04/04/08 — Easley raises Final Four stakes, bets pound of Wilber's barbecue

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Easley raises Final Four stakes, bets pound of Wilber's barbecue

By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on April 4, 2008 1:45 PM

The impending clash between the basketball teams of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the University of Kansas, who will meet Saturday in the semi-finals of the NCAA tournament, has prompted the governors of the two states to wager a meal on the outcome, with part of the bet involving a pound of barbecue from Wilber's Barbecue in Goldsboro.

Gov. Mike Easley's office said this week that he has put up a pound of Wilber's best, along with a pound of western North Carolina-style barbecue from the Barbecue Center in Lexington against a platter of ribs and brisket by Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius.

In a press release, Sebelius expressed both confidence in her team and the desire to chomp down on some Southern cooking.

"It has been a spectacular season for the Jayhawks and I look forward to our victory on Saturday night and then I'll continue celebrating with a taste of North Carolina barbecue," she said.

Easley was no less confident.

"I am as confident that UNC will advance to play for the national title as I am that I will be enjoying ribs and brisket from Kansas while cheering on the Heels in the NCAA championship game," he said.

Tip-off in San Antonio is 8:47 p.m. There was no word on when dinner would be served.