Why are we fans?

[Rocky Landing]

This might be an overly simplistic, and even puerile thread topic. But, given the passionate, and, at times, bitter tenor of some of the recent threads on this forum, it would seem an appropriate question to pose: Why are we football fans? And, why the Bills?

 

The latter question is probably about the same for every poster on this forum. Geography. Just about every Bills fan alive was born in Upstate New York, or thereabouts. It's an amazing thing. That cannot be said for every team. I have a friend here in L.A. who is a die-hard Titans fan, and I don't believe that jackass has ever even been to Tennessee. People often become fans of NFL teams that they do not have any geographic connection to. But not the Bills. They are ours, and ours alone.

 

The difference between posters, regarding the former question, 'why are we football fans,' has led to some heated, and even insulting exchanges. In my opinion, football is the greatest spectator sport ever devised. It has something for everybody, regardless of how deep you are willing to go. Statistics, drama, entertainment, strategy, etc. Every type of athlete is represented on the field. I don't believe that any other sport can be parsed, analyzed, and interpreted to the depth than football can.

 

But, the question remains: Why are you a football fan? Is it the dedication to your team? Is it the thrill of victory (and the agony of defeat)? Is it the fascination derived from all the variables, statistics, and/or analysis? Is it just for the fun of it? Some combination of the above?

 

Personally, I find it's a great way to get my family to leave me the hell alone for three hours on a Sunday.

Edited July 7, 2014 by Rocky Landing

[Mark Vader]

Short answer: I love the game of football. I think it's the most exciting team sport to watch. It is also the only sport where I will watch a game regardless of who is playing. Pro or college, I will watch it.

 

Just so you know, I was born and raised in California. I have no ties to Buffalo or upstate New York, whatsoever, and I am a Bills fan.

[TheBrownBear]

Pretty simple. I love football and I was born and raised in WNY. Also have always associated with the underdog, and what greater underdog than the Buffalo Bills?

Edited July 7, 2014 by TheBrownBear

[maddenboy]

Why football?: I think its because we have all played it as kids. That means what, when I watch CJ Spiller do something, I can think to myself "I can do that" or "I did that once" or "I used to be able to do that" or "I would have done X instead of Y in that situation."

 

Why the Bills?: The laundry, I guess. There arent really many players in recent memory who seemed to love being Bills.

Aaron Schoebel maybe? They seem to love football, some of them. But I cant say the players make my fandom stronger.

[fansince88]

Football, because it is simply captivating.

Bills, well long story! I was born on Long Island and moved to nny at 5yo. A friend of mine since we were 13 has always been a Giants fan. So naturally I had to root for a different team. He always said the Bills sucked so I picked them. Started watching them pretty regularly in 86. But really started to get to know the players in 88. Thus the screen name. Dont think Ive missed a game since then. even when they are not on tv I listen to wgr. GO BILLS!!!

[extrahammer]

For the record, I'm from Mississippi with no attachments to WNY and became a Bills fan. And I've met others here that became Bills fans too. In fact, I went to speak to a group of students a few months ago and in the front row was a kid with a bright blue and red Bills t-shirt on. I asked him when he became a Bills fan - thinking it was when they last made the playoffs or his dad was or something - and to my surprise he said he became a fan when he saw C.J. play in Buffalo. I asked him if he'd be a fan if C.J. left and he said "Yeah, I'm too in love with the team now."

 

Also, when I travel I see just as many Bills fans as other NFL team fans. Seems to me in airports you don't see as much Dallas, New England stuff, I see a good bit of Pittsburgh and other teams, including the Bills.

 

Moral summary of this rambling: it's never as bad as it seems.

Edited July 7, 2014 by thisiskeith

[ganesh]

Born 10,000 miles and years away from the Buffalo Bills, but landed in the vicinity and became a fan. My attachment to this team started when I stared at the screen watching wide right...that made me sympathize for this team and has been on its bandwagon every since.....Nothing beats the thought of looking at a fresh season with hope./.....Go Bills.

