Asher staffers display their Eagle pride.

In January 2005, Asher waged a friendly Super Bowl bet with G.T. Reilly & Company, Moore Stephen’s Boston firm, to up the ante on their two cities’ Super Bowl rivalry.  If the Eagles won, G.T. Reilly was to purchase cheese steaks for the entire staff of Asher. In the event of a Patriots win, Asher was to purchase chowder for the entire G.T. Reilly staff.

Asher’s managing director, Steve Carr, was confident of a win, “As affiliates within the Moore Stephens network, there is a great deal of camaraderie.  We are friendly with G.T. Reilly and have worked on projects together.  However, we’re glad that they accepted our challenge and we look forward to an Eagles victory and cheese steaks for everyone!” He added, “We knew that everyone at Asher would prefer to celebrate an Eagles victory with cheese steaks than chowder.”  

A memorandum issued by Carr and sent to Smeriglio indicated, “As you can imagine, we are eager to enjoy our cheese steaks and would like to forward our wire transfer instructions to your attention.  Please transfer the cheese steak money no later than Tuesday to our coded Suisse Bank account, as our bankers have instructions to immediately rewire the funds to Geno’s Steaks of South Philadelphia in full payment for our cheese steaks.  To be sporting, we’d also like to provide an open invitation for any of your staff who are Eagle fans to join us for the cheese steaks.”

Asher was initially concerned that the bet would not happen.  After several days of mulling the offer, G.T. Reilly’s managing partner Tony Smeriglio finally replied, “We accept & look forward to the clam chowda!” 

Well, we all know which team made history that day.  And Asher made good on the bet—the Reilly folks were mighty grateful for the delicious meal, but even more for their football champions.