The last time the New England Patriots faced the Philadelphia Eagles in a Super Bowl, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney turned down a friendly food wager from Pennsylvania’s then-Gov. Ed Rendell. The reason? According to Rendell, Romney thought the cheesesteak was too high in fat. Instead, the two governors agreed to a deal in which the official from the losing region would sing the national anthem during a game between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. After the Eagles succumbed 24-21 on Feb. 6, 2005, Rendell dutifully performed the anthem in Boston, though he fudged the bet a bit by bringing his wife, a trained singer, on the court with him to help out.
New England lobster rolls and Philadelphia cheesesteaks: A history of two regional icons
