Florida oranges are hot potatoes for Ala. governor

Published Dec. 16, 2009 8:32 p.m. ET

foxsports

For Alabama's anti-gambling governor, Florida oranges are hot potatoes.

Gov. Bob Riley made the usual friendly bet with Florida Gov. Charlie Crist on last weekend's Southeastern Conference football championship game: a crate of Florida oranges versus ribs from Dreamland Barbecue in Tuscaloosa.

But with Alabama's win comes criticism over Riley's push to close down the state's electronic bingo halls.

Riley's office says he never intended to collect the winnings and he asked Florida not to send the oranges.

Florida officials say they had been planning to send the citrus along. When Florida beat Alabama last year, Riley ponied up the ribs.

A Riley spokesman says the bet is in good fun and criticism is coming from upset gambling advocates.