Ralph Wilson Quotes Himself While Firing John Butler

[BuffaloRush]

I'm found an old video of Ralph WIlson announcing the firing of John Butler back in 2000.  Wow talk about bizarre.  Rather than just announcing the firing like most owners would do, he instead reads the press release out loud to a group of reporters word-for-word.  But what is hilarious is that the press release actually contains a direct quote from Wilson himself.  So as he read, he actually quotes himself.  And when he reads the quote he says "That was me.  I said that."  LOL.

 

I think toward the end here, Ralph was kind of losing it by giving these kind of press conferences.  If you watch some of Ralph's other press conferences in later years, they aren't much better.  Granted he was an 80 year old man, but these type of appearances don't really portray the Bulls in a good light.  I also think, this is where the Bills started to get a negative reputation around the league.   See for yourself.  

 

 

[atlbillsfan1975]

That was painful to watch. Mr Wilson gave us the Bills and I will choose to remember him during the SB era enjoying the fruits of his labor. It was during the mid to late 80’s I first got to meet Mr Wilson as a kid. He was always very kind to me and would remember who I was. I had no idea how special that was. I do now. 

[White Linen]

What's the point?  These appearances don't portray the "bulls" in a good light?  How so?  The man has passed - what a very odd thread to start.  

[Gugny]

3 minutes ago, White Linen said:

What's the point?  These appearances don't portray the "bulls" in a good light?  How so?  The man has passed - what a very odd thread to start.  

 

It might indicate why the Bills have had 17 total winning seasons since 1970,

[BuffaloRush]

1 minute ago, Gugny said:

 

It might indicate why the Bills have had 17 total winning seasons since 1970,

 

5 minutes ago, White Linen said:

What's the point?  These appearances don't portray the "bulls" in a good light?  How so?  The man has passed - what a very odd thread to start.  

What's the point - because it was a funny moment that I wanted to share.  Maybe you aren't aware but this is a Bills message board.   People share information about the team - past and present

[White Linen]

5 minutes ago, BuffaloRush said:

 

What's the point - because it was a funny moment that I wanted to share.  Maybe you aren't aware but this is a Bills message board.   People share information about the team - past and present

 

It's funny to take jabs at the dead?

[NewEra]

Wow.  Imagine if that press conference happened in this social media generation? He’d be the biggest laughing stock in the league.  No disrespect, I thank you Ralph, but wow.  That was brutal 

[fridge]

1 hour ago, White Linen said:

 

It's funny to take jabs at the dead?

 

Are you seriously that up tight? This is funny.  I'm sure even Ralph would have a laugh about it if he were alive...and not senile.

[SinceThe70s]

 

Didn't watch the video, don't care.

 

Posthumously disparaging Ralph Wilson when the team is still in Buffalo and coming off a classic Buffalo hometown win is distasteful and pointless to me

[Mr. WEO]

Still better and less embarrassing than Whaley's last presser.

 

THAT made the Bills a real laughing stock.

[Heavy Kevi]

2 hours ago, White Linen said:

 

It's funny to take jabs at the dead?

 

Sounds like you should find a "safe space" if you absolutely must find offense in something so innocuous.

 

If you are seriously offended by this, perhaps the internet is not for you.

 

Everyone (well, most everyone) respects what Ralph has done for the team, city, amd ultimately us. You have to admit there were some very strange happenings near the end. This was one of them. Reading a press release made up of almost exclusively quotes of yourself is wierd, he even read the "Wilson said" parts. Brutal. Perhaps thats why the Bills have gone the "one voice" route where Sean speaks for the franchise, since Terry is even less deft at public speaking than Rakph was.

[ganesh]

3 hours ago, BuffaloRush said:

I'm found an old video of Ralph WIlson announcing the firing of John Butler back in 2000.  Wow talk about bizarre.  Rather than just announcing the firing like most owners would do, he instead reads the press release out loud to a group of reporters word-for-word.  But what is hilarious is that the press release actually contains a direct quote from Wilson himself.  So as he read, he actually quotes himself.  And when he reads the quote he says "That was me.  I said that."  LOL.

 

I think toward the end here, Ralph was kind of losing it by giving these kind of press conferences.  If you watch some of Ralph's other press conferences in later years, they aren't much better.  Granted he was an 80 year old man, but these type of appearances don't really portray the Bulls in a good light.  I also think, this is where the Bills started to get a negative reputation around the league.   See for yourself.  

 

 

The Bills were hosed by ESPN when their buddy Tom Donahoe was canned.  They really took it to heart and made the Bills the Villain

[Ol Dirty B]

1 hour ago, Mr. WEO said:

Still better and less embarrassing than Whaley's last presser.

