Beerball Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 1 hour ago, JohnNord said: I’m curious to know why everyone here became a Bills fan and why.... Self flagellation became passe. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnNord Posted October 25, 2020 Author Share Posted October 25, 2020 12 minutes ago, Nextmanup said: This is my story as well. I always assume this is the story of every Bills fan. So every Bills fan is from Buffalo? I don’t think that’s true. Also there are plenty of fans from Buffalo that aren’t Bills fans. I’m curious to know why people are fans and why they’ve stuck with the team 1 hour ago, BananaB said: My bother had this on the wall. Guidance I guess. I was super young so when I seen him play I just stuck with the Bills Kelly, Thurman and Bruce were my favorite players. And still probably are to this day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 1 hour ago, DBilz2500 said: I thought you were from Columbus? No, I just live here since grad school (23 years) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnNord Posted October 25, 2020 Author Share Posted October 25, 2020 1 hour ago, oldmanfan said: 1960. First game at the Rockpile with my dad. I was 4 years old. Been a part of my life ever since. I love these kinds of stories. Same thing with me but it was Rich Stadium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forward Progress Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 I grew up playing hockey, as every good Canadian boy should. I didn't start watching football until I was in University when I would watch it with my room mates. I was completely hooked on the sport by the time I graduated, but hadn't really picked a team yet. After graduation, I was broke and didn't want to pay for cable. The Bills were the only team that I could watch for free every week, so I became addicted to this team. I guess you could say the Bills were the only team I could afford. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_In_NH Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 I was born afflicted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peace Frog Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Because it helps distract me from disappointments in my miserable life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColoradoBills Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Put me in the "born into it" column. They were AFL Champs when I started watching/listening to the games. Sundays after church were "family events" with my parents and older brothers and the Buffalo Bills! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleedbuffaloblue Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 1962, I was ten years old. Born and raised in Buffalo. My Dad was a big fan and loved taking me to the Rock Pile where he worked as a young man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Frankish Reich Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Born into it in Buffalo. First game was at the old War Memorial. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197109260buf.htm There wasn't much about that game, a 29-14 loss to the Dolphins, to hook anyone on the Bills, but when you're a kid it doesn't take much. Dennis Shaw was my hero. Really. The family moved out of Buffalo in the 1970s -- the darkest decade for the Rust Belt -- but to a city without an NFL team. So there was no competition. It wasn't easy to follow the Bills in the pre-internet/Sunday afternoon and Monday night only games of the 1980s since we (for good reason) never got national TV. But I managed to hang in there until the Super Bowl years changed all that. Then Sunday Ticket made it easy ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoTom Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Karma. I committed atrocities in a previous life. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Guapo Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Very bad decisions in college. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muppy Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 I think for me actually going to the first ever Monday night football game in the brand new Rich stadium made me a fan. It was also 1973 and the only NFL game I ever attended with my Mother. It was against the KC Chiefs, Bills won and being in the Bills home game environment sealed the deal for me. That and the Batavia Party Zone endzone for many many games thereafter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunnerBill Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Long story. Includes an unlikely escape from a German prisoner of war camp, a high shelf and a broken down hire care. Seriously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo_Stampede Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 When the doctor slapped my ass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Before the Bills -yes, BEFORE them, I was a fan of the Buffalo Bisons hockey team. Loved going downtown with my Dad to War Memorial Auditorium. Then, when the Bills were formed, from that moment on. Ditto the Sabres a decade later and the Braves. I urinate on John Y. Browns’ grave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColoradoBills Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 31 minutes ago, The Frankish Reich said: Born into it in Buffalo. First game was at the old War Memorial. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197109260buf.htm There wasn't much about that game, a 29-14 loss to the Dolphins, to hook anyone on the Bills, but when you're a kid it doesn't take much. Dennis Shaw was my hero. Really. The family moved out of Buffalo in the 1970s -- the darkest decade for the Rust Belt -- but to a city without an NFL team. So there was no competition. It wasn't easy to follow the Bills in the pre-internet/Sunday afternoon and Monday night only games of the 1980s since we (for good reason) never got national TV. But I managed to hang in there until the Super Bowl years changed all that. Then Sunday Ticket made it easy ... I went to the next home game that year. Bills got shut out by Baltimore Colts who put up a 40 burger! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niagara Dude Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, JohnNord said: I’m curious to know why everyone here became a Bills fan and why.... For me, I knew of the Bills as the local football team but never really paid much attention. Members of my family were Bills fans because they were local but they didn’t follow the team closely. The first year I remember paying attention was in 1988 after the big win versus NYJ to capture the AFCE championship. I also remember the home playoff game against Houston. There was definitely a “buzz” around Buffalo around 1988. It’s the first time I remember seeing a lot of Bills merchandise in stores at the mall - which would increase in subsequent years. For some reason I didn’t follow as much during 1989, but as soon as the team went on a roll in 1990 I started following and never looked back. I’ve watched almost every game since then. After the 4 straight Super Bowl appearances, I remember thinking I wonder what it’s like to NOT finish a season going to the Super Bowl? Sadly, I’d find out many times!!!! But win or lose, I’ll probably always follow this franchise. Just like a Josh Allen game, the good times more than outweigh the bad ones! First game was on NBC watching Joe Ferguson and Joe Cribbs, i think it was the year they had the Bermuda triangle defence. Fred Smerlas/Nelson/ Jim Haslett Edited October 25, 2020 by Niagara Dude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaBillsFanSince1973 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 because it's in me blood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nato7412 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 I've lived in California my whole life but my dad was born and raised in East Amherst. Im only 17 and I always followed them when I was younger if there was a game on but I wasn't a big fan yet. Id have soccer games every sunday morning and my dad would always watch from his car so he could listen to the bills game. My first year of being a big fan was the first year tyrod was the starter. Ive never looked back. There's now nothing in the world I'm more passionate about than the Buffalo Bills. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsPride12 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 1 hour ago, Forward Progress said: I grew up playing hockey, as every good Canadian boy should. I didn't start watching football until I was in University when I would watch it with my room mates. I was completely hooked on the sport by the time I graduated, but hadn't really picked a team yet. After graduation, I was broke and didn't want to pay for cable. The Bills were the only team that I could watch for free every week, so I became addicted to this team. I guess you could say the Bills were the only team I could afford. They say you get what you pay for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beast Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 1973 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan in Cleveland Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Born into it. I was born in 1970. I really didn't start following the Bills until the goal posts came down in 1980 against the Dolphins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael1962 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 2 hours ago, NewEra said: After writing novels in this same thread 20 times over the last 20 years, I’ll leave it short and sweet. Grew up a block from Bills training camp in Fredonia. Pops dragged me to camp almost every day for a decade+ (holy **** was that boring for the most part). Joe Cribbs put me on his shoulders his rookie year and carried me around as he signed autographs for the mob. Then I got to watch Joe Cribbs play. It was special. Hooked When was your cousin drafted? 1992, he is John Fina. Not that popular on TBD from history searches. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Ferguson Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 I liked their logo when I was a dumb, ignorant kid in the late 70's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
97bills Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 I get ask this question a lot lol because I’m from Mississippi people that don’t no me ask oh you must be from buffalo nope. See back in the early 90’ in Mississippi and maybe every where the only games on tv we’re 49ers cowboys Miami bills and packers Denver I hated cowboys before the super bowl because my brother in law was a fan and his a tool. So i picked buffalo and been a die hard every since then and thanks to nfl ticket never miss a game. P.s I’ve never been around any bills fans because none in Mississippi and I mean I’ve meet one I think in 30 years. I hope covid is over next year because I’m going to a bills game next year and it will be my first time ever to hear other people rooting for the team I love. Or mad what ever lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlonce Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 (edited) Born into fandom. WNY born and raised. Listened to games on radio in very early 60s with my dad and brothers. Went to a few games at the rock pile during the AFL Championship years. Watched them play K.C. On TV for the rights to go to Super Bowl I. Tempus Fugit, where did the time go? My dad drove bus for Metro, and he took the Bills games, usually driving the opposing teams to the stadium. I was with him many times. Got into the games for free, meeting some great HOF players and getting their autographs. Im one of those “before I die I want to win a Super Bowl” guys. Edited October 25, 2020 by dlonce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Frankish Reich Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 36 minutes ago, ColoradoBills said: I went to the next home game that year. Bills got shut out by Baltimore Colts who put up a 40 burger! And even THAT didn’t deter you. Awesome. Looking back, those teams were a special kind of awful, prior to the emergence of OJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. K Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 I was born in Childrens, my parents are from there and also Bills fans, my brother and I grew up watching bills games together, only team in NY, only team that wears USA colors, the family that is WNY and the Bills fan base, no bandwagon fans, beer drinking, tailgating, good times win or lose, I could keep going. I 100% believe if the Bills ever moved I would never watch football again. Same thing for the Sabres and Hockey although just like O'Reily im losing my love for the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TroutDog Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 In 1973 one of my fathers friends painted OJ and, under him, was ‘2003 in 73’ on a 8” wood plank and he gave it to us. I grew up with that in my room. Grew up in the ROC, lived down south for 19 years and am now back. Always pulled for the Bills via DirecTV (thank God I don’t need them anymore). Kids are fans (oldest lives in ATL) and is a HUGE Bills fan. He, in turn, forces it on his girlfriend thus the expansion of Bills Mafia continues! 😃 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwksilver Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Born and raised in Southtowns so it was in my blood from the start. 1st game I went to was a 5-0 beating of the Bengals in 1978. I was 8 so I had no Idea these were not NFL juggernauts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helpmenow Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 (edited) Born here. My neighbor dad had seasons at the rock pile. And when passed away suddenly I had the opportunity to go to the games. Edited October 25, 2020 by Helpmenow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Frankish Reich Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 2 minutes ago, qwksilver said: Born and raised in Southtowns so it was in my blood from the start. 1st game I went to was a 5-0 beating of the Bengals in 1978. I was 8 so I had no Idea these were not NFL juggernauts! 5-0? Snow game? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwksilver Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 1 minute ago, The Frankish Reich said: 5-0? Snow game? No I remember a crisp clear day. I had to look the date up. It was in October. Just 2 really bad teams... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Real McClappy Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 (edited) Basically just genetics being born and raised there. Edited October 25, 2020 by Real McNasty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOE IN HAMPTON ROADS Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 I'm from Erie, PA and I grew up HATING the Stillers and especially Terry Bradshaw. Sometimes on Sundays we would get the Bills game on the Toronto station if the weather was just right. I liked the red white and blue uniforms and the new QB Jim Kelly so I started following the Bills. Not a lot of Bills fans in Erie but I met and married a Buffalo girl so Im in a family of Bills fans now. I love watching my 99-year old grandmother-in-law get animated watching the Bills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrtonHearsaWho Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Clearly because I hate being happy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comebackkid Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 obviously love self inflicted pain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandhill Mike Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 5 hours ago, JaCrispy said: Playoff loss to the Browns in ‘89...As a 9 year old I thought the offense was very entertaining, even in defeat...little did I know it was a foreshadowing of things to come...😉 Same for me Crispy... they won me over and I've been a fan ever since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleTheWagons99 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 I like pain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts