Is following the Bills a fun pastime for you?

[TheFunPolice]

Somewhat but NE losses are some of my best football memories of the past 20 years

 

Sad but true.

[Tcali]

3 minutes ago, TheFunPolice said:

Somewhat but NE losses are some of my best football memories of the past 20 years

 

Sad but true.

"keep fighting for extra yards leodis...dont take a knee"--that was a great time

[Rob's House]

I still find it entertaining to follow the team, but it's become more of a background hobby than a focal point. I don't know if it's the boring state of the Bills, the NFL in general, getting older, or just having other interests, but it doesn't pull me in like it once did.

[Buftex]

I love the Bills.  Never miss a game...in fact, I've only missed one game since 1984.  It was the game against the Colts (coincidentally) where Howard Ballard missed a block, Jim Kelly got creamed, and the "bickering Bills" were born.  Watched it a few monthls later, on VHS.  I obsessed over this team since I was 7 (1972). 

 

At one point, during the Jauron era, my love of the team slipped a little.  I still remember the game...JP Losman was getting his "final chance" to prove that he had any value as a Buffalo Bill.  We were playing the Jets.  Late in the season.  It seemed like the Bills were going to ice away an unspectacular, but hard faught win.  All they had to do was run out the clock.  For some reason, they had JP roll out and try to run the ball...deep in their own end.  Predictably, JP had the ball swatted out of his hands, the Jets scooped it up, and ran the ball into the endzone for a win in the waining moments of the game. 

 

I hated Dick Jaruon so much...that season was so frustrating...I remember snapping after that play...everyone in the bar I was watching was angry, and slamming their cups down...I just started laughing hysterically...people thought I had lost my mind...I couldn't stop laughing...I wanted to, but I couldn't. 

 

My love of the Bills is still strong, but it has never been quite the same after that...just got so numb to the ineptidtude.  I will confess, last season, though I didn't think we had a great team at all, I did enjoy them making the playoffs.  I never expected it, never expected them to win that game..but it was fun, for one week, to remember how exciting it could be. 

 

I no longer read every article I can get my hands on...never look at team/league stats like I used to...don't tune into the national shows to see how they are talking about us...I just watch on Sundays, enjoy hanging out with other Bills fans, and love it when we win...but if we lose...eh, who cares anymore? I am 53 years old now...I have come to the realization that the Bills aren't likely to win anything in my liftime.  My brother passed away last fall...he was 60.  He was every bit the Bills fanatic as me...maybe even worse.  The last day I saw him, we watched the Bills lose to the Bengals last season.  He was really sick, we both knew he didn't have a lot of time left.  Our last cognisent conversation he said to me "don't waste too much time on the Bills...there is so many other things to enjoy"

[PauleeeWalnuts]

3 hours ago, PlayoffsPlease said:

Is following the Bills a fun past time for you?   I loved the Vikings game, most excited about the Bills I have been in years, it was a lot fun.  What is makes following the Bills fun for you currently? 

Following the Bills is like having cancer, and then your cancer gets cancer.

[Happy]

I usually still watch the games; somehow I can't quit, the Bills are part of me...always have been, and as painful as they are now.  Maybe I should get a less painful hobby, like pulling my fingernails out.

[SoCal Deek]

3 hours ago, Circlethewagon8404 said:

Loving the Bills is like being in an abusive relationship that you can't walk away from

This! Everyone tells you that you should just walk away but you return for more each week!

[The Frankish Reich]

Yes, it's fun!  Last year was an amazing roller coaster ride kind of fun. This season? Reminds me of how die-hard Cubs fans found it "fun" even in the middle of the long, long generations of futility. (Or Red Sox fans before that.)  I've seen some comments here lately about too much bitching and whining. You know what? That's part of the fun too (maybe all of the fun) when things are going poorly!  The older I get, the more I understand that. Hey, it's not real life, it's a game. We all kind of pretend that a bunch of guys from Florida, California, Pennsylvania, Texas, etc. who tug on a Bills jersey are somehow "us," even though the very same guys were "them" yesterday and will be "them" tomorrow. 

[NoHuddleKelly12]

4 hours ago, JaCrispy said:

Agreed...I can’t remember the last time I had fun watching them..I even question why I continue to torture myself...I’ve stopped going to games and I keep thinking that one of these days I will stop watching altogether because I really don’t feel they will ever be good- or entertaining to watch for that matter...the past few years I find myself apathetic as to whether they win or lose...i feel my fandom is all but dried up, unfortunately...to put it this way- they simply never reward me for all of my emotional investment I have made over the years and I’m just tired of giving anymore without any reciprocation.

