How can you possibly have a SECOND team that you root for?

[Bing Bong]

Cause I can do what I want. I just adopted a second team right now just to spite chu

[Not at the table Karlos]

After the Bills im a fan of different players not really another team.

 

Khalil Mack playing for the bears is tough. 

[SinceThe70s]

Short answer is because I never set foot in Buffalo until about 28 years after I decided the Bills were my FIRST team.

 

[sfladave]

The Sabres and the Suicidal Saucies, other than that I can root for the game for anyone playing against the *cheatriots, dolphins or jests are playing!

I answered this without reading all the previous posts first which I think I may do more often or not hmmm!

[NoSaint]

I enjoy football and go to most/all saints home games any given season because of the fun of the event. Clearly it’s more fun when they win and there are players I enjoy. I still rocked Zubaz when the bills came to town. 

 

Does that bother you?

[BobbyC81]

I like Drew Brees so I root for the Saints when they’re not playing the Bills.  I like Aaron Rodgers, liked to watch Favre and started rooting for the Packers when Buffalo area native Don Majikowski when he was QB, except when they played the Bills.

 

 I moved to the Bay Area, so I rooted for the Raiders.

 

Following the Bills since 1970, and with their limited number of playoff appearances, I had to root for someone in the playoffs.

[Another Fan]

I guess the Bengals love is over.  No one mentioned them 

[Your Brown Eye]

Bills fan first and foremost. But the past 20 years of playoff drought had me "taking interest" in the Steelers come playoff time, I always admired their defenses but that has been futile as of late. That said my place is full of Bills gear and not 1 item of Steelers.

[eball]

Here's how my rooting interests are decided.  If the Bills aren't playing, I first assess whether any particular result is more favorable to Buffalo's positioning.  If so, that's what I'm rooting for.  If not, then it's really just a matter of which team I dislike less and I'm probably rooting for some fantasy (or gambling) aspect.

 

Edited March 2, 2019 by eball

[Chandler#81]

Being older than the Bills, I was an NFL fan 1st. Of course there was instant allegiance to the minor league Bills when the AFL began, but Lombardi’s Packers were incredibly good and watching Johnny U play QB for Baltimore is what made me want to play. The Bills became Very good and ruled the AFL and the hearts of WNY. I was an instant fan of Namath, though always cheered for Buffalo when the 2 played. Favorite memory of that era was beating the Jets 37-35 in ‘68, picking Namath off 5X, w/ 3 Pick 6’s. Our Only win of the season - that helped land OJ. But I LOVED when they beat the Colts in the 1st ever Super Bowl. As the Bills declined (and Lamonica gave way to the Snake) Maddens’ Raiders were must watch tv. Yet my favorite memory of that era was beating them Opening week on MNF at Home, ‘74. 

Like Machine Gun Kelly, I’ve been a Floridian (by Choice!) for nearly 3 decades, but I hope my ‘home team’ Jags relocate across the pond. I’ve had DIRECTV since ‘96, singularly to watch my Bills EVERY Sunday. Now, I stream the games. But with SOOOOO many seasons of losing football, stingy ownership ever threatening to move the team, and a swirling cesspool of terrible coaches and draft picks, it’s not a character assignation to find solace in other teams good fortune, as the OP implies. Simply put, it’s an abusive marriage that lasts a lifetime.

Doesn’t mean I don’t ‘look!’..

[SpunkysSD]

Any team Frank Reich coaches

[ThurmasThoman]

Having kids changed my perspective on sports. 

A) it made me care a whole lot less, because Sunday afternoon is 1/4 of a weekend, so those are prime hours to spend doing things with them.

B) everyone out there is someone's kid, so i know how proud their parents must be of them, so i don't want to see anyone get hurt and i want a good, clean game and dont begrudge anyone their success, even if it comes at the expense of buffalo.

C) living in new england, being witness to the greatest sports dynasty in history, and surrounded by passionate fans who wear their jerseys all year long like buffalo in the 90s, trying to prevent a young boy from going in that direction--to instead cheer for a historically inept franchise that had a half decade of success a quarter century ago--is an exercise in futility. although he wears bills gear and cheers for them, hes still too young to really grasp the concept of it all, i would never, in a million years, teach him to "hate" the patriots. if he picks that up from me, by osmosis, so be it. 

