New interview! Jim Kelly never met or contacted Pancho Billa

[Mark80]

I feel sad for a lot of posters on here.  This is a man when literally faced with death kept the most upbeat, optimistic, cheerful attitude that I have EVER seen.  This man traveled to games far and near against his doctors orders to attend the games of the team he loved.  Not in a push to be recognized as a high-profile NFL fan, no, he did that already pre-cancer.  He did it because he said F cancer.  It may take me, but I'm going to enjoy my life to the fullest while I still can.  Oh, and he also took the time while he was dying to set up a foundation for kids to get backpacks to capitalize on his story.  He didn't try to get rich, he tried to help others.  He accomplished a lot in the worst of situations.  And he just so happens to be a fan of my team.  I'm damn proud of it. 

 

And I don't care that Jimbo didn't visit him.

[bbb]

2 hours ago, bbb said:

Not that I think this is a story, but when was this interview?  Maybe Jim contacted him later?  

 

1 hour ago, DaBillsFanSince1973 said:

so much for JK didn't care.

 

OP, you can delete this thread now.

 

 

 

Just as I figured. 

[StHustle]

2 hours ago, Joe in Winslow said:

 

How are any pearls still attached to the necklace with all that clutching?

 

Kelly has zero obligation to anyone outside his family, let alone a complete stranger whose claim to fame is dressing up in a costume at Bills games.

 

Sounds harsh, but it's true.

 

 

Nobody is obligated to do anything generous for anyone. What is your point? A rich person isn't obligated to give anything to charity but can still be criticized if they don't.

 

One of the most famous Bills fans of all time was dying of cancer and as a cancer survivor, Kelly couldn't even call him to give him some inspiration? Yeah I can criticize that just as equally as Kelly decided to ignoe the situation.

[Gugny]

Just now, StHustle said:

 

Nobody is obligated to do anything generous for anyone. What is your point? A rich person isn't obligated to give anything to charity but can still be criticized if they don't.

 

One of the most famous Bills fans of all time was dying of cancer and as a cancer survivor, Kelly couldn't even call him to give him some inspiration? Yeah I can criticize that just as equally as Kelly decided to ignoe the situation.

 

But ... he didn't ignore it.

 

Why do you think Ezra "deserved," a personal phone call/visit from Jim Kelly and not every other Bills fan who's faced life-threatening illnesses?  Because he wore a costume?  Because he was an out of state fan who went to a lot of games?  SCORES of fans travel to see the Bills.  If the costume is what, to you, put him over the top ... I'm sorry, but I don't know what to tell you.

 

 

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

7 minutes ago, StHustle said:

Nobody is obligated to do anything generous for anyone. What is your point? A rich person isn't obligated to give anything to charity but can still be criticized if they don't.

 

One of the most famous Bills fans of all time was dying of cancer and as a cancer survivor, Kelly couldn't even call him to give him some inspiration? Yeah I can criticize that just as equally as Kelly decided to ignoe the situation.

 

 

is this not phone call enough for you man?

 

[SirAndrew]

I won’t criticize Kelly, but I also won’t criticize Pancho. Lots of jealously around here about Pancho that I never knew existed. The guy became the face of this fanbase. This board is a bunch of grown men talking about football. Fandom in and of itself makes little sense, so why do so many feel the need to put down Pancho? That’s sad imo. 

1 hour ago, Mark80 said:

I feel sad for a lot of posters on here.  This is a man when literally faced with death kept the most upbeat, optimistic, cheerful attitude that I have EVER seen.  This man traveled to games far and near against his doctors orders to attend the games of the team he loved.  Not in a push to be recognized as a high-profile NFL fan, no, he did that already pre-cancer.  He did it because he said F cancer.  It may take me, but I'm going to enjoy my life to the fullest while I still can.  Oh, and he also took the time while he was dying to set up a foundation for kids to get backpacks to capitalize on his story.  He didn't try to get rich, he tried to help others.  He accomplished a lot in the worst of situations.  And he just so happens to be a fan of my team.  I'm damn proud of it. 

 

And I don't care that Jimbo didn't visit him.

I agree, the fact that anyone feels the need to comment that the Pancho thing was “silly” needs to lighten up. The dude loved his team, just as all of us here do. Sure, he wore a costume,  but what makes us any less silly? 

Edited September 18, 2019 by SirAndrew

[BUFFALOKIE]

4 hours ago, mrags said:

This is where I’m at. 

 

Not to sound like a COMPLETE DICK, but I honestly don’t get all the crazy love. Yeah, Pancho is a great story and a great guy. But at the end of the day why should he get all this crazy Bills love, calls from Beane and McDermott and Bills players on a regular basis? Like I said, it’s a sad story and my heart goes out to Ezra’s family with his passing. But let’s be real here, there are probably hundreds of thousands of Bills fans that have cancer, more that have died of cancer, and even more that will die of cancer. Are we to believe they are any less important, or loved than Ezra was?

 

like i said, I didn’t want to be a Dick about it. And I already know the kind of responses I will receive from this. You don’t need to bother. I already know I’m an @$$hole and I’m going to hell. You don’t need to remind me. 

MRags should stay

[SirAndrew]

2 hours ago, plenzmd1 said:

not saying the Bills did not run with it, bur Kenny and Captain Buffalo and lots of people jumped on the train pushing the Bills to have him up on draft night in 18, once he had been diagnosed. That was not the Bills or the NFL, that was his close, close friends..and friendships that had developed over the last several years. Thats when his story really took off, much like the Purdue kid ..I mean they went and named a gate after him

 

https://www.si.com/college-football/2019/09/07/tyler-trent-student-gate-dedication-purdue

 

Its 2019, things go viral and people get caught up in them..Dalton donations for example. No reason to get mad, it is what is, and is not what it is not..which is a manufactured PR stunt

Bingo. It sure helped PR, but this is social media driven nowadays. The franchise had to embrace him because social media brought him into the spotlight. 

Edited September 18, 2019 by SirAndrew

[TheFunPolice]

oopsie daisy 

 

So none of this is actually true. 

[Beast]

31 minutes ago, StHustle said:

 

Nobody is obligated to do anything generous for anyone. What is your point? A rich person isn't obligated to give anything to charity but can still be criticized if they don't.

 

One of the most famous Bills fans of all time was dying of cancer and as a cancer survivor, Kelly couldn't even call him to give him some inspiration? Yeah I can criticize that just as equally as Kelly decided to ignoe the situation.

 

Pathetic on your part.

 

Pathetic..

[bbb]

22 minutes ago, DaBillsFanSince1973 said:

 

 

is this not phone call enough for you man?

 

 

No, they just keep ignoring it.  WTF 

[TheFunPolice]

2 minutes ago, bbb said:

 

No, they just keep ignoring it.  WTF 

 

It's bizarre....

 

There is literally a tweet from Pancho thanking Jim for his message and people keep arguing about how Jim never contacted him

 

Freaking Common Core.... 

[Nextmanup]

2 hours ago, ddaryl said:

 

its about the get up, coupled with his unfortunate lot in life.. He had a signature look that stood out. He was a non Buffalonian that had lifetime allegiance to the Bills, and he fought a battle for his life in front of us all.

 

He endured himself to the hearts of Bills fans....   Not hard to understand... but being upset with Kelly for not reaching out is over the top IMO.   

 

I'm a fan of Pancho because he stood out in a positive way while battling a horrible fate. Heck he parlayed his unfortunate death into a pretty large donations to children. he will be missed

*endeared*

 

 

[coloradobillsfan]

In more positive Pancho Billa related news, the new children's books are in and they look pretty sweet:

 

 

With shipping $20, available here for you and/or your favorite Panchito or Panchita:
https://www.roselynkasmire.com/pancho-power.php

[Jauronimo]

27 minutes ago, BUFFALOKIE said:

MRags should stay

Toasted sandwiches!

[1ManRaid]

Pancho was great and deserving of at least some measure of team attention, but the whole canonization of him as a Bills saint was starting to border on WWE levels of pandering to emotion for "cheap pops".

[Rico]

3 hours ago, Joe in Winslow said:

 

How are any pearls still attached to the necklace with all that clutching?

