June 23, 2004

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today received a picture of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger honoring their friendly wager following the June 15 Detroit Pistons victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, in which the Pistons clinched the 2004 NBA Title. 

In the picture, Schwarzenegger is wearing a Pistons jersey, holding a pasty in one hand and a newspaper article declaring, “Bad is Back.”

“This is one Schwarzenegger picture I’d give four stars,” said Granholm. “It is great to see that the Governor stayed true to his word and I appreciate his willingness and enthusiasm in accepting and honoring the bet.  I look forward to next year’s NBA Finals when I can make another friendly wager with one of my fellow Governors because …to paraphrase the Terminator . . . ‘We’ll be back’.”

Last Wednesday, Granholm shipped to Schwarzenegger, via UPS, a package containing a Pistons jersey, Vernors soda, and packages of chocolate covered cherries.  Three pasty shops in the Upper Peninsula, Lawry’s Pasty Shop in Marquette, LaPanteria Bakery in Bessemer, and Pasty.com in Calumet, sent their traditional delicacies directly to the California Governor.

Granholm said she selected UPS to handle the delivery to make certain Governor Schwarzenegger knew “what (Larry) Brown had done to him.”

As part of the wager, the California Governor agreed to provide Granholm with a photograph of him wearing the jersey while enjoying a meal of Michigan products.