D) i go to a lot of minor league sports events with him, and i clap for a good play regardless. im not going to boo some 20 year old minor leaguer who dekes a defenseman on his ass, or throws down a rididculous windmill, or pitches a complete game no hitter, just because he was drafted by a team that has a minor league affiliate in a different city than the city i just traveled to which is close to my house, to watch them play a minor league game.

E) you begin to realize that the people who are so passionate as to feel hate in sporting situations are, by and large, losers who argue on the internet too. and while thats fun from age 12 to about 25 or so, and i recognize my son will do it too, at some point you have to grow up and stop doing that. and as a father, its best to set an example and laugh at people that do it, so my son knows theyre losers and nothing to aspire to.

[vorpma]

21 minutes ago, JohnnyGold said:

Having kids changed my perspective on sports. 

A) it made me care a whole lot less, because Sunday afternoon is 1/4 of a weekend, so those are prime hours to spend doing things with them.

B) everyone out there is someone's kid, so i know how proud their parents must be of them, so i don't want to see anyone get hurt and i want a good, clean game and dont begrudge anyone their success, even if it comes at the expense of buffalo.

C) living in new england, being witness to the greatest sports dynasty in history, and surrounded by passionate fans who wear their jerseys all year long like buffalo in the 90s, trying to prevent a young boy from going in that direction--to instead cheer for a historically inept franchise that had a half decade of success a quarter century ago--is an exercise in futility. although he wears bills gear and cheers for them, hes still too young to really grasp the concept of it all, i would never, in a million years, teach him to "hate" the patriots. if he picks that up from me, by osmosis, so be it. 

D) i go to a lot of minor league sports events with him, and i clap for a good play regardless. im not going to boo some 20 year old minor leaguer who dekes a defenseman on his ass, or throws down a rididculous windmill, or pitches a complete game no hitter, just because he was drafted by a team that has a minor league affiliate in a different city than the city i just traveled to which is close to my house, to watch them play a minor league game.

E) you begin to realize that the people who are so passionate as to feel hate in sporting situations are, by and large, losers who argue on the internet too. and while thats fun from age 12 to about 25 or so, and i recognize my son will do it too, at some point you have to grow up and stop doing that. and as a father, its best to set an example and laugh at people that do it, so my son knows theyre losers and nothing to aspire to.

The Bills are my team, grew up during the 1960's in a family of original season ticket holders and witnessed some really great AFL games. After the Bills I root for any original AFL team except the Titans or Texans (remember the Oiler's); in 1969 the fans in War Memorial Stadium gave a long standing ovation to the world champion New York Jets in the home opener. I can hold root for the Dolphins when it helps the Bills (still remember the streak) and I don't suffer from the intense hate of the Patriots that many seem to be afflicted with.

 

Great post by Johnny Gold!!! It's only a game, life is too short, enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Buffalo03]

10 hours ago, Bakin said:

Pardon the bad grammar....and I know I probably asked this question before...

 

but how in the holy hell can a person root for the Bills (bleeding red white and blue, as one poster suggested) and still have a ‘backup’ or secondary team??

 

i really don’t get it. 

 

Can someone explain?

For me I bleed Bills red, white and blue and then I also bleed whatever colors the Patriots opponents are each week. So not necessarily one secondary team but a bunch each week

[shane nelson]

I have lived in NJ for 30+ years. I have had Giants seats for 25+ years because I love football.  I have taken my kids to Giants games their entire life.  Almost all of my friends are Giants fans.  My house is split.  My wife, son and daughter are Giants first, my other daughter and I are Bill all the way.  With that said, while I enjoy watching the Giants and hope they win, there is nowhere near the same passion as the Bills.  I don't read Giants blogs or really follow their players.  

 

Being a fan of two teams has allowed my family and I to enjoy the passion of football, tailgate every Sunday and have wonderful memories with great friends.      

[Nervous Guy]

My wife and daughters ask me this all the time...I reply "I only like one team....The Bills....period"....they don't get it.