 

Kelly has zero obligation to anyone outside his family, let alone a complete stranger whose claim to fame is dressing up in a costume at Bills games.

 

Sounds harsh, but it's true.

 

The smart move for Jimbo (and any other player) is to stay far, far away from anyone who dresses up in a costume at Bills games.

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

1 hour ago, Gugny said:

But ... he didn't ignore it.

 

Why do you think Ezra "deserved," a personal phone call/visit from Jim Kelly and not every other Bills fan who's faced life-threatening illnesses?  Because he wore a costume?  Because he was an out of state fan who went to a lot of games?  SCORES of fans travel to see the Bills.  If the costume is what, to you, put him over the top ... I'm sorry, but I don't know what to tell you.

it was more then the costume man, I think you know that. he does remove "the mask" to show who he really is. he's just like the millions of other fans out there and he never felt any other way.

 

 

Edited September 18, 2019 by DaBillsFanSince1973

[Jauronimo]

People who never visited Pancho (Jauronimo's List of Alltime Biggest Jerks and Enemies):

 

1. Jim Kelly

2. Roger Goodell

3. Trump

4. da Pope

5. Kim Jong Un

6. Beyonce

7. Jauronimo

8. Mr. Rogers

9. Gugny 

10. Paulie Shore

[1ManRaid]

2 minutes ago, DaBillsFanSince1973 said:

it was more then the costume man, I think you know that. he does remove "the mask" to show who he really is. he's just like the million other fans and he never felt any other way.

 

 

Wow he...has a face...

 

You seem to contradict yourself here.  "It was much more than the costume...he was like a million other fans."

[Gugny]

3 minutes ago, DaBillsFanSince1973 said:

it was more then the costume man, I think you know that. he does remove "the mask" to show who he really is. he's just like the million other fans and he never felt any other way.

 

 

 

 

Exactly my point.  He was a Bills fan who had cancer.  By all accounts, a hell of a guy.

 

But he was just one of many great guys who happen to be Bills fans who've fought cancer; or are currently fighting cancer.

 

The costume is literally the only thing that separates him from any of the others.

 

And we can't expect Jim Kelly to take his time to personally connect with every Bills fan fighting a life-threatening disease.

 

Not only should he not be expected to do that; he CERTAINLY shouldn't be publicly shamed for NOT doing it.  Which is what this thread was created for.

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

1 minute ago, 1ManRaid said:

Wow he...has a face...

 

You seem to contradict yourself here.  "It was much more than the costume...he was like a million other fans."

I don't think so. I edited my post apparently at the same time you were being so kind with your observation. so it is in no way contradictory but thanks none the less, raid.

[Don Otreply]

I’m thinking Jim may have been a bit concerned about keeping himself alive over the last couple of years, so there’s that... I hope folk don’t make something out of nothing.  

[Beast]

Actually, the OP is incorrect. This is not a “new” interview.

 

If it was......

[Bangarang]

Such a non story

[Nick the Greek]

6 hours ago, yall said:

What's confusing about it? Yeah it's a cool story about Pancho Billa, but is Kelly supposed to meet with every ill fan? 

 

Half of the posters here probably had a family member who was a long time super fan that dealt with a life threatening illness. Should Kelly meet them all too?

 

 

He was a super fan. He’s not just a guy who likes the Bills. Regardless, it’s super sad that he died. 

[TheyCallMeAndy]

It's sad he passed, really. He seemed nice a nice dude. Cancer f'ing sucks. That said, I think dedicating to one fan and ignoring the rest is wrong. Bills could start with a season kickoff ceremony where they honor all fallen fans before home opener would be quite special though. Even if it's lighting off a single firework during an annual moment of silence. That, to me, would work and honor EVERY fan that was lost at the start of each year.

 

Also, I think the premise that some fans are 'super fans' is complete bull####. 

 

A 'fan HOF' would also be bull####. The Wall says 12th man, we are already on it.

[BuffaloBillyG]

Did Pancho ever reach out to Jim? Did Jim have a secrect jealousy over Pancho's story? Did Brad Butler ever become a member of the Senate? Why do Flo and Jamie wear cooking aprons to sell insurance? These questions and more answered on Unsolved Mysteries.

