Die hard Cleveland sports fan Scott O’Brien and Pittsburgh fan Joe Wos each have put their artistic talents to work in children’s books celebrating their favorite teams. “Why is Daddy Sad on Sunday: Disappointing Moments in Cleveland Sports Coloring Book” and “The Three Little Pittsburghers, as Told in Pittsburghese” both launched Kickstarter campaigns.

Both O’Brien and Wos have met their Kitckstarter goals. But in true rival form, Wos challenged O’Brien to a side bet: Whoever raises the most money for his book gets to make the loser wear the winner’s team jersey during 2014 Cleveland-Pittsburgh games.

“Anytime someone from Cleveland does something, we feel it can't go unanswered,” Wos, a freelance cartoonist, says of his challenge to O’Brien. “The Three Little Pittsburghers” is based on the “Three Little Pigs” story, but told in Wos’ native language: Pittsburghese.

“I was sitting around a campfire and everyone took turns telling a story in their native languages – Russian, Yiddish, Spanish, Sign Language,” recalls Wos. “So I decided to tell my story in Pittsburghese and it was a big hit.”

O’Brien grew up in South Euclid but now lives in Los Angeles, where and owns The Green Life, an online green products retail company. He continues to be an avid Cleveland sports fan. “I can’t root for any other team,” he says. “I did the book more for friends and family but put it up on Kickstarter to see if there was any demand.”

The demand was there. O’Brien set a goal of $2,000 to cover costs of publishing the book. He raised $23,964 before the campaign closed. People continue to contact him about buying a copy of “Disappointing Moments.”

Wos has met his $3,000 goal, but he has only raised $8,554 so far. His campaign ends April 1.

While the book rivalry is all in good fun – O’Brien learned that Wos had backed his book before the challenge was issued – the two still can’t resist talking a little smack.

“I saw [O’Brien’s] book come across Kickstarter and thought, I have no idea how he’s going to fit it all in one book,” jokes Wos. “It seems like a seven-book series.”

O’Brien is a bit more gracious. “It’s hard for Pittsburgh or other cities that haven’t experienced what Cleveland has gone through,” he says. “You definitely know where the line is when you’re from Cleveland.”

O’Brien is in a position to take the high road. “Barring any act of God, I think I’ll probably win this one,” says O’Brien cautiously. “I don’t even have a Pittsburgh jersey, so I hope I can deliver a win for Cleveland.”

O’Brien plans to make Wos wear Bernie Kosar’s #19 Browns jersey.

“Disappointing Moments” is available for purchase through O’Brien’s website and “The Three Little Pittsburghers" can be purchased on Wos’ site when the Kickstarter campaign is over.

Sources: Joe Wos, Scott O’Brien
Writer: Karin Connelly