[Cripple Creek]

2 minutes ago, Nervous Guy said:

My wife and daughters ask me this all the time...I reply "I only like one team....The Bills....period"....they don't get it.

At least they do understand everything else about you.

[SinceThe70s]

1 hour ago, JohnnyGold said:

Having kids changed my perspective on sports. 

A) it made me care a whole lot less, because Sunday afternoon is 1/4 of a weekend, so those are prime hours to spend doing things with them.

B) everyone out there is someone's kid, so i know how proud their parents must be of them, so i don't want to see anyone get hurt and i want a good, clean game and dont begrudge anyone their success, even if it comes at the expense of buffalo.

C) living in new england, being witness to the greatest sports dynasty in history, and surrounded by passionate fans who wear their jerseys all year long like buffalo in the 90s, trying to prevent a young boy from going in that direction--to instead cheer for a historically inept franchise that had a half decade of success a quarter century ago--is an exercise in futility. although he wears bills gear and cheers for them, hes still too young to really grasp the concept of it all, i would never, in a million years, teach him to "hate" the patriots. if he picks that up from me, by osmosis, so be it. 

D) i go to a lot of minor league sports events with him, and i clap for a good play regardless. im not going to boo some 20 year old minor leaguer who dekes a defenseman on his ass, or throws down a rididculous windmill, or pitches a complete game no hitter, just because he was drafted by a team that has a minor league affiliate in a different city than the city i just traveled to which is close to my house, to watch them play a minor league game.

E) you begin to realize that the people who are so passionate as to feel hate in sporting situations are, by and large, losers who argue on the internet too. and while thats fun from age 12 to about 25 or so, and i recognize my son will do it too, at some point you have to grow up and stop doing that. and as a father, its best to set an example and laugh at people that do it, so my son knows theyre losers and nothing to aspire to.

 

That's gold Johnny, GOLD!!

 

I'm an out of towner too. My kids gravitated to the Bills because of me, if they'd gone another direction I would have let it happen.

 

We just had John Tavares make his return to Long Island the other night and there was a lot of vitriol thrown his way. Some of it was humorous but overall it was a classless display by the local fans. The guy played 9 years for us, was a great player and an upstanding citizen who had the opportunity to play the second half of his career for the team he grew up with. Sucks that he left, but he's the type of player any sports fan should appreciate. That was the message to my boys. 

[fansince88]

Im a Mets fan yet if @Degenerate Mike in HHDS Baltimore team made it to the WS I would root for them. Also Im an Islanders fan but when the Sabres hit that 10 game winning streak I was wishing for 11. Its called being a fan of the sport. Heck, I was even happy to see the Pats get good so fast...  my joy didnt last long but to live the era we are in 20 years from now people will only remember it and some wont. It is being a fan of the sport. Im afraid it is people like @Bakin with this attitude with a bit of fire water fight in the mens room at half time. At the end of the day it is just a game. Just a sport. Just a few hunderd dollars to go. Just another Sunday. It isnt life. That is much deeper. 

[Buddy Hix]

11 hours ago, BillsSB2020 said:

Same. With one glaring exception.

Is the glaring exception, Ohio? I hope you have better taste than that, ?.

[stony]

Cheer on whoever you want. Telling someone they can’t root for more than one team is a bit too tribal for my tastes. 

Edited March 2, 2019 by stony

[BarleyNY]

 I grew up in Cleveland and  have always rooted for the Browns.  They’re my #1.  Great city and fans.  I live in Buffalo now.  Great city and fans.  So I adopted them as my 2nd team. Heat to head I would root for the Bills over the Browns if they had something to gain and the Browns didn’t.  For example, if the Browns were out of the playoff hunt and the Bills were in it.  Otherwise it’s Browns, then Bills, then against some teams - Pats, Steelers, Ravens.  

[YodaMan79]

It was pretty easy.  Growing up in Rochester being a Bills fan and having no geographic ties to any other major sports team besides the Sabers, I've always followed other sports teams at a national level.  I liked the Knicks and Orioles based on having the MSG channel, VanGundy going to my high school and having the prospects roll through with the AAA team.  That just wasn't enough though.  Besides the Bills it was never a diehard attraction to other teams.  I moved to the Philadelphia area after graduating and lived 5 minutes from the stadiums on the Broad St. line.  With my proximity to all of the venues and being exposed to a media market that serves over 6.5 million people with intense/in-depth coverage it was hard to not take some of it in through osmosis.  The Phillies were the first team to bring me in, I went to a lot a games when their young core was just coming up.  It was an excitement that permitted through the city.  The Eagles were young up and comers, too.  Not to mention, they seemed like a good group of guys and had an overall likable team personality (besides the passive aggressive, sensitive baby QB).  My Bills fandom never wavered during this time, despite their overall ineptitude.  I had the direct TV Sunday ticket bills to prove it.  It was easier being in an NFC town, in this division already hating the Giants, Cowboys and Redskins for obvious reasons.  And, who wasn't a Randell Cunningham fan in the early 90's?  I never had a natural animosity towards the Eagles.  I simply have a NFC and AFC team.  When they play each other I root for the Bills 100%.  I've been able to extract joy bi-proxy, and thankfully didn't take the simple stance of "if you like two teams, you like zero".  If that was the case, I most likely wouldn't care about the NFL.  What the Bills have put fans through since 1998, up until last year has been unacceptable.  I thankfully was able to extract a little joy from the league when the Bills were a laughing stock and amongst the dregs of the league.    

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

10 hours ago, Aussie Joe said:

 

Particularly if your primary one never puts out.

That’s the disappointing part 

[The Now Moment]

At the end of the day, it's entertainment.  Does it really matter in our lives, no.  Step back and see the bigger picture.  So why can't we watch a game where we root for another team or better yet, root for both of the teams that are playing?  I want to see a good game, that's why I'm watching, entertain me.  Everyone is different. If you are a competitive me-vs-you type of person, you are probably on the side of being a Bills fan only.  If you look at it as entertainment and don't have the need to be competitive, then every team in the league can be interesting to watch. As I get older, however, I find myself pulling away from the sport because of what it has shown itself to be.   Many more important things to do in this life than to just be a Bills fan.  

 

 

[The Wiz]

I like to think of it like this. 

 

The Bills are my wife. I have a vested interest in everything they do and can either make or break me. 

 

Every other team is my side chick where I have no strong feelings about them but are good for the entertainment. 

 

And no I don't have a side chick, just making a comparison. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

13 hours ago, Bakin said:

Pardon the bad grammar....and I know I probably asked this question before...

but how in the holy hell can a person root for the Bills (bleeding red white and blue, as one poster suggested) and still have a ‘backup’ or secondary team??

i really don’t get it. 

Can someone explain?

 

Haven't you asked this question before?  No matter.

 

It's pretty easy for me.  I like the Green Bay Packers.  I like the small market factor and the community ownership (only team allowed to be owned that way, grandfathered).  I had a good friend in graduate school from a farm in Northern Minn.  and it gave us something to talk about.

 

It doesn't affect me rooting for the Bills at all except once every four years when the Bills play them, in which case of course I want the Packers to implode. 

 

I don't get the problem, can you explain? 

 

 

[muppy]

I live in san diego and alex and dean spanos name is mud as far as Im concerned. La Chargers indeed **smirk** Count me a RAIDERS fan now u schmucks. Of course the Bills are my team but I like to party with the Raiders crowd and we have storied history we razz each other and on it goes.... 

[BBILL12]

I'm a Bills fan first. Always. I spent my college years in Pittsburgh during the Cowboys-Steelers SB rivalry, so Pittsburgh is my second team to watch. My affinity for them does not match my love of the Bills. Witness that I wear the Bills logo every day. There is no shame in having a second team to root for in the NFL. I'm also a Florida State fan thanks to the Bobby Bowden years. I love pain, obviously.

[vorpma]

1 hour ago, shane nelson said:

I have lived in NJ for 30+ years. I have had Giants seats for 25+ years because I love football.  I have taken my kids to Giants games their entire life.  Almost all of my friends are Giants fans.  My house is split.  My wife, son and daughter are Giants first, my other daughter and I are Bill all the way.  With that said, while I enjoy watching the Giants and hope they win, there is nowhere near the same passion as the Bills.  I don't read Giants blogs or really follow their players.  

