Saturday morning, the day following the Texas Longhorns’ first-ever national championship in women’s softball by defeating the Texas Tech Red Raiders 10-4 in game three of the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, two friends proved that in Horseshoe Bay at least, friendship trumps rivalry.
The two teams had split the first two games before the two HSB friends laid down a serious wager over the collegiate rivalry. The wager was bigger than money. The wager was about good humored rivalry, potential humiliation, and a temporary loss of dignity.
Everyone who knows Jerry Osborne knows he will bleed burnt orange if wounded. Wayne Ratisseau is well known for no lack of exuberance about the Red Raiders. The friendly wager was the loser must wear, fly or sport the opposing teams colors and insignia for 48 hours. Saturday morning, they met on Ratisseau’s driveway where referee Steve Jarrard saw to it that the wager was paid in full.