Unconditional love doesn’t expect anything in return. So I guess that’s what I have towards them since I can’t rely on them to give me squat. That and I always make things harder on myself than they should be so why would it be any different with who I root for? Grew up in Steeler country, yet am a Bills fan, go figure. Ironically, I do root for the Pirates and the Pens, but just had to miss out on all those Super Bowl wins lol.

[QCity]

Absolutely!

 

[NewEra]

Extremely fun for men. Stop watching if it’s not

[Ol Dirty B]

4 hours ago, frostbitmic said:

It comes down to either following the Bills or clubbing baby seals ... I end up with less blood on my clothes clubbing seals.

 

You're a funny *****.

 

Is it fun? I guess so. In a weird way, I should probably see a therapist about it.

2 hours ago, Buftex said:

I love the Bills.  Never miss a game...in fact, I've only missed one game since 1984.  It was the game against the Colts (coincidentally) where Howard Ballard missed a block, Jim Kelly got creamed, and the "bickering Bills" were born.  Watched it a few monthls later, on VHS.  I obsessed over this team since I was 7 (1972). 

 

At one point, during the Jauron era, my love of the team slipped a little.  I still remember the game...JP Losman was getting his "final chance" to prove that he had any value as a Buffalo Bill.  We were playing the Jets.  Late in the season.  It seemed like the Bills were going to ice away an unspectacular, but hard faught win.  All they had to do was run out the clock.  For some reason, they had JP roll out and try to run the ball...deep in their own end.  Predictably, JP had the ball swatted out of his hands, the Jets scooped it up, and ran the ball into the endzone for a win in the waining moments of the game. 

 

I hated Dick Jaruon so much...that season was so frustrating...I remember snapping after that play...everyone in the bar I was watching was angry, and slamming their cups down...I just started laughing hysterically...people thought I had lost my mind...I couldn't stop laughing...I wanted to, but I couldn't. 

 

My love of the Bills is still strong, but it has never been quite the same after that...just got so numb to the ineptidtude.  I will confess, last season, though I didn't think we had a great team at all, I did enjoy them making the playoffs.  I never expected it, never expected them to win that game..but it was fun, for one week, to remember how exciting it could be. 

 

I no longer read every article I can get my hands on...never look at team/league stats like I used to...don't tune into the national shows to see how they are talking about us...I just watch on Sundays, enjoy hanging out with other Bills fans, and love it when we win...but if we lose...eh, who cares anymore? I am 53 years old now...I have come to the realization that the Bills aren't likely to win anything in my liftime.  My brother passed away last fall...he was 60.  He was every bit the Bills fanatic as me...maybe even worse.  The last day I saw him, we watched the Bills lose to the Bengals last season.  He was really sick, we both knew he didn't have a lot of time left.  Our last cognisent conversation he said to me "don't waste too much time on the Bills...there is so many other things to enjoy"

 

Man, that is some depressing *****... I don't even know what to say other than I wish you the best.

[Buffalo Barbarian]

I love football, we have a team, works for me, glory days just around the corner gentlemen.

 

 

[Chandler#81]

7 hours ago, Mrbojanglezs said:

At this point it's like a substance abuse addiction. You know it's killing you but you can't stop 

 

Smoking is less harmful.

[BobbyC81]

8 hours ago, JaCrispy said:

Agreed...I can’t remember the last time I had fun watching them..I even question why I continue to torture myself...I’ve stopped going to games and I keep thinking that one of these days I will stop watching altogether because I really don’t feel they will ever be good- or entertaining to watch for that matter...the past few years I find myself apathetic as to whether they win or lose...i feel my fandom is all but dried up, unfortunately...to put it this way- they simply never reward me for all of my emotional investment I have made over the years and I’m just tired of giving anymore without any reciprocation.

 

I feel the same as you.  I let the horrible end to the Houston game get to me and also wondered why I continue to put myself thru that. This week, the game was so pathetic that my disgust went away and I watched the exciting end of some other early games, the Warriors and the exciting Kansas City game and the Bills loss didn't bug me as much.

 

I find myself on the fence though as to whether I want to watch next Monday's game. It has the potential to be real ugly.

 

You know, McDermott has shown the ability to rally the troops following bad games (and the three in a row last season) that I found myself somewhat "trusting the process".  However, after yesterday's game and the Patriots upcoming, I'm leaning the other way. Hopefully, with all the home games in the 2nd half of the season, maybe they can win a few and renew some promise for next year.

[The Process]

FUN! YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT FUN?

[gjv001]

Is there a possibility that kids growing up in Buffalo rooting for the Bills and Sabres could unknowingly develope a losing mentality? Should there be a warning label to become a Bills/Sabres fan? 