 

Being a fan of two teams has allowed my family and I to enjoy the passion of football, tailgate every Sunday and have wonderful memories with great friends.      

For most, that is what being a fan is suppose to do; great post!

[Stranded in Boston]

Well, you know, I've lived in Boston for 34 years, and you know, with time your feelings soften, blah blah, blah ...  

BS. I &^%$# HATE THE PATRIOTS WITH EVERY FIBER OF MY BEING. And so do my kids. And so will their kids, so help me God.  Amen.   ?

[vorpma]

1 minute ago, muppy said:

I live in san diego and alex and dean spanos name is mud as far as Im concerned. La Chargers indeed **smirk** Count me a RAIDERS fan now u schmucks. Of course the Bills are my team but I like to party with the Raiders crowd and we have storied history we razz each other and on it goes.... 

I have removed the Chargers from my original AFL list based on the screwing they gave San Diego; somewhere Sid Gilliam is weeping!

6 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Haven't you asked this question before?  No matter.

 

It's pretty easy for me.  I like the Green Bay Packers.  I like the small market factor and the community ownership (only team allowed to be owned that way, grandfathered).  I had a good friend in graduate school from a farm in Northern Minn.  and it gave us something to talk about.

 

It doesn't affect me rooting for the Bills at all except once every four years when the Bills play them, in which case of course I want the Packers to implode. 

 

I don't get the problem, can you explain? 

 

 

I love the Packers too, and the fact they are a small town market and thrive! So much history and memories from Green Bay except for the first two Super Bowls ha ha!

[muppy]

2 minutes ago, vorpma said:

I have removed the Chargers from my original AFL list based on the screwing they gave San Diego; somewhere Sid Gilliam is weeping!

yeah well not to derail the thread but suffice it to say CONCUR. That and ,,,nevermind dont get me started lol

[vorpma]

29 minutes ago, BarleyNY said:

 I grew up in Cleveland and  have always rooted for the Browns.  They’re my #1.  Great city and fans.  I live in Buffalo now.  Great city and fans.  So I adopted them as my 2nd team. Heat to head I would root for the Bills over the Browns if they had something to gain and the Browns didn’t.  For example, if the Browns were out of the playoff hunt and the Bills were in it.  Otherwise it’s Browns, then Bills, then against some teams - Pats, Steelers, Ravens.  

Some trivia - during the 1960's, channel 4 - WBEN had the broadcasting rights to the Browns and the Buffalo area seen the Browns home and away every weekend!

[BuffAlone]

I moved to the Charlotte area in '95. The day the Panthers played their very first game. Polian, Reich, Metzelars, etc. It was easy to root for them. And this was before streaming, and any other options to watch the Bills other than the cost of Sunday ticket. So, I adopted them slightly, just to have SOME kind of football. Bills are my team. No others. But I still to this day keep an eye on the Panthers even tho I moved back north 10 years ago. My immediate family still live there. My folks are Bills first, Panthers a close second. Older brother Bills only. Younger brother Panthers first, Bills close second. But this allows us to spend time with, and root for each other. 

Edited March 2, 2019 by BuffAlone

[Hapless Bills Fan]

15 minutes ago, muppy said:

I live in san diego and alex and dean spanos name is mud as far as Im concerned. La Chargers indeed **smirk** Count me a RAIDERS fan now u schmucks. Of course the Bills are my team but I like to party with the Raiders crowd and we have storied history we razz each other and on it goes.... 

 

Ha!  Would sort of be like St Louis and Stan Kroenke.  It's been years.  All is forgiven - NOT.  Check out this local "Superbowl Special"

 

[Bakin]

Some great responses. 

And some seriously triggered ‘fans’. 

LOL

[HOUSE]

No 2nd team here ALTHOUGH I love watching the Browns screw up

[jethro_tull]

It' OK to like other players and other teams, usually if they have ties to the Bills- example the Colts.  However No 2 is a long, long long way from no. 1   !!!!!

Edited March 2, 2019 by jethro_tull

[Seoulofstone]

30 minutes ago, Bakin said:

Some great responses. 

And some seriously triggered ‘fans’. 

LOL

 

  The fact that you get a kick out of triggering people probably says something about you.