[Harveyj001]

I was born in WNY and became a fan watching the Juice tear through the opposition. With my 29 years in the Navy I have lived and visited many places. With my plethora of Bills stuff and a tatoo I get a lot of comments. I have met many people around the country who are Bills fans that have no association with WNY. Most became fans in the early 90's, but some for longer or shorter for various reasons.

[8-8 Forever?]

This might be an overly simplistic, and even puerile thread topic. But, given the passionate, and, at times, bitter tenor of some of the recent threads on this forum, it would seem an appropriate question to pose: Why are we football fans? And, why the Bills?

 

The latter question is probably about the same for every poster on this forum. Geography. Just about every Bills fan alive was born in Upstate New York, or thereabouts. It's an amazing thing. That cannot be said for every team. I have a friend here in L.A. who is a die-hard Titans fan, and I don't believe that jackass has ever even been to Tennessee. People often become fans of NFL teams that they do not have any geographic connection to. But not the Bills. They are ours, and ours alone.

 

The difference between posters, regarding the former question, 'why are we football fans,' has led to some heated, and even insulting exchanges. In my opinion, football is the greatest spectator sport ever devised. It has something for everybody, regardless of how deep you are willing to go. Statistics, drama, entertainment, strategy, etc. Every type of athlete is represented on the field. I don't believe that any other sport can be parsed, analyzed, and interpreted to the depth than football can.

 

But, the question remains: Why are you a football fan? Is it the dedication to your team? Is it the thrill of victory (and the agony of defeat)? Is it the fascination derived from all the variables, statistics, and/or analysis? Is it just for the fun of it? Some combination of the above?

 

Personally, I find it's a great way to get my family to leave me the hell alone for three hours on a Sunday.

My kids are bills fans and they were not born there and hardly spent any time there. With the exodus of likely the majority of an entire working age generation during the seventies and eighties , and with those marrying and having kids and still being bills fans and now their kids being bills fans, I would guess there are more Bills fans outside of WNY than in WNY. do the math . I did it once and posted the simple analysis and I think I showed at least as many as 1million bills fans who live outside WNY. So, no , they are not yours, they are ours.

[voodoo poonani]

I think it's a bit of everything you said. I grew up in WNY watching the Bills with my family. Playing ball in the backyard with my brothers and friends. I love the strategy and storylines. Being passionate about the Bills I feel the wins and losses more deeply.

 

Other sports, even hockey, don't come close to my passion for football.

[PromoTheRobot]

I grew up in Buffalo. I followed the team since 1966. I went to my first game in 1969 and I get the same feeling entering the stadium every time. I prefer we win but losing doesn't ruin the total experience. Making myself sick over the team seems silly. It's a game.

[Gugny]

I think the NFL did a phenomenal job marketing themselves in the late 70s, when I became a football fan. It seemed that most kids had a "football hero" who we pretended we were when we were playing with a nerf in the yard or the field.

 

Football has always been very social for me; even as a child. It remains very social for me to this day.

 

I think football is easy to love because of the short season. There is no, "oh, well, we'll get 'em next time," in football. Every game is a must-win and the scoreboard watching begins the second the first snap of the first game takes place.

 

I think the players' passion is what makes it easy for a casual fan to enjoy any game.

 

I personally enjoy the strategy of the game, along with the passion. Those two things allow me to enjoy any two teams playing; along with the fact that every game has a major impact in someway on multiple other teams.

 

It's just a great sport.

[FLbills]

I have been a Bills fan since about 85' - 86'. I have never set foot in the state of NY. My fandom started when I was watching football with my pops, He was / is a diehard Steelers fan. I was about 8 years old and Bills and Steelers were playing, I started rooting for the Bills just to have something to talk smack to him about. While watching the game, I realized that I didn't like them just because it was the team playing against the Steelers, but more or less just enjoyed the way they played the game. I didn't fully understand it at that time, but now looking back on it it was just a quiet and efficiently played game. They came in, handled their business, and got the job done.