[billsfan_34]

It has turned from a once blossoming relationship to one of misery, dysfunction, and heartbreak.

[machine gun kelly]

When we are competitive, yes, but this is awful.  The biggest disappointment was watching the defense play so bad against the Colts.  I think Anderson considering played better than expected, and will be good for Allen for a few weeks.

 

I’m doing something I haven’t in 20 years.  I’m cancelling my ticket, and if I want to see a game I’ll go to the Legion with my dad.  It is just not worth this exorbitant expense to be horribly disappointed almost every week.

 

[Da webster guy]

12 hours ago, RaoulDuke79 said:

In times like these, the games are pretty much only a reason to  get out of the house on Sundays to drink a few beers, eat some food and socialize with like minded folks. I've really been trying to make a concerted effort not to let the performance of the Bills affect my mental state one way or the other. I'm making small in roads.

 

Yeah that's about where I am too.   The Vikes game was so much fun to watch.  I'll admit with Josh out it's not nearly as exciting, I know the kids numbers aren't good but he just entertains me every time he's in.   The diving TD's, the hurdle, etc.   Threw his best back shoulder pass of the season the play before he got hurt.

 

I like watching the BIlls even when they lose, just for the development part of it.  Love the rookies, nice to see Zay getting open and catching the ball like he did in college.  The dude was dominant in many games back in school, including the senior bowl he lit it up.   He can emerge and be a solid Woods type guy for us.   I had low expectations for the season, as all teams with rookie qb's should have.   I also think our defense is going to play great on Monday night.   We can get to Brady, and that's always fun.

[Freddie's Dead]

[row_33]

when i started up again with season tickets in 2002 a few football fans laughed and said that it was the closest thing to NFL football, Detroit was another 30 minutes drive.

 

 

[Soda Popinski]

Admittedly I enjoy the offseason more than the regular season now.   I can see the team making some moves at that time that should actually steer us towards relevancy.   This year has not been fun, but there are ebbs and flows you enjoy the good ones and try not to lose your **** over the bad.   

[Peevo]

It's a frustrating labor of self-inflicted pain. To be a Buffalo sports fan is to experience pain. There is simply no other way to explain. We choose to experience pain on a daily, weekly, yearly basis. It is unhealthy. 

 

I think some fans, myself included, were cautiously optimistic that McDermott and co could build something, but this crucifixion to "in Buffalo, you have to run the ball", play defense, keep it close mantra is stale, old, and quite frankly poor strategy.

 

Other teams use the passing rules to their advantage. How often are we gonna see Brady on a 3rd and 4 throw deep, incomplete, and draw a holding or PI? This rarely happens to the Bills.

 

Until we have a management and coaching staff in place that understands the present and future of this sport is in the passing game, they're never really gonna be any good.

 

Sure, you wanna win close games, go 7-9 every year? (Hey at least we're not the Browns right?) I define "any good" as winning division titles, winning playoff games, hosting playoff games, and winning championships. I do not have confidence the Jauron-ball of run, punt, kick FGs, hold to FGs and maybe win 18-13 in the end is sound long term strategy. 

 

As an entertainment product, the Bills are sorely behind. Simply "being an NFL team" is not enough for a generation of consumers used to click, click, fun. More people watch other people play video games than watched the Stanley Cup Finals. Sports is aging fast, folks. Its all coming to an end soon enough.

[cd1]

It was when I actually thought they were at least trying to win.

 

Lately, I have just had to turn the channel - ugh!

 

I keep checking TBD to see if there is any sign that McBeane is trying to improve the offense in any way...

 

I feel real sad for Josh Allen because, if there is a way to ruin a rookie QB, McBeane will will find it.

 

 

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

Home games?  The tailgating experience.  Away games?  My recliner.

[row_33]

11 minutes ago, AlCowlingsTaxiService said:

Home games?  The tailgating experience.  Away games?  My recliner.

 

good strategy!

 

nice name and avatar...  ?

[PeterDude]

It's not fun at all, stopped going to games in the early 2000's, said I'd go back when they stopped putting piles of ***** on the field season after season.  Still waiting.

[Mark Vader]

Yes, it is fun.

I love the Bills and I love the game of football. Professional & College, I watch as much of it as I can.

Yes it has been a drag watching the Bills throughout the 2000's, but I wouldn't miss a game no matter what.

I'm an odd fan. Born, raised and living in California with no ties to Buffalo or western New York at all.

Became a fan mostly because of Jim Kelly. I remembered him during his college days and paid attention to him in his early career. Then I just started cheering for the Bills.

