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Kansas City's KCUR and Philadelphia's WHYY make a public media Super Bowl bet

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce celebrates after catching a pass during the second half of an NFL football AFC divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri.
Ed Zurga
/
AP
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce celebrates after catching a pass during the second half of an NFL football AFC divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri.

As the Chiefs push for their third straight Super Bowl title, NPR member stations KCUR in Kansas City and WHYY in Philadelphia both believe our team has what it takes to bring home the Lombardi Trophy. And now, there's barbecue on the line.

The Kansas City Chiefs are on the verge of winning their third straight championship title, which would be the first "threepeat" in Super Bowl history.

When the Chiefs take the field in New Orleans for Super Bowl 59 this Sunday, they'll face off against the Philadelphia Eagles, a formidable defensive team with a great running back in Saquon Barkley. There's a lot riding on the big game, including friendly wagers between the cities' art museums, humane societies and zoos.

Philadelphia’s NPR station WHYY and Kansas City's KCUR are making a bet of our own: They’ll send us a basket full of Philly food — soft pretzels, Goldenberg's Peanut Chews and more — when the Chiefs win.

If the Eagles somehow come out on top, KCUR will send WHYY some real Kansas City barbecue.

It's become a tradition between NPR member stations for the past several Super Bowls, although so far, KCUR has never had to pay up. WHYY already sent KCUR cheesesteaks after the Chiefs beat the Eagles last time in 2023, and last year, KQED kindly sent us barbecue for our entire staff when the 49ers lost.

On Up To Date, WHYY's Jennifer Lynn and KCUR's Steve Kraske solidified their bet and then went toe-to-toe in a public radio-style trash-talking session, making their case for why their team will be the one that comes out on top.

"Just for the record," Kraske told Lynn, "we prefer to refer to Kansas City these days as Title Town, USA."

There's more than food on the line, too. Whoever's team loses, Kraske or Lynn agreed to read a statement of support for their opponent — live on air the very next morning.

Hear the full conversation above.

  • Jennifer Lynn, Morning Edition host at WHYY
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When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
As Up To Date’s senior producer, I want to pique the curiosity of Kansas Citians and help them understand the world around them. Each day, I construct conversations with our city’s most innovative visionaries and creatives, while striving to hold elected officials accountable and amplifying the voices of everyday Kansas Citians. Email me at zach@kcur.org.
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