 

Now my goal is to make it to the Ralph for a home game in December. Living down in Florida does not make that that easiest of feats to accomplish, but the payoff will be tremendous.

[mead107]

Grew up in Saratoga county and most of my friends loved the giants. I wanted to be different so I followed the Bills. Wins always make for a better ride home. No matter what, it is Bills football.

[CodeMonkey]

But, the question remains: Why are you a football fan?

I am not a football fan (anymore). I find the game extremely difficult and tedious to watch in real time with all of the unnecessary delays created solely for TV commercials.

I am still, and expect will always be, a Buffalo Bills fan however. It is something that I can enjoy with my family, including things like training camp where the organization goes out of their way to make it enjoyable for kids of all ages.

Edited July 7, 2014 by CodeMonkey

[QB Bills]

I grew up in Buffalo. I followed the team since 1966. I went to my first game in 1969 and I get the same feeling entering the stadium every time. I prefer we win but losing doesn't ruin the total experience. Making myself sick over the team seems silly. It's a game.

For some of us, its not a choice.

[Thunderstealer]

I think we're fans for the same reason we have certain religious beliefs. The love of our family and their customs. The feeling of belonging to something.

[Rocky Landing]

I am not a football fan (anymore). I find the game extremely difficult and tedious to watch in real time with all of the unnecessary delays created solely for TV commercials.

I am still, and expect will always be, a Buffalo Bills fan however. It is something that I can enjoy with my family, including things like training camp where the organization goes out of their way to make it enjoyable for kids of all ages.

I think a lot of fans are sort of in your boat. At the very least, it can be said of everybody posting on here, in July, that we spend more time parsing the game than we do watching it. I'm not sure which I enjoy more, I think it's 50/50. But, that is the amazing thing about football. Does anyone analyze any other sport to the extent that football gets analyzed? With the exception of highlights, does anyone re-watch a baseball game? I can't think of another sport where what is happening on the field at a given time can be so profoundly affected by what had happened ten plays ago. And, the deeper I get into understanding the sport, the more I realize I know jack squat.

[Kirby Jackson]

I started a thread like this a few months back and this was my story:

 

In lieu of all of the depressing topics on here right now let's have a place to share something positive. Obviously this team is important to all of us or we wouldn't be here. I thought that it may be cool for everyone to tell a brief story on how they became the fans that they are today.

 

When I was a kid (maybe 7ish) my dad and some friends had a group of 8 tickets in section H-2. 3 of the tickets belonged to my dad. We would go each week at about 9:30AM and park at the Twin Oaks Motel on Southwestern. We would grill out right under the sign and my brother (5ish) and I would throw the football around for hours while the pregame show played through the open trunk.

 

At about 12:15 we would begin the journey into the stadium; my brother and I would be loaded with beers to sneak in because they stopped serving them at halftime. The adults would have them as well but as time went on they learned that we were probably the best transport method. The 9 of us (8 tickets) would form a single file line and the first guy in line would point to the 9th guy and say "the guy in the back has the tickets." While the 9th guy waved my brother and I would make it through the turnstile on 1 turn and head right to H-2. We would unload the beers under the seats and retreat to the seat that we shared -seat 6.

 

This went on every game for about 5 years until we were too big to share. I shared that seat for a couple of AFC championships and had my own for the comeback and the KC championship game. These moments were not only some of the greatest in Bills history but some of the best that I have had with my brother and dad. We still attend games together to this day and cherish it every time.

Edited July 7, 2014 by Kirby Jackson

[Rocky Landing]

I started a thread like this a few months back and this was my story:

 

In lieu of all of the depressing topics on here right now let's have a place to share something positive. Obviously this team is important to all of us or we wouldn't be here. I thought that it may be cool for everyone to tell a brief story on how they became the fans that they are today.