 

THAT made the Bills a real laughing stock.

 

You have the Pegulas to blame for that. 

10 minutes ago, ganesh said:

The Bills were hosed by ESPN when their buddy Tom Donahoe was canned.  They really took it to heart and made the Bills the Villain

 

This is a bit much. Do you have any evidence of this, or is this just more of the woe is me attitude that seems to permeate Buffalo and really WNY.

[GunnerBill]

8 hours ago, NewEra said:

Wow.  Imagine if that press conference happened in this social media generation? He’d be the biggest laughing stock in the league.  No disrespect, I thank you Ralph, but wow.  That was brutal 

 

But was he privy?  

[Call_Of_Ktulu]

8 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

Still better and less embarrassing than Whaley's last presser.

 

THAT made the Bills a real laughing stock.

Can someone post a link to this I want to laugh.

[BuffaloBill]

Ralph’s best years were those of the SB era.  Too bad he seemed to learn little from the time as the Bills organization regressed to the circus it was for most of the rest of its existence.  I keep wanting to believe that a corner has been turned under the Pegula’s but so far the results do not reflect this.

[Niagara Bill]

>

"We are giving Jim a Black Truck"

never a better speech from Ralphie.....broke up the whole crowd.

[LabattBlue]

...and in other news, the current month is December, the year is 2017, and more snow is on the way.

[Mr. WEO]

9 hours ago, Ol Dirty B said:

 

You have the Pegulas to blame for that. 

 

 

No he was a grown man telling the world that he couldn't really describe what his duties as GM were at that point.

 

He was a fraud.  A guy from the Steelers personnel dept who should never been elevated to GM--least of all by a team as desperate for experience and good decision making as the Bills.

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

making fun of a dead man...priceless

[BillsVet]

I'm not a huge RW fan, but a few years after this PC, it was Commissioner Tagliabue pushing a new CBA on the owners. Ralph (and Mike Brown) both voted against it and were roundly criticized for having done so. I remember calling him into question myself. 

 

About 2 years later, ownership opted out of that CBA early.  In this regard, RW was correct to oppose the 2006 CBA.

 

Every public figure is evaluated, fairly or unfairly, based on how they speak. I have no doubt RW was doing the best he could back then, but octogenarian humans aren't at the top of their game. The man made some terrible decisions and some good ones. I would let it be.

Edited December 14, 2017 by BillsVet

[Beast]

18 hours ago, White Linen said:

 

It's funny to take jabs at the dead?

 

Sometimes.

 

I have a few good Charlie Manson jokes. 

[KW95 - JA17]

This is funny.  Could be a SNL skit!

 

 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

17 hours ago, SinceThe70s said:

 

Didn't watch the video, don't care.

 

Posthumously disparaging Ralph Wilson when the team is still in Buffalo and coming off a classic Buffalo hometown win is distasteful and pointless to me

 

If anyone deserves posthumous disparaging, it's Ralph Wilson. I quit spending money on the Bills (tickets, gear, etc.) for the last 10 years of his life for a reason.

 

He was THE worst owner in the league for the last decade of his existence, and it's not even close.

 

 

[stevestojan]

19 hours ago, White Linen said:

 

It's funny to take jabs at the dead?

Lighten up, Susan. 

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

17 hours ago, SinceThe70s said:

 

Didn't watch the video, don't care.

 

Posthumously disparaging Ralph Wilson when the team is still in Buffalo and coming off a classic Buffalo hometown win is distasteful and pointless to me

 

....sure is besides being pointless.......he is gone but the Bills are STILL in Buffalo because of his iron clad agreement...not good enough though.....

[KW95 - JA17]

19 hours ago, White Linen said:

 

It's funny to take jabs at the dead?

 

 

Holy mother of God...even if he was alive I'd laugh at this.  Has nothing to do with the Dead.

[stevestojan]

Question: since Jesus is technically undead, are jokes about him OK? Just trying to establish the ground rules. 

 

I’ll hang up and listen.  

[Best Player Available]

6 hours ago, BillsVet said:

I'm not a huge RW fan, but a few years after this PC, it was Commissioner Tagliabue pushing a new CBA on the owners. Ralph (and Mike Brown) both voted against it and were roundly criticized for having done so. I remember calling him into question myself. 

 

About 2 years later, ownership opted out of that CBA early.  In this regard, RW was correct to oppose the 2006 CBA.

 

Every public figure is evaluated, fairly or unfairly, based on how they speak. I have no doubt RW was doing the best he could back then, but octogenarian humans aren't at the top of their game. The man made some terrible decisions and some good ones. I would let it be.

