a lobster dinner for two, which includes two live lobsters, steamers, red potatoes and clam chowder.  The lobster dinner for two is being donated by Flanders Fish Market of East Lyme, Connecticut. 

“As a great seafood lover, I gladly welcome Gov. Rell’s lobster dinner wager,” Governor Beshear said. “The First Lady and I will savor this lobster just as we will savor the NCAA victory of our University of Louisville Lady Cardinals.”

Governor Beshear is wagering an aged Kentucky country ham.

            Governor Rell welcomed the wager from her Bluegrass State colleague, adding that she was especially “looking forward to sampling that smokehouse aged, naturally cured country delicacy.”

“What better way to cap off a perfect UConn season than with a perfectly cooked, smoky-sweet, delicious ham,” Governor Rell said.  “We are so proud of what the University of Connecticut has accomplished on the basketball court this year, and we can’t wait to cheer them on to a history-making victory.”

Kentucky country hams are hand-washed and hung to be smoked with hickory wood. A slow, curling smoke bathes the hams to add flavor. After many months of aging in the changeable Kentucky climate, the recipe produces an unusually delicious aged meat.

            Louisville will take on UConn tomorrow following a 61-59 victory Sunday night over Oklahoma. UConn defeated Stanford 83-64 on Sunday to reach the finals.