 

When I was a kid (maybe 7ish) my dad and some friends had a group of 8 tickets in section H-2. 3 of the tickets belonged to my dad. We would go each week at about 9:30AM and park at the Twin Oaks Motel on Southwestern. We would grill out right under the sign and my brother (5ish) and I would throw the football around for hours while the pregame show played through the open trunk.

 

At about 12:15 we would begin the journey into the stadium; my brother and I would be loaded with beers to sneak in because they stopped serving them at halftime. The adults would have them as well but as time went on they learned that we were probably the best transport method. The 9 of us (8 tickets) would form a single file line and the first guy in line would point to the 9th guy and say "the guy in the back has the tickets." While the 9th guy waved my brother and I would make it through the turnstile on 1 turn and head right to H-2. We would unload the beers under the seats and retreat to the seat that we shared -seat 6.

 

This went on every game for about 5 years until we were too big to share. I shared that seat for a couple of AFC championships and had my own for the comeback and the KC championship game. These moments were not only some of the greatest in Bills history but some of the best that I have had with my brother and dad. We still attend games together to this day and cherish it every time.

Man, it was a freer country back then, wasn't it? Some of the younger posters on here might read the story about kids sneaking in beers and assume that it was bad parenting, but it was just different back then. I remember once, after one of my father's ski races at Bristol Mountain, I was operating the keg, and serving all the adults beers during the after-party and awards ceremony. I was six. Everyone thought it was cute! I can't imagine what would happen today, if a six-year-old were doing that.

[nuklz2594]

because the only thing scarier than being a bills fan....is being a chicago cubs fan!!!

[Kirby Jackson]

Man, it was a freer country back then, wasn't it? Some of the younger posters on here might read the story about kids sneaking in beers and assume that it was bad parenting, but it was just different back then. I remember once, after one of my father's ski races at Bristol Mountain, I was operating the keg, and serving all the adults beers during the after-party and awards ceremony. I was six. Everyone thought it was cute! I can't imagine what would happen today, if a six-year-old were doing that.

It was certainly a different time. The detective that was a part of the group does not drink so he always drove. There wasn't too many times that traffic was an issue either.

[Dr. K]

Because in the first game I ever attended Bills cornerback Haygood Clark intercepted George Blanda's pass with 27 seconds left in the game and ran it back 66 yards for the winning TD on a beautiful, sunny September day, the day after my birthday, at the Rockpile, in 1966.

Edited July 7, 2014 by Dr. K

[Optometric Insight]

I think football is the most popular because the season is so much shorter than the other major sports. It makes each game so important and therefore makes it that much more exciting.

 

You don't hear about any important hockey or baseball games in the middle ot the season, but it seems like there's an important game every week in football

[Mark Vader]

I think football is the most popular because the season is so much shorter than the other major sports. It makes each game so important and therefore makes it that much more exciting.

 

You don't hear about any important hockey or baseball games in the middle ot the season, but it seems like there's an important game every week in football

That does add to the excitement of the game.

[packfntk]

Born and raised in Green Bay, WI, and here probably just like near Buffalo it is a way of life. Football is a big part of my life, I set my vacation time around the Packers, spend quality time with my friends and family talking about the Packers, going to games, having Packer parties, going to training camp, etc. Some may think that is stupid, but it is my favorite part of my life outside of my family.

[Gugny]

Born and raised in Green Bay, WI, and here probably just like near Buffalo it is a way of life. Football is a big part of my life, I set my vacation time around the Packers, spend quality time with my friends and family talking about the Packers, going to games, having Packer parties, going to training camp, etc. Some may think that is stupid, but it is my favorite part of my life outside of my family.

Man, are your priorities out of whack. And you call yourself a fan??