Bills fans were nowhere to be found where I lived when I was a kid. I was all by myself. As I got older I finally got to meet other Bills fans. Lots of great people, and I have made many friends with them over the years.

I always looked forward to when the Bills came out west. I'd go to as many games as I could and would see a lot of fans who would travel far to just to see the Bills play and have a great time tailgating. Nobody parties like Bills fans.

 

Then this season came along and for the first time I went to city of Buffalo for my first ever Bills home game. It went beyond my expectations. I had the best time. Met a lot of people who had only known online and I finally made it to the Pinto tailgate.

It was a time that I will never forget and it is one that I want to relive again. i will be back in Buffalo for other games in the future.

I come to this board every day. I watch intently during the off season to see what the Bills are doing. I have been attending the NFL Draft since 2001 and always look for other Bills fans that weekend to cheer on our picks.

 

Yes, the Buffalo Bills are fun for me. I will keep watching them no matter what until the end of my days. GO BILLS!!!

[The Real Buffalo Joe]

I used to live and die by the Bills. If we won, I was happy all week. Lose? I was just pissed off till about Tuesday or Wednesday. Maybe its finding my future wife. Maybe I've matured. Maybe just getting used to the Bills not being that great. Probably a mixture, but I don't let the losses effect me. I get angry during the game, because in a weird unexplainable way, it's part of the fun of being a fan. But by the time I get to the car, I'm over it.

 

I'll still be watching this year. Partially because I'm still a fan and want to see how the team (hopefully) develops. But mostly, as an excuse to hang out with my Buffalo friends. Other than that @Jauronimo fella, they're all fun people.

[PastaJoe]

I’ve been rooting for the Bills since I was a kid cutting articles out of the Courier Express to paste in a notebook during OJ’s 2003 yards season. But the last decade of mediocrity has numbed my feelings, so I don’t get excited anymore. I watch and follow them objectively, but at this point I find the online and radio debates about them more entertaining than the games. I’m emotionally invested in the Sabres, whose young talent is finally giving hope for the future.

[BillsfanAZ]

Fun and the Bills in the same sentence.....rare. The Vikings game was fun. I watch no matter what. Doesnt matter that they are getting blown out. I watch to see what players are worth keeping and which arent. I want to see why things work and why they dont. Usually I am screaming at the TV but not this season. This season I lowered my expectations to just wanting to see Allen grow. Now that Allen is not playing I am watching the players go through the motions on offense knowing they dont have much talent. The Colts game I just stared at the TV but I made myself watch til the end. 

[WyoRN]

I've been a Wyoming Cowboys fan for many years, being a Bills fan just seemed like a logical progression.  I get to hope for the best and be happily amazed when it actually happens.

 

[dpberr]

It's ok. The Bills are still important but to me but I don't spend the nice fall Sundays watching games or plan my life around seeing the games.  

 

I probably enjoy this site more than the actual Bills game over the years - reading the vast array of different opinions, participating in discussion.

[Jauronimo]

This year has been challenging to watch.  Especially so since Allen got hurt so we don't even get to monitor his progress.  But I still look forward to going to the bar every Sunday and hanging out with my new friends. Even @The Real Buffalo Joe. The 90 minutes before the game starts are usually the most fun.

[kkim0904]

Yes, in a way it is not fun as it used back in 90s, but I cannot stop following my BILLS, win or loss.  It is like a gambling, before the game, I have expectation they will somehow come up with a win or play good game, but Realty "No".

[BuffalOhio]

As a guy whose nickname is "Buffalo," it's embarrassing how bad this team has been.  It is no longer fun, and I believe I am letting it ruin my Mondays.  I will find out on Monday the 12th because I will not have chance to watch the Jets game on the 11th.  Going up to Plattsburgh to watch the nephew's college hockey games.  Can't wait!

 

It used to be fun, but lately it hasn't been.  I think McDermott is full of himself.  Screw the process; screw culture; GET. SOME. TALENT.  Good Lord look how many good to very good players they've let go.

[Golden*Wheels]

I find the Bills most fun somewhere after the draft and FA and before the actual season starts.

[Success]

Yeah - fun isn’t the right word.  I’d call it fulfilling, though, in a weird sort of way.

 

The Bills are one of my passions.  I don’t have many, and you really need ‘em in life.

[BADOLBILZ]

 

I think if you are honest with yourself about the product and keep it in perspective it's fun even if they suck.

 

Some of you lustily defend obviously shaky/stupid decisions and then die a thousand deaths over the predictable result and take out the accompanying frustration with the team on anyone who mentions the ineptitude.    If you can't laugh at your sh*tty professional team you don't understand that it's just entertainment.