It's On! Pittsburgh Mayor Ends Embargo On Trash Talk
NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- Make no mistake, Jets fever is on in the Big Apple.
The countdown to kickoff of the AFC Championship game is on as well.
The Empire State Building is lit up in green and white until Sunday.
CBS 2's Derrick Dennis decided to try a little experiment on Friday. He dressed up in full Steelers dress outside the Jets Team Store in Manhattan.
This came following a little bit of trash talk from the mayor of Pittsburgh.
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Luke Ravenstahl and Mayor Michael Bloomberg have wagered volunteer work on this weekend's win-or-go-home battle for a spot in Super Bowl XLV in Dallas.
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The losing mayor must wear the jersey of the winning team while participating in a project to assemble care packages for armed services members who have recently returned home. Both mayors will join in the effort.
Also, if the Jets win, Ravenstahl will place a Jets "fireman hat" on a Pittsburgh landmark and post a video of it on YouTube.
If the Steelers come out on top, Bloomberg must film himself hanging a Steelers "terrible towel" on a New York landmark and post the video online.
Dennis, for his part, decided to test New Yorkers with his Hines Ward, No. 86 jersey.
"Am I worried for your safety? Yeah. I'm worried," Jets fan Joe Colon told Dennis.
It takes a brave reporter or just a crazy one to stand in the middle of jets country, the middle of New York City -- and flaunt the Steelers, loud and proud.
Admitted Steelers fan Mike Hughes even went so far as to tell Dennis he'd protect him if anything happened.
"You bet, Steelers all the way," Hughes said.
That's what the Mayor Ravenstahl said Friday at a rally in the "Steel City," where he talked about the friendly wager with Mayor Bloomberg.
"Wouldn't it be great to see the Empire State Building black and gold?" Ravenstahl told the hyped-up crowd.
He then boldly declared the Steelers would beat the Jets on Sunday -- badly.
"Let's send a message to New York that Pittsburgh is the seat of champions and we are going right back where we belong and that's to the Super Bowl," Ravenstahl said.
Bloomberg took a less bombastic approach.
"It is fun for everybody. It's great entertainment. Even Giants fans would like to se the Jets win. Jets fans were happy when the Giants won," Bloomberg said.
And they'll be even happier when the Jets win this Sunday and Dennis can get rid of all of his black and gold.
"You're going down. You're going down in flames man. I don't know how you're even standing here!" one fan said.
