Barre mayor issues Texas-sized challenge
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Frost Heaves players joke around Wednesday with their coach, Will Voigt, during team practice at Burlington's Memorial Auditorium. The coach and players seemed relaxed and confident as they prepared for today's ABA championship game. Stefan Hard/Times Argus |
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By Susan Allen Times Argus Staff - Published: March 29, 2007
BARRE – Barre Mayor Thomas Lauzon has a granite nameplate and a basket of Vermont products riding on the outcome of tonight's American Basketball Association championship game in a wager with Dallas Mayor Laura Miller.
Lauzon issued the wager, which he described as "all in good fun," on Wednesday, one day before the Vermont Frost Heaves were scheduled to meet the Texas Tycoons in the ABA championship game at the Aud.
"By now, I'm certain the news that our Vermont Frost Heaves will play the Texas Tycoons for the American Basketball Championship has reached your fair city," Lauzon wrote in a letter to Miller. "I understand that Dallas, Texas has a population of 1,210,390. If one subtracts 1,200,000, the City of Barre, Vermont compares favorably."
Lauzon went on to describe Barre's proud traditions before continuing, "In this, their inaugural season, our Frost Heaves … have 'shocked and awed' team after team. Armed with only cowbells and enthusiastic cheers, our fans have quickly established themselves as the sixth man. While many opponents have been warned, few have actually been prepared."
So confident is Lauzon in the Frost Heaves' success, he said, "I am willing to wager a Barre gray granite nameplate engraved with your name (and title, of course) and a sample basket of Vermont's fine agricultural products on the outcome of the championship game, if you are so inclined."
Lauzon said in an interview late Wednesday that he felt it was his duty as mayor of the city hosting the championship game to go "above and beyond" in issuing the challenge.
"The Frost Heaves have gone above and beyond," he added. "Our fans have gone above and beyond."
Lauzon said win or lose in tonight's game, Vermont would remain proud of the Frost Heaves and their remarkable first season.
"Anyone who says the Frost Heaves haven't surprised them is a liar. I couldn't write a script better than this," he said. "I'm not surprised they did well. I'm just surprised it was this great."