[EmotionallyUnstable]

Grew up watching the Bills from Rochester, NY. My father always had the games on in the early 90's during the glory days. I couldn't tear away from them. It became part of the reason I went to school in Buffalo. It remains part of the reason I now live in Buffalo. The Red, White and Blue are always good colors to promote.

 

Go Bills!

[machine gun kelly]

The short answer: it's who we are.

 

This is a great escape. I grew up,in Buff., and now lived in Tampa as long as Buff. I follow the Bucs, but bleed Red, White, and Royal Blue.

 

I'm sure everyone has many other priorities with their families, careers, and so on. I do not follow closely other sports besides the NFL and college football, but Wil enjoy the other sports without this passion.

 

As far as them losing, I remember our playoff runs from 88-99, the mid 70's, and the early 80's. I'm not old enough for the kid 60's, but we could do worse than following one of the most historic teams in the NFL.

 

I'll take the Bills over the Jags, Titans, Panthers, Chargers, Falcons, Texans, and so on. We're true football fans and this is an NFL / Bills town.

 

I respect guys in areas I manage so when I spend time in Birmingham, they are Roll Tide fans or somewhat can be Tigers fans. We are no less Bills fans than those fans. We are a true college like football atmosphere in how much we love our team.

 

Good question Rock man. That's my answer and that is nothing against the above teams I mentioned. It's just special in Buffalo. Oh, and for the record, my two boys are Bills fanatics, and they grew up in Tampa, and only made their first home game for the Pats home opener last year. And we're going again on October 12 th, and damnit, we're going to win this time!

 

Go Bills!

[ganesh]

I think football is the most popular because the season is so much shorter than the other major sports. It makes each game so important and therefore makes it that much more exciting.

 

You don't hear about any important hockey or baseball games in the middle ot the season, but it seems like there's an important game every week in football

I agree..Since the game is played once a week, it sets up so much anticipation over the rest of the week. It is almost how you are pinging for the WE to come when you are at work.

[You herd it hear last]

Walking out of the field entrance on the 50 yd line (section E10) on a beautiful, sunny fall day with my Dad and seeing the giant #32 on the back of Simpsons' jersey. One time and I was hooked.

 

Then there was tearing down and literally passing the goal posts off the field up to Ralph's box after destroying the raiders 51-3 in the AFC championship. (Please tell me that was real.)

 

Haven't seen the Bills play live since around '97, so count yer lucky stars there fellas.

[rockpile]

I grew up in Buffalo. I followed the team since 1966. I went to my first game in 1969 and I get the same feeling entering the stadium every time. I prefer we win but losing doesn't ruin the total experience. Making myself sick over the team seems silly. It's a game.

 

Me too but make it 1960 and 1964. *-)

 

Yes it is a game. Winning is more fun than losing, but as you say, it is a game.

 

I agree..Since the game is played once a week, it sets up so much anticipation over the rest of the week. It is almost how you are pinging for the WE to come when you are at work.

 

But regular season football is only 16 games, not 160.

[major]

The Bills were on TV one day when I was a kid: November 15, 1987 at Cleveland Browns L 27–21

Even though the Bills lost, I told my dad this was my team. The next week he bought me a Bills shirt. I remember telling kids in middle school that the Bills were going to the Super Bowl every year. The teachers used to laugh at me and say yeah right. I have no connection to Buffalo or upstate New York. I have been to Buffalo twice in my life and been to more away Bills games than home games.

[Rocky Landing]

The Bills were on TV one day when I was a kid: November 15, 1987 at Cleveland Browns L 27–21

Even though the Bills lost, I told my dad this was my team. The next week he bought me a Bills shirt. I remember telling kids in middle school that the Bills were going to the Super Bowl every year. The teachers used to laugh at me and say yeah right. I have no connection to Buffalo or upstate New York. I have been to Buffalo twice in my life and been to more away Bills games than home games.

I'm quite surprised at how many Bills fans there are that aren't from WNY. I'm from Rochester, originally, but have lived in Los Angeles since '91. I know quite a few football fans here, and many of them have what I think of as a band-wagon mentality when it comes to the teams they have aligned themselves with. Consequently, I know Packers fans, Cowboys fans, Saints fans, Bears fans-- all teams with numerous playoff appearances in the last 15 years, or so. But, I've never met a Browns fan, or a Jags fan, or a Lions fan, or a Bills fan here in Los Angeles that wasn't from one of those regions.

 

I realize now that I was wrong. The Bills have a fan base that extends well beyond Western New York. Come to think of it, I think there might only be one team that really fits the description of a team that only people from the team's region are fans of: The Patriots-- the team everyone loves to hate.

[Mark Vader]

The Bills were on TV one day when I was a kid: November 15, 1987 at Cleveland Browns L 27–21

Even though the Bills lost, I told my dad this was my team. The next week he bought me a Bills shirt. I remember telling kids in middle school that the Bills were going to the Super Bowl every year. The teachers used to laugh at me and say yeah right. I have no connection to Buffalo or upstate New York. I have been to Buffalo twice in my life and been to more away Bills games than home games.

We're in the same boat, except for the fact that you've been to Buffalo twice as many times as I have.

[bowery4]

Puerile, OP gets points for that word. I didn't know there was a choice? We don't have to be Bills fans?

[Peace Frog]

Born in Cheektowaga in 1964. Moved to TX in '77. Followed the Sabres in the '70s but not the Bills until '88. Moved back to Buffalo in 1989. Attended the division clinching game against Miami, week 15 in 1990, and watched one of the uprights being thrown over the top of the upper deck. Was in attendance for the comeback game against the Oilers with my dad and a stripper from Club Diamond Dust. Attended the coldest playoff game in Bills' history against the Raiders in Jan. 1994.

 

You know, you just get hooked.

Edited July 8, 2014 by Peace Frog

[Captain Hindsight]

There is nothing better than opening day.

 

 

[bowery4]

Born in Cheektowaga in 1964. Moved to TX in '77. Followed the Sabres in the '70s but not the Bills until '88. Moved back to Buffalo in 1989. Attended the division clinching game against Miami, week 15 in 1990, and watched one of the uprights being thrown over the top of the upper deck. Was in attendance for the comeback game against the Oilers with my dad and a stripper from Club Diamond Dust. Attended the coldest playoff game in Bills' history against the Raiders in Jan. 1994.

 

You know, you just get hooked.

And Hookers obviously.

[cdubya]

Born and raised here in WNY. I think a lot of it ties into a feeling of comraderie that comes from being in the "Bills family". No matter how bad things are or how bad our record is for at least a few hours every Sunday morning you forget long enough to have a few beers and talk smack to any opposing fans you might come across. I was a young kid during the glory days, but truly didn't find a passion or at least really become a devoted fan until the mid 90's. I have seen nothing but disappointment, although I know many of you have suffered much longer than I. Maybe it's just the everlasting hope that pushes us on. I'm not to proud to admit that if the song "We Are the Champions" comes on , I usually start to close and my eyes and imagine myself being at the game watching as the clock runs out and the Bills are finally victorious as tears of joy stream down my face.

 

Born and raised here in WNY. I think a lot of it ties into a feeling of comraderie that comes from being in the "Bills family". No matter how bad things are or how bad our record is for at least a few hours every Sunday morning you forget long enough to have a few beers and talk smack to any opposing fans you might come across. I was a young kid during the glory days, but truly didn't find a passion or at least really become a devoted fan until the mid 90's. I have seen nothing but disappointment, although I know many of you have suffered much longer than I. Maybe it's just the everlasting hope that pushes us on. I'm not to proud to admit that if the song "We Are the Champions" comes on , I usually start to close and my eyes and imagine myself being at the game watching as the clock runs out and the Bills are finally victorious as tears of joy stream down my face.