mead107 Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 I wanted to be different from my friends when I was back jr high school. They were all giants and jets fans. That’s when I became a Bills fan. God that was a long long time ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlimShady'sSpaceForce Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 17 minutes ago, mead107 said: I wanted to be different from my friends when I was back jr high school. They were all giants and jets fans. That’s when I became a Bills fan. God that was a long long time ago. your secret is safe with me 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teef Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 12 hours ago, Buffalo86 said: I was a 12 year old, captivated by a red Bills helmet on display at a South Jersey mall kiosk. Me: Wow, which team is that? Friend: The Buffalo Bills Me: That's my favorite team. And so it was. my best friend had the same thing happen, but with the chiefs. someone gave him a chiefs helmet as a kid and boom...huge chiefs fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark92 Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 The 1989 Divisional playoff game between the Browns and Bills was my 1st memory of actually watching a football game. Bills uniforms were so much better and the Bills played their ass off that day. Been a Bills fan ever since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olliemets Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 I grew up on Long Island. I was a Jet fan because of Namath and Super Bowl III. LI had lots of snooty Giant fans and Jets were more of the working Joe's team. I sort of drifted from the Jets as I got more into the NFL as a whole but still rooted for them. Went away to college in 1976 to Postdam, then Albany. I had many WNY friends and went to 5 games late 70s. I just loved the atmosphere and the fans, the parking lots, the parking lawns, the whole scene. Hi-Light was a 1979shootout at Rich Stadium between Bert Jones/Joe Ferguson. Baltimore Colts/Bills. I was hooked. Last straw came later in 1983 -I was furious about Jets abandonment of their LI fans to move in with Giants and started following the Bills exclusively. Been there ever since. I used to make the trip every few years but, last 10 years I've made 1 game per year (I live in Westchester County) and also go to Meadowlands when they are here. Went to Green Bay last year. I've learned through my travels that there are significant numbers of Bills fans around the country, and downstate. Wear the gear and you'll get a shout out in places like Wyoming, Oregon and even Sweden. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Formerly Allan in MD Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 15 hours ago, GreggTX said: I'd like to say that I was born a Bills fan, but I'm older than the franchise. My Dad was an early season tickets holder, so I spent many childhood Sundays watching guys like Jack Kemp, Cookie Gilchrist, "Golden Wheels" Dubenion, Ron McDole, Pete Gogolak, Paul Maguire, Mike Stratton, Billy Shaw, OJ Simpson and Butch Byrd play. Great memories. Remember "dangerous Dan?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
row_33 Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 first football was watching Juice destroy the Chiefs, the years when i would cheer for the team Dad did Buffalo was an easy pickup for cheering from Southern Ontario, the Sabres had the French Connection and McAdoo and Marin's birthmark were always on TV. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPL7 Posted March 21, 2019 Author Share Posted March 21, 2019 On 3/20/2019 at 9:53 AM, BritBill said: Can I ask, just out of interest, how many Bills games people have been to? It seems more acceptable in the US for fans be TV fans where as in the UK supporting a team (soccer) but not going to games is frowned upon and used a ridicule against you. I was born and raised in Ohio, but made it to Buffalo for 5 different games. And then a handful of Bills games in Cincy and Cleveland. I have been to 10 total. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westside Madness Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 I was arrested for shoplifting and as part of the plea deal, I had to become a Bills fan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bing Bong Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 I lost a bet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironsdad Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 It was an airborne effect that that was pushed east by lake effect snow that settled in Orleans County. It occurred before Nixon created the EPA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerome007 Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 I live in Quebec so hockey is of course #1. But back then, in 1995, hockey was BORING. Lots and lots of hooking. Combine that with the fact that for years 16 teams out of 21 made the playoffs, regular season games had become dull, since as soon as a team was behind 2 or 3 goals, players would just give up, as each game was meaningless and the hooking made it quite a drag to come from behind. So I was out of sports so to speak, and happened by chance to see some NFL games and the intensity and just loved it. Lots of Bills games on TV and I just loved the uniform, the energy, the CROWD, that in Buffalo too it was harsh weather. A great Bills-Dolphins game in Buffalo in week 15 sealed the deal for me. The crowd and team were so ecstatic! Then they met again in the playoffs and the Bills won. True love I suppose. I deserve some status from Buffalo natives as staying true for those 17 years of drought as an out-of-towner shows real loyalty ha ha. Even today I watch basically only playoff hockey (which is AMAZING), but also MMA and pro cycling along with the Bills and the NFL. Back then, it was the Bills. No holds barred fighting had just