[Gugny]

19 minutes ago, DaBillsFanSince1973 said:

I never shamed him and I am in total agreement with you on those that put JK down. but see, in this thread were both spectrum's, those that were putting pancho down by claiming it over hyped or don't really give a ***** he's just a fan like me crowd, then those who avoid the twitter post of JK addressing ezra and put JK down for not kneeling by his bedside in prayer?

 

 

 

 

 

I didn't see anyone say they didn't give a ***** about Ezra's death.  It's hard to deny there was quite a bit of hype - and, in the end, he really was just another fan.  The reason for that hype isn't as sincere as most would like to think, IMO.

[Yav]

7 hours ago, BrycePaup4ever said:

Who cares if he is overhyped! He was the type of fan we all wish we had the ballz to be.

How so? I have no desire to be like him or act like him. 

[Helpmenow]

7 hours ago, Seven-N-Nine said:

This guy is hyped way too much IMO.  Sad that he passed, but all the Pancho stuff has been a bit over the top I think.

I know fan who have seasons. Since 1960 and get the press that he did. rip 

[Gavin in Va Beach]

44 minutes ago, Jauronimo said:

People who never visited Pancho (Jauronimo's List of Alltime Biggest Jerks and Enemies):

 

1. Jim Kelly

2. Roger Goodell

3. Trump

4. da Pope

5. Kim Jong Un

6. Beyonce

7. Jauronimo

8. Mr. Rogers

9. Gugny 

10. Paulie Shore

 

Friggin' Paulie Shore!!!! What an ahole!!!!!!

 

 

[stosh64]

6 hours ago, Dablitzkrieg said:

Why does this matter?  For Christ's sake, Jim is fighting his own Cancer.  

Some people always need to be offended by something.

[stosh64]

37 minutes ago, Nick the Greek said:

He was a super fan. 

WTF does that even mean?  He was a little crazier than the rest of us?

Please tell me what makes one a 'super' fan.

smh

Don't get me wrong, I loved Poncho and will sadly miss him but these labels that have to be attached to everything now are just meaningless and asinine. 

[Nicabills321]

7 hours ago, Seven-N-Nine said:

This guy is hyped way too much IMO.  Sad that he passed, but all the Pancho stuff has been a bit over the top I think.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.  Yours and the 15 or more thumbs up confuse me.  "Way" too much hype?   Over the top?  Aren't most bills fans over the top?  I want to just flame away on this comment, but genuinely don't really understand where it comes from unless it's not the "hype" you mention.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

22 minutes ago, Yav said:

How so? I have no desire to be like him or act like him. 

 

Me either.

22 minutes ago, Gavin in Va Beach said:

 

Friggin' Paulie Shore!!!! What an ahole!!!!!!

 

 

 

The we-asel.

[HamSandwhich]

I saw the title of the thread title and avoided it for a while. I should have continued avoiding it. 

[stosh64]

16 minutes ago, Nicabills321 said:

  I want to just flame away on this comment, but genuinely don't really understand where it comes from unless it's not the "hype" you mention.

Insinuating what exactly?  Go ahead, say what you mean.

[Nick the Greek]

22 minutes ago, stosh64 said:

WTF does that even mean?  He was a little crazier than the rest of us?

Please tell me what makes one a 'super' fan.

smh

Don't get me wrong, I loved Poncho and will sadly miss him but these labels that have to be attached to everything now are just meaningless and asinine. 

Fireman Ed, the Broncos dude who would go to games in a barell, pinto Ron, the pig people in DC, etc. 

 

people that go to above beyond in their fandom, in which they gain fame. That’s a superfan, and they do exist. 

[May Day 10]

Its not hype so much as the arms race of people and entities trying to out-do one another to come up with ideas to "honor" him.  

 

Im thankful we were all introduced to him and were touched by his story.  Its great the bills made him a special fan and honored him with draft selections, visits, and exposure.  He is kind of an immortal fan now that nobody will forget and thats awesome.  

 

Lighting up city hall to honor him and wall to wall coverage in the buffalo news at the time is borderline embarrassing.  Outing people who may not have visited him is lame.  Now i see someone wrote a childrens book about him