Keicher makes good on his beef bet over Sycamore versus Fenwick game

SYCAMORE – State Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, made good on his bet against House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, delivering Italian beef sandwiches from Tom and Jerry’s of Sycamore.

The sandwiches were delivered to Durkin’s Burr Ridge office on Tuesday, Nov. 23 after the Fenwick Friars bested the Sycamore Spartans in the IHSA Semifinal football playoffs.

“I couldn’t have been more proud of the young men on the Sycamore football team this past weekend,” said Keicher in a statement. “Kudos to the Fenwick Friars on a game well played and good luck in the finals. I’m glad that we had a chance to prove that Tom and Jerry’s in Sycamore has some of the finest Italian beef in the Chicagoland area.”

When the lawmakers learned that their respective teams would face off in the playoff game, Keicher and Durkin made a friendly wager that, should the Friars emerge victorious, Keicher would deliver Italian beef sandwiches from Sycamore’s Tom and Jerry’s to Durkin’s office.

On Nov. 20, Fenwick beat Sycamore 17-6 to advance to the Class 5A title game. On Tuesday, Keicher made good on his promise, according to the news release. Despite winning the bet, Durkin also brought sandwiches from Elmwood Park’s Johnnie’s Beef to allow for a side-by-side tasting.

“The Tom and Jerry Italian beefs from Sycamore were amazing and held up to my favorite Johnnies Beef in Elmwood Park. The consensus from those sampling the two was that the Italian beef showdown came to a draw,” said Durkin in a news release. “Thank you to Rep. Keicher for following through on our bet. He is an honorable man that lives by his commitments – a unique quality in our government these days.”