Yep, Ralph holding his ground on the CBA at the time was head scratcher. In the end he was not only vindicated but is still mentioned when conversations come up about it in the media. J. Jones is probably still fuming. Ralph was a good businessman. But it seemed he always put that end above winning teams. No revelation there. 

The SB era was all Polian, after he and later when  Butler got canned it was over. In the end he kept a NFL team viable in a poor market. For that he gets all the credit. 

The couple of times I met him he was down to earth, easy to chat with, and had a great sense of humor. 

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

19 minutes ago, Best Player Available said:

Yep, Ralph holding his ground on the CBA at the time was head scratcher. In the end he was not only vindicated but is still mentioned when conversations come up about it in the media. J. Jones is probably still fuming. Ralph was a good businessman. But it seemed he always put that end above winning teams. No revelation there. 

The SB era was all Polian, after he and later when  Butler got canned it was over. In the end he kept a NFL team viable in a poor market. For that he gets all the credit. 

The couple of times I met him he was down to earth, easy to chat with, and had a great sense of humor. 

 

 

...Ralph was a loyalist and his relationships were built on trust....after that era of upheaval and the Donohole debacle. he began promoting Brandon into positions NOT qualified for because of "trust".....he RE-TIRED Marv with new radials after Donohole again based on "trust"...his Inner Circle was woefully violated.....he got wind of Butler following AJ to SD and canned him because he violated the trust element.....ironically friends of mine were at OBD when the firing came down and I knew 30 minutes later....

Edited December 14, 2017 by OldTimeAFLGuy

[Big Turk]

20 hours ago, Gugny said:

 

It might indicate why the Bills have had 17 total winning seasons since 1970,

We'v won more playoff games than Detroit has at least 

[Coach Tuesday]

20 hours ago, White Linen said:

What's the point?  These appearances don't portray the "bulls" in a good light?  How so?  The man has passed - what a very odd thread to start.  

 

What did your screen name used to be?  I'm trying to figure out how to evaluate this response.

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

9 minutes ago, matter2003 said:

We'v won more playoff games than Detroit has at least 

 

...it all depends on the philosophy of ownership and the eventual transfer of ownership to usually children......Ralph earned the absentee cheapskate moniker in the 70's+ as far as reinvesting in the club versus watching his 25 grand investment grow as a 40 something...he eventually came around as his football interest grew but held the strings with Littmann being the REAL fly in the  ointment (1% owner gratis from Ralph protecting HIS coin).....Rooneys have been hands off and non-meddlesome during their Steelers tenure...Result? 3 HC's in 48 years and SIX Lombardis on the shelf...nuff said....DeBartolo was the owner face of the Niners but let Policy run the show....result: 4 Lombardis.....Pats Kraft may be the owner but BB is the face calling the shots....result: 5 Lombardis......Spanos turned Chargers over to his kid and you see the resulting train wreck.....Bidwell Sr turned Cards ops over to Jr and they became a competitive club......Wellington Mara turned ops over to John and the Jints are stinkers....Al Davis?....just Al...Jack Kent Cooke and the Deadskins?...always in the hunt...and the list goes on.....

[JohnC]

I am not and never was an apologist for Ralph Wilson. As an owner he was inept and outdated. While most responders are snickering with the clip my take is that the owner was right in firing John Butler.  At this stage Ralph was not a very polished speaker. However, that doesn't mean that the action he took against Butler was wrong. Butler was asked whether he was going to sign a new contract since his current contract was expiring. Not only was Butler was tired of working for a tough, meddling boss he also resented the initial contract offer which he considered insulting. Eventually the contract offer was at or at least close to a fair-market offer. Butler continued to stall. 

 

Ralph is no fool. He is a tough codger. He knew exactly what Butler was doing and what his intentions were. Butler had no intention to sign a new contract. So the boss fired him. That was an appropriate response by the proud man/owner. 

 

Ralph held a grudge against Butler because he felt that Butler was not only unloyal  but he also believed that the GM was working on a deal with another team while he was under contract. The suspicion gained credibility when Butler quickly signed a deal with the Chargers after his termination. To Ralph Wilson's credit Wilson took the initiative to see Butler while he was dying from cancer and made peace with him. That was an honorable act to take. 

 

So for those who are snickering at the clip although the style was not smooth there was substance and merit to his statement. 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

8 minutes ago, JohnC said:

I am not and never was an apologist for Ralph Wilson. As an owner he was inept and outdated. While most responders are snickering with the clip my take is that the owner was right in firing John Butler.  At this stage Ralph was not a very polished speaker. However, that doesn't mean that the action he took against Butler was wrong. Butler was asked whether he was going to sign a new contract since his current contract was expiring. Not only was Butler was tired of working for a tough, meddling boss he also resented the initial contract offer which he considered insulting. Eventually the contract offer was at or at least close to a fair-market offer. Butler continued to stall. 

