BillsPride12 