Middlesex, San Francisco Sheriffs To Bet On NBA Finals For Charity

MEDFORD, MA — Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian and San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto have agreed to a friendly wager on the 2022 NBA Finals games between the Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors.

Koutoujian and Miyamoto, colleagues and friends through Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), spoke over the phone this weekend and agreed to bet against each other for charity, specifically for the Boys and Girls Clubs in Middlesex counties and San Francisco.

“It’s been 58 years since we’ve faced off in the Finals and I am confident that our Warriors are going to take the trophy,” Miyamoto said in a statement. “But everyone will be a winner because the runner up has to make a donation to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of their respective county.”

In addition to the donation, the losing sheriff will pose for a photo wearing the apparel of the 2022 NBA Championship team, which will be posted on social media.

“Golden State and the Bay State are leaders on and off the court. Sheriff Miyamoto and I, as well as our staffs, have partnered through MCSA to improve our agencies and the crucial work of sheriffs. However, this week we are rivals,” Koutoujian said in a statement. “I have no doubt that Sheriff Miyamoto will be donning Celtics green come next week as we hang banner 18 in the Garden.”

“Our only Green is Draymond Green,” Miyamoto said. "I’ve already bought a blue and gold DubNation sweatshirt for Sheriff Koutoujian. I respect him and admire the work he's done for his community but at the end of this series, we are hopeful that the trophy will stay in the Bay... the San Francisco Bay.”

The Celtics and Warriors will face off this Wednesday for game three of the NBA Finals. The teams are currently tied 1-1.