begun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheesus Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 Bills drafted Jim Kelly, who instead signed with the Houston Gamblers in the USFL. Trump bought the New Jersey Generals and proceeded to weasel his way into power, eventually convincing the league to move from spring to fall to compete directly with the NFL. After USFL sued the NFL over a broadcasting rights monopoly and lost (well technically won $3 but the league collapsed), Jim Kelly signed with Buffalo. At age six watching the Bills vs Giants Super Bowl, I fell in love with the Bills because of their colors and because of their helmet logo even though they were similar colors to the Giants. Bandwagon fan who has been paying for it ever since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo86 Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 11 hours ago, teef said: my best friend had the same thing happen, but with the chiefs. someone gave him a chiefs helmet as a kid and boom...huge chiefs fan. That could've been me! I wonder how much differently my life would've turned out, had I seen a Chiefs helmet instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 9 minutes ago, Buffalo86 said: That could've been me! I wonder how much differently my life would've turned out, had I seen a Chiefs helmet instead. You could complain that you have Mahomes when you could have waited for Josh Allen??? 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo86 Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 2 minutes ago, Augie said: You could complain that you have Mahomes when you could have waited for Josh Allen??? It does sound pretty ridiculous when you consider it from that angle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 3 minutes ago, Buffalo86 said: It does sound pretty ridiculous when you consider it from that angle. I’m just assuming KC fans have some things in common with Bills fans? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QBorBust2018 Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 (edited) I ate my flutie flakes Edited March 22, 2019 by QBorBust2018 Autocorrect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 11 hours ago, Westside Madness said: I was arrested for shoplifting and as part of the plea deal, I had to become a Bills fan. Few people were aware of Ralph’s position as circuit court judge. It’s how he roped so many of us in. But a deal is a deal. It didn’t matter if it was a Snickers bar or the Hope Diamond, if you’re in, you’re IN. So here we are..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddy Hix Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 Just lucky, I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
entropyrules Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 Bad Karma - in my previous life I was an awful dude so god is paying me back by having Buffalo as my birth place...so this life i am being equally as bad so I can be born in Cleveland next time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Joe Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 21 minutes ago, entropyrules said: Bad Karma - in my previous life I was an awful dude so god is paying me back by having Buffalo as my birth place...so this life i am being equally as bad so I can be born in Cleveland next time You want bad karma - try skiing in Lake Damariscotta as a 12 year old during summer vacation. Then when you fall an enforcement plane lands out of the sky and gives your dad a ticket. Needless to say I took up other sports ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
row_33 Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 On 3/21/2019 at 12:15 PM, BarkleyForGOATBackupPT5P said: I lost a bet has to be a statue of limitations, and you can pull it down On 3/21/2019 at 11:42 AM, Westside Madness said: I was arrested for shoplifting and as part of the plea deal, I had to become a Bills fan. some interesting videos of side agreements on the internet 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bing Bong Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 2 minutes ago, row_33 said: has to be a statue of limitations, and you can pull it down Yeah the bet was nixed after my "no playoffs for 10 years" clause kicked in but by then I developed into a masochist and was hooked by the pain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeF Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 My father and my two older brothers (much older) were very abusive mentally and physically. In today's world, my life would have been headline material and I would either be a regular guest on Dr. Phil or the subject of a CNN documentary. However, in the 60's it was kind of a normal way to treat the runt of the family. Simply put, compliance with the dictatorship was the easiest path. The Bills were the preferred team of the regime. 58+ years later, here I am..checking a damn Bills message board multiple times a day to see if the team signed a 3rd string punter off the Chargers practice squad. To my brothers who also frequent this forum...thanks a lot...love you both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillAndPhilFan Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 I am a UK Bills fan. In the 1980s the NFL brought some pre-season games to London (Wembley Stadium). I went with friends, out of curiosity, and got hooked. Then there was the Cornelius Bennett trade where reporters said that the Bills had been out-manoeuvred by the Colts and Rams. I knew nothing about Buffalo but wondered if the team did, actually, know what they were doing. I read about Buffalo and thought it sounded like my sort of town so I started following the Bills to see how the trade turned out and I’ve been a fan ever since. Since I retired, I’ve been over to Buffalo four times (and each time the Bills have won – I’ve only seen the Bills lose once, when they came to Wembley in 2015!). I aim to come over again this year. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBills88 Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 I'm from Philly November 1988 i was 8 years old, snuck downstairs to watching Monday night football I saw Kelly and Marino go at it. I was a Bills fans every since 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CowboyBill Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 I’m from Wyoming and growing up in the 80’s and 90’s my brother was a huge Buffalo fan. I hated them though. Enter Josh Allen and now I check this damn site at least 5 times a day. My team growing up was the Raiders but now I hate them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RememberTheRockpile Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 I blame Van Miller and the 64-65 Bills. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
