METHUEN — A rivalry between Methuen Mayor William Manzi and former Lawrence Mayor Michael Sullivan will be renewed during a rumble on Burnham Road this Saturday.
The two men, along with state Sen. Steven Baddour and Fox 25 television personality Doug Goudie, also known as VB, will square off in a charity dodge ball match at Interstate Gymnastics & Dance at 5 Burnham Road.
"I thought the rivalry terminated Jan. 4 when I was no longer in office, but he just can't get enough of beating me," said Sullivan, who is now working at his family's insurance agency, T.A. Sullivan Agency.
Some people may remember when Manzi and Sullivan went head to head in a 2007 dodge ball game, and Manzi's team claimed victory.
"There was a dispute about that, but seeing as though the competition itself was held in Methuen, my word was given a little more weight than his," Manzi said. "Whether I actually did win or not may be open to question."
This time, Sullivan and VB will be on one team, and Manzi and Baddour will be on the other.
"It will be a blast," said event organizer Dawn McGovern.
Sullivan conceded this week that Manzi did in fact win three years ago. But in the spirit of Scott Brown's recent election to the Senate, Sullivan, a Republican, is hoping to ride the red wave to defeat Manzi and Baddour, who are both Democrats.
"Now I'm going to make this a partisan thing," Sullivan said.
McGovern insisted that only beach balls will be used, "not real dodge balls so we don't have any casualties."
The event is Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. All the money raised will go to Children's Hospital Boston.
Mann Orchards is donating pies, and the plan is for the winner to throw pie in the loser's face.
It costs $10 to have a child join the action, and people are asked to bring nonperishable food to help restock the shelves at the Lazarus House shelter in Lawrence.
For more information, call McGovern at 978-975-8196.
