Illegal Oranges Part of Mayoral Bet

Playful wagers between mayors of cities competing in big sporting events is a commonplace event. Or it usually is. Take the playful bet that took place between the mayors of San Francisco and Miami for the Emerald Bowl. Had Miami won, Mayor Manny Diaz would have received a case of Napa Valley wine and several loaves of sourdough bread. Miami didn't win - the Cal Bears did. And so San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom was to get some oranges. Or so he thought.

If you're scratching your head as to why the Mayor of San Francisco was involved representing a team from the city of Berkeley you may not be alone. Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates would make three of us.

So Newsom, the wannabe future Governor of California and I suppose the Mayor of Berkeley took the prize. Except taking the oranges would have been illegal.

Florida oranges can't be shipped to California under federal regulations because of citrus canker, a contagious bacterial disease that causes leaves and fruit to drop from trees prematurely.

Oops. So Newsome will be getting Stone Crab claws instead. Perhaps he'll share the fruit of Cal's victory with Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates.