Miami and Oklahoma City archbishops bet on NBA Finals

Miami Heat fan Archbishop Thomas Wenski and Oklahoma City Thunder fan Archbishop Paul Coakley. Photo courtesy of Archdiocese of Miami.

The archbishops of Miami and Oklahoma City have bet on the outcome of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Miami Heat.

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City believes his team will prevail because they “have proven time and time again that they have what it takes to become the NBA Champions.”

“It is a great time to be an Oklahoman,” he said June 14.

But Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami thinks the Heat will win because they are “resilient.”

“We relish being the underdog, but the Thunder will not stand up to the Heat.”

The archbishop who loses the bet will be photographed in a T-shirt from the winning team. He will also send a gift to the winning archbishop.

Archbishop Wenski plans to send Miami stone crabs and  in the event the Heat lose. Archbishop Coakley has promised to send organically-raised Oklahoma beef from the Oklahoma Beef Council if the Thunder lose.

Both archbishops are in Atlanta for the Spring General Assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. They sealed the bet with a friendly handshake during a break from Thursday’s meetings.

After the Miami Heat won Thursday night’s game 100-96, the NBA Finals’ best-of-seven series is tied 1-1.