Coldfronts Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 (edited) Did it start from a tailgating group of people at the stadium or a section of people in the stadium or did it start with an online group of people? I know it's about the whole fan base now but I suspect it did not start that way Edited January 11, 2023 by Coldfronts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
costrovs Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 I remember someone handing out flyers or something at training camp about Bills Mafia over 10 years ago. I never grabbed one, but that's the first time I heard of BM. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drummernut74 Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 (edited) It started as a result of a dropped pass in the end zone from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Stevie Johnson in a game against Pittsburgh. Adam Schefter made a controversial remark that prompted an in jest Twitter comment by local Buffalonian (and friend of mine from High School) Del Reid to the effect of ... that "the Bills Mafia is going to come after you". Just a total random moment that took on a life of its own Edited January 11, 2023 by drummernut74 8 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDIGGZ Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 Nerds on Twitter. I don't really care myself but my grandpa is Sicilian and finds the name super offensive, as offensive as the Cleveland Indians name was to some people. 2 3 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobobonators Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 2 minutes ago, KDIGGZ said: Nerds on Twitter. I don't really care myself but my grandpa is Sicilian and finds the name super offensive, as offensive as the Cleveland Indians name was to some people. I never really cared for it. Part of me finds it kind of cheesy. It is what it is I suppose. 1 9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldfronts Posted January 11, 2023 Author Share Posted January 11, 2023 1 minute ago, KDIGGZ said: Nerds on Twitter. I don't really care myself but my grandpa is Sicilian and finds the name super offensive, as offensive as the Cleveland Indians name was to some people. I am Italian too and it does not bother me. Besides Italians were not the only ethnic group that formed a maffia. There is the Irish maffia and others 3 6 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 4 minutes ago, KDIGGZ said: Nerds on Twitter. I don't really care myself but my grandpa is Sicilian and finds the name super offensive, as offensive as the Cleveland Indians name was to some people. Bills Mafia is what you find offensive? Pick your battles man,enjoy the ride. Bills Mafia in 2023 commands respect amongst NFL 6 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cd1 Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 We use to refer to ourselves as "The 12th Man". 3 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaattMaann Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 Bills Mafia origin https://www.yahoo.com/news/bills-mafia-became-thing-223221447.html It started as a charitable idea, and spreading positivity and good will. I love the Mafia. Its the best fanbase nickname out there. If you don't like it, it's likely because your past your midlife crisis, balding, overweight and dont like kids on your lawn. 1 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybills Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 14 minutes ago, KDIGGZ said: Nerds on Twitter. I don't really care myself but my grandpa is Sicilian and finds the name super offensive, as offensive as the Cleveland Indians name was to some Mafia isn't even an offensive word, right? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damj Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 20 minutes ago, Coldfronts said: I am Italian too and it does not bother me. Besides Italians were not the only ethnic group that formed a maffia. There is the Irish maffia and others I'm Polish and we have our own mafia too. If you don't pay, we break our own legs 21 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epstein's Mother Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 24 minutes ago, bobobonators said: I never really cared for it. Part of me finds it kind of cheesy. It is what it is I suppose. I'm with you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donuts and Doritos Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 (edited) We Irish had a Mafia too (Whitey Bulger etc). For some reason no one ever worries about offending us, I'm looking at you Notre Dame and your "Fighting Irish" with your drunk brawling leprechaun for a mascot. (How stereotypical can you get. Sheesh) 😉 Edited January 11, 2023 by Donuts and Doritos 6 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wacka Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 I wore a Bills Mafia shirt when I was in the SF Bay Area last February at a get together. People were asking me what it meant. I said "Like the Mafia, once you join, you are in it for life. You cannot leave. " Also told them about Del Reid and his t-shirts. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChevyVanMiller Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 34 minutes ago, Coldfronts said: I am Italian too and it does not bother me. Besides Italians were not the only ethnic group that formed a maffia. There is the Irish maffia and others It’s the use of the second “f” that is offensive. 10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Darragh Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 17 minutes ago, Wacka said: I wore a Bills Mafia shirt when I was in the SF Bay Area last February at a get together. People were asking me what it meant. I said "Like the Mafia, once you join, you are in it for life. You cannot leave. " Also told them about Del Reid and his t-shirts. Did they ask you "Who's Bill?" 