row_33 Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 3 hours ago, BarkleyForGOATBackupPT5P said: Yeah the bet was nixed after my "no playoffs for 10 years" clause kicked in but by then I developed into a masochist and was hooked by the pain. no reasonable common-sense member of a jury could be expected to believe an NFL team would miss the playoffs for over a decade 2 hours ago, BBills88 said: I'm from Philly November 1988 i was 8 years old, snuck downstairs to watching Monday night football I saw Kelly and Marino go at it. I was a Bills fans every since must be tough when your first years were the best of the history of the franchise. think about the people just turning 30 who have only known great success cheeering for the Pats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bing Bong Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 1 minute ago, row_33 said: no reasonable common-sense member of a jury could be expected to believe an NFL team would miss the playoffs for over a decade oh yeah I really hoodwinked them 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seoulful Soul Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 When I was five, I asked my mother why everyone around us claimed to be NYers and loved the Jets and Giants, who called themselves NY teams, but played in Jersey. I then asked if there were any teams that played in NY. She said the Buffalo Bills and I instantly became a fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky Landing Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 It was about 17 years ago that I came onto this website, and thought, "gosh, these guys really love being Bills fans. I think I'll jump on that wagon..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westside Madness Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 Honestly, I was 12 and the year was 1990. My dad got me to watch a few games and when they made their playoff run, I just got pulled in. My first 4 seasons as a fan...4 super bowls. Now I am 41 and my liver occasionally hurts... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 A native WNYer, I’ve got 5 years on the Bills & 15 on the Sabres, so I’ve been a fan since THEY began. (Hi @Cripple Creek) But my 1st real memory of the team was when we swindled Jack Kemp from San Diego in ‘63. THAT’s when the party started! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machine gun kelly Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 Chandler, I didn’t know you were so young. ? That’s pretty cool as you probably remember the AFC Championships in the 60’s. One more year and we would have been in the first SB. Crazy if we were in it. Granted the Packers would have killed us so KC had that joy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nextmanup Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 I was born into this whole thing, as I thought ALL Buffalo sports fans were! I can't believe people having nothing to do with the area would actually choose WNY teams to follow! That is some hard core masochism right there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 6 hours ago, machine gun kelly said: Chandler, I didn’t know you were so young. ? That’s pretty cool as you probably remember the AFC Championships in the 60’s. One more year and we would have been in the first SB. Crazy if we were in it. Granted the Packers would have killed us so KC had that joy. That year, ‘66, I agree we would have lost. Probably ‘65 too, to the same Green Bay team. BUT!! I’ll go to my grave believing we would have beat Cleveland following the ‘64 campaign. We still had Gilchrest and none of the big injuries that weakened the next 2 championship game teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky Landing Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 41 minutes ago, Nextmanup said: I was born into this whole thing, as I thought ALL Buffalo sports fans were! I can't believe people having nothing to do with the area would actually choose WNY teams to follow! That is some hard core masochism right there. I know, right? I live in Los Angeles now, and have met a few who have never even been to WNY. "You mean, you're a Bills fan on purpose???" I ask them. I was born and raised in Rochester, and watched with my father who would scream incessantly at the TV screen. All of my siblings were driven out of the house by his yelling, and none of them are football fans to this day. But, one of my fondest memories of him was sitting with him on the couch, about age seven, and screaming "JUICE, JUICE, JUICE!!!" along with him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machine gun kelly Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 47 minutes ago, Chandler#81 said: That year, ‘66, I agree we would have lost. Probably ‘65 too, to the same Green Bay team. BUT!! I’ll go to my grave believing we would have beat Cleveland following the ‘64 campaign. We still had Gilchrest and none of the big injuries that weakened the next 2 championship game teams. Only from film, I couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately we didn’t have a SB that year. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts