World Series Wager: New York, Philly VARs Settle Up

Yankees vs. Phillies. That was the World Series battle that also resulted in a friendly competitive wager between two VARs: New York-based Stage 2 Networks, a hosted PBX and converged networks specialist, and Philly-based Alteva, an enterprise-hosted VoIP and unified communications solution provider.



After winning a similar bet with Tampa Bay-based VoIP VAR Telovations in 2008, Alteva challenged Stage 2 in this year's friendly competition, staking Philadelphia pretzels and upping the ante, insisting that the losing team's hometown VAR would have to publicly acknowledge the other team's supremacy by wearing the opposing sports garb and snapping a few photos to prove it. Stage 2 accepted, and staked New York bagels.



Well, we know how it all turned out -- the Yankees beat the Phils in six games, 4-2 -- but the humiliation for Alteva, which lost the wager, didn't just end with Yankees closer Mariano Rivera on the mound. Here's a look at the photographic proof.

"After winning bushels of Florida oranges last year, we bought a juicer and got accustomed to drinking fresh-squeezed orange juice at breakfast meetings. The only thing missing is a good bagel," said William Bumbernick, CEO of Alteva, in a statement. "We enjoy doing things like this as it's fun for the company, overall morale and we get to show our support of our home team. Alteva is proud to be part of the Philadelphia business community, and we have an avid group of Phillies fans here."





At left, Louis Hayner, Alteva's vice president of Sales, and Mark Marquez, vice president of Technology, were among Alteva executives who definitely talked a good game before the Series got under way.

Alas, it didn't work out so well for Alteva, whose executives congratulated Stage 2 Networks' CEO Joseph P. Gillette in front of the Rocky statue at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Let's make sure that's a real handshake! Alteva's Hayner congratulates Stage 2's Gillette.

While its peers in Philadelphia scarfed large helpings of humble pie -- or was it crow? -- Stage 2 Networks had its fill of Philly pretzels and got to watch its rivals bow to the Yankees.



"While this is a great way to show support for our home teams, it also demonstrates how two companies who have a common business goal can use competitiveness in a fun and spirited way," said Stage 2 CEO Gillette in a statement. "The only previous Yankees-Phillies World Series was played back in 1950 ... Who knows when we'll get this opportunity again? We're also looking forward to eating lots of Philly pretzels."