The Wild lost to Colorado; most of us accept it and move on. (It's not like Minnesota sports fans don't have lots of practice.)

But bets were made and must be paid.

Maria Cino, CEO of the Republican National Convention to be held in St. Paul, lost her bet with counterpart Leah Daughtry of the Democratic National Convention in Denver. So Cino is arranging to send some Minnesota walleye to the Mile-High City.

Said Republican convention spokesman Matt Burns: "With the uncertainty surrounding who will be the Democrat nominee, we're happy to be sending some high-protein walleye to our counterparts in Denver. We hope it gives them the energy they'll need to get through these contentious times."

Had the Wild won, Cino would have received some Colorado-raised beef steaks.

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman will follow through on his pledge to wear an Avalanche jersey and plant a Colorado Blue Spruce tree near the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul before the Republicans arrive. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper had promised to plant a Minnesota Northwood red maple tree in front of his city's Pepsi Center, had the Wild prevailed.

Lest anyone worry that because of the Wild loss there won't be enough trees in Colorado, the Democratic National Convention Committee plans to plant lots of trees in northwest Denver on Saturday, as part of an Earth Day project.