Another bet on the Dodgers

Not quite as, well, intriguing, as the bet offered up last week by Antonio Villaraigosa, particularly in light of the news finally leaking out that another round of layoffs is headed our way, but Tom LaBonge, L.A.'s hiking-and-biking city councilman, has bet Curtis Jones Jr., a city councilman from of Philadelphia, a bunch of Dodger Dogs that L.A. will beat the Phillies in the next round of playoffs. Jones, of course, is backing his bet with -- what else? -- Philly cheese steaks.

Other items in the bet: L.A. offers up pumpkin bread baked by an order of cloistered nuns, plus nine books on L.A. history. Philadelphia sweetens the pot with a case of Tastykakes and book donations to L.A. area libraries.

So decent, so polite. Guess that's how it works when the City of Angels goes up against the City of Brotherly Love.

--Veronique de Turenne

Photo: Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times