A Turner For A Claude Lorrain: The Greatest Super Bowl Bet Ever

Tuesday night, Holly brought you the news that the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the New Orleans Museum of Art were working on a wager for this year's Super Bowl, with IMA director Max Anderson proposing a loan of an Ingrid Calame painting, which was laughable (apparently). After some more back and forth, NOMA's director, E. John Bullard, brought the ether on Tuesday.

"I am amused that Renoir is too sweet for Indianapolis. Does this mean that those Indiana corn farmers have simpler tastes? If so why would Max offer us that gaudy Chalice -- just looks like another over-elaborate Victorian tchotchke. Let's get serious. Each museum needs to offer an art work that they would really miss for three months. What would you like Max? A Monet, a Cassatt, a Picasso, a Miro? Sorry but we have no farm scenes or portraits of football players to send you."

See, it's funny because the Indianapolis Museum of Art owns a farm. Also, it's Indianapolis. The two sides reached an agreement Wednesday. The IMA will be risking a Turner against NOMA's painting by Claude Lorrain, Ideal View of Tivoli.

From IMA's Anderson via Twitter: "Deal -- Claude for Turner. Two masters in spirited competition across the channel, and between our fair cities. Go Colts!"

And in polite, collegial reply, NOMA's Bullard: "Max is a gracious opponent. Thanks for accepting the wager of a Claude from New Orleans for a Turner from Indianapolis. But this is definitely the Saints year. They are the Dream Team and in New Orleans we know that dreams come true. Geaux Saints!!!"

This is my favorite sports wager in the history of ever.