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 57 minutes ago, KDIGGZ said: Nerds on Twitter. I don't really care myself but my grandpa is Sicilian and finds the name super offensive, as offensive as the Cleveland Indians name was to some people. This had been raised before, but it hasn't stopped the rise of the moniker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jauronimo Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, PaattMaann said: Bills Mafia origin https://www.yahoo.com/news/bills-mafia-became-thing-223221447.html It started as a charitable idea, and spreading positivity and good will. I love the Mafia. Its the best fanbase nickname out there. If you don't like it, it's likely because your past your midlife crisis, balding, overweight and dont like kids on your lawn. The origin is twitter warriors who were all blocked by Schefter and started using the #BillsMafia hashtag. Quote I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO… Several hours after Johnson’s plea had been dissected and ridiculed on CNN, “The View” and myriad non-sports outlets, ESPN reporter Adam Schefter tweeted as though he had stumbled upon a scoop. Aggravated Bills fans mocked Schefter for beating a dead horse. Schefter blocked several of them from further interaction, and those who’d earned the badge began calling themselves the Bills Mafia, a crew that stands up for its family. https://theathletic.com/2143835/2020/10/16/bills-mafia-finally-joins-teams-official-family-after-years-of-being-rebuffed/ Edited January 11, 2023 by Jauronimo 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDIGGZ Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 1 hour ago, Pete said: Bills Mafia is what you find offensive? Pick your battles man,enjoy the ride. Bills Mafia in 2023 commands respect amongst NFL Did you even read what I wrote or you decided to just get mad and post? I literally said I don't care but my 99 year old grandpa who faced a lot of racism as an immigrant to this country finds it super offensive. While in the army, he ran communication lines all across Europe and the Middle East during WW2 and then when he got back home he couldn't even get a job at the phone company because of how racist people were back then. I need to pick my battles? You need to read what people post and also educate yourself 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xwnyer Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 1 hour ago, KDIGGZ said: Nerds on Twitter. I don't really care myself but my grandpa is Sicilian and finds the name super offensive, as offensive as the Cleveland Indians name was to some people. I find it offensive as well and I am not Sicilian 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDIGGZ Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, Coldfronts said: I am Italian too and it does not bother me. Besides Italians were not the only ethnic group that formed a maffia. There is the Irish maffia and others It affects different people differently. I'm assuming you are of Italian descent and not actually an immigrant yourself so perhaps you can't speak on the racism that people have gone through in the past Edited January 11, 2023 by KDIGGZ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiotAct Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 2 minutes ago, Xwnyer said: I find it offensive as well and I am not Sicilian I find it awesome, and I am not Sicilian. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 1 hour ago, Wacka said: I wore a Bills Mafia shirt when I was in the SF Bay Area last February at a get together. People were asking me what it meant. I said "Like the Mafia, once you join, you are in it for life. You cannot leave. " Also told them about Del Reid and his t-shirts. Im pretty sure this is actually the Hotel California. 2 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfaBill Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 1 hour ago, Coldfronts said: I am Italian too and it does not bother me. Besides Italians were not the only ethnic group that formed a maffia. There is the Irish maffia and others Wrong. Mafia is the Italian organized crime syndicate, technically siciliano. All other ethnic groups are not mafia. Japan for instance has the yakuza. As an Italian myself, I don’t like it much. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jauronimo Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 I found the name to be silly and embarrassing when it all started. But the players have embraced it, the media has embraced it, and now the organization has embraced it. I am not going to fight the tide. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jauronimo Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 1 minute ago, AlfaBill said: Wrong. Mafia is the Italian organized crime syndicate, technically siciliano. All other ethnic groups are not mafia. Japan for instance has the yakuza. As an Italian myself, I don’t like it much. Wrong. Mafia means family to us. Or so I'm told. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfaBill Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 1 minute ago, Jauronimo said: Wrong. Mafia means family to us. Or so I'm told. Well you can tell yourself it means all kind of things I suppose. That doesn’t make it correct. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motorin' Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 2 minutes ago, AlfaBill said: Well you can tell yourself it means all kind of things I suppose. That doesn’t make it correct. Well actually, that how the meaning of words shift over time. By the meaning given to them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Paulson Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 1 hour ago, bobobonators said: I never really cared for it. Part of me finds it kind of cheesy. It is what it is I suppose. Sicilian and Italian- i don't like it either but it has caught on so welp. I also hate that Dominick the Donkey song When I was growing up we were Bills fans and it worked just fine. Now get out of my yard. it's time to hose down the driveway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfaBill Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 2 minutes ago, Motorin' said: Well actually, that how the meaning of words shift over time. By the meaning given to them. Perhaps slang words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Otreply Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 I find !st world offense, offensive, far to much pearl clutching going on over the last couple decades, on the other hand, your Grandfathers circumstance is a valid reason to be pissed off imo, To include myself, most people spend far to much time in their own echo chamber, and end up not being able to see the forest through the trees…, 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draconator Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 18 minutes ago, Xwnyer said: I find it I'm offensive as well and I am not Sicilian Fixed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldfronts Posted January 11, 2023 Author Share Posted January 11, 2023 2 minutes ago, KDIGGZ said: That's nice, it effects different people differently. I'm assuming you are of Italian decent and not actually an immigrant yourself so perhaps you can't speak on the racism that people have gone through in the past My grandfather was straight off the boat (Ellis Island) as a kid with some of the family coming in a bit latter by way of Brazil first. Never knew why some had to go through Brazil to get here. Had a great uncle who was the black sheep of the family that was in the mob in NYC and did not live very long. My grandfather was not silcian never had much to say about the Italian mob other then he saw then all as criminals to stay away from. Back in those days it was hard enough to get a decent job just being an Italian. Unfortunately, he changed our last name so he could get a good job to feed his family. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motorin' Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 3 minutes ago, AlfaBill said: Perhaps slang words. No, literally every word. For instance, the word origin of Mafia is Sicilian for "bragging" or "swagger." Like hundreds of years before it was applied to organized crime. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jauronimo Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 There are a lot of Americans in this thread who are confused about their nationality. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabattBlue Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 It cracks me up how much the local TV media trips over themselves to use the phrase “bills mafia” over and over to the point where it becomes laughable. Case in point MaryAlice Dimwit and Company on WGRZ. It is almost like, look at how cool we are. Personally, I don’t use or like the moniker, and will never own any merchandise with it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldfronts Posted January 11, 2023 Author Share Posted January 11, 2023 If you used "Bills Cosa Nostra" you might have a point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDIGGZ Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 1 minute ago, Coldfronts said: My grandfather was straight off the boat (Ellis Island) as a kid with some of the family coming in a bit latter by way of Brazil first. Never knew why some had to go through Brazil to get here. Had a great uncle who was the black sheep of the family that was in the mob in NYC and did not live very long. My grandfather was not silcian never had much to say about the Italian mob other then he saw then all as criminals to stay away from. Back in those days it was hard enough to get a decent job just being an Italian. Unfortunately, he changed our last name so he could get a good job to feed his family. That's why the mafia existed, it leveled the playing field and looked out for immigrants in this country who were unfairly treated. My grandpa's father needed their help once after he was roughed up by some racist cops and he remembered his father had to disappear for a while and he didn't know why. Would love to know more about that story but the details are surely lost forever now. The word mafia was negatively used in the media and negatively used to single out people of Sicilian origins. Murdering people is bad PR, who knew. It wasn't until The Godfather movies that people started to think it was cool or popular to use that slang. So my Grandpa existed in a world where for 50 years it was definitely not good to be Sicilian and associated with that stuff and his life was very difficult as a result. I have a good life today because of his struggles so I choose to be respectful of his story even if others choose not to be. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Applicable Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 I've always thought it was lame. It's also attracted a certain element to the fan base that cares more about social media posting than the actual outcomes of the games. Lotta similarities to the pink hat Red Sox era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 1 hour ago, PromoTheRobot said: This had been raised before, but it hasn't stopped the rise of the moniker. The Buffalo Football Fans is kinda catchy. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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