 

Ralph is no fool. He is a tough codger. He knew exactly what Butler was doing and what his intentions were. Butler had no intention to sign a new contract. So the boss fired him. That was an appropriate response by the proud man/owner. 

 

Ralph held a grudge against Butler because he felt that Butler was not only unloyal  but he also believed that the GM was working on a deal with another team while he was under contract. The suspicion gained credibility when Butler quickly signed a deal with the Chargers after his termination. To Ralph Wilson's credit Wilson took the initiative to see Butler while he was dying from cancer and made peace with him. That was an honorable act to take. 

 

So for those who are snickering at the clip although the style was not smooth there was substance and merit to his statement. 

 

And then he botched things with Donahoe. And further complicated his botching of donahoe by hiring the likes of Marv, brandon and Nix.

 

Awful, spectacular in its awfulness when you think about it.

[JohnC]

6 minutes ago, joesixpack said:

 

And then he botched things with Donahoe. And further complicated his botching of donahoe by hiring the likes of Marv, brandon and Nix.

 

Awful, spectacular in its awfulness when you think about it.

As an owner Ralph Wilson made a lot of mistakes. That's not a revelation. You missed the point that I was responding to. I was discussing the Butler firing and his own press release.  You are going off in another direction that doesn't address what I stated. 

[BuffaloRush]

20 hours ago, SinceThe70s said:

 

Didn't watch the video, don't care.

 

Posthumously disparaging Ralph Wilson when the team is still in Buffalo and coming off a classic Buffalo hometown win is distasteful and pointless to me

Lighten up dude.  No one is being disparaged.  That's like saying anytime you are critical of a US President's tenure, it's posthumously disparaging him.  Give me a break.

 

Just laughing a very funny and odd moment which makes you reflect on the many suspect decisions over the past 20 years or so

[stevestojan]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

I am not and never was an apologist for Ralph Wilson. As an owner he was inept and outdated. While most responders are snickering with the clip my take is that the owner was right in firing John Butler.  At this stage Ralph was not a very polished speaker. However, that doesn't mean that the action he took against Butler was wrong. Butler was asked whether he was going to sign a new contract since his current contract was expiring. Not only was Butler was tired of working for a tough, meddling boss he also resented the initial contract offer which he considered insulting. Eventually the contract offer was at or at least close to a fair-market offer. Butler continued to stall. 

 

Ralph is no fool. He is a tough codger. He knew exactly what Butler was doing and what his intentions were. Butler had no intention to sign a new contract. So the boss fired him. That was an appropriate response by the proud man/owner. 

 

Ralph held a grudge against Butler because he felt that Butler was not only unloyal  but he also believed that the GM was working on a deal with another team while he was under contract. The suspicion gained credibility when Butler quickly signed a deal with the Chargers after his termination. To Ralph Wilson's credit Wilson took the initiative to see Butler while he was dying from cancer and made peace with him. That was an honorable act to take. 

 

So for those who are snickering at the clip although the style was not smooth there was substance and merit to his statement. 

Anyone have a TL;DR of this? 

[BuffaloRush]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

I am not and never was an apologist for Ralph Wilson. As an owner he was inept and outdated. While most responders are snickering with the clip my take is that the owner was right in firing John Butler.  At this stage Ralph was not a very polished speaker. However, that doesn't mean that the action he took against Butler was wrong. Butler was asked whether he was going to sign a new contract since his current contract was expiring. Not only was Butler was tired of working for a tough, meddling boss he also resented the initial contract offer which he considered insulting. Eventually the contract offer was at or at least close to a fair-market offer. Butler continued to stall. 

 

Ralph is no fool. He is a tough codger. He knew exactly what Butler was doing and what his intentions were. Butler had no intention to sign a new contract. So the boss fired him. That was an appropriate response by the proud man/owner. 

 

Ralph held a grudge against Butler because he felt that Butler was not only unloyal  but he also believed that the GM was working on a deal with another team while he was under contract. The suspicion gained credibility when Butler quickly signed a deal with the Chargers after his termination. To Ralph Wilson's credit Wilson took the initiative to see Butler while he was dying from cancer and made peace with him. That was an honorable act to take. 

 

So for those who are snickering at the clip although the style was not smooth there was substance and merit to his statement. 

That wasn't the point of my post - I never said it was the wrong to fire Butler.  But the way that Ralph publicly handled the press conference was a joke. In the history of the NFL how many other NFL owners quoted themselves?

 

"That's me.  I said that." LOL

[26CornerBlitz]

Start at thread to make fun of Ralph Wilson and another to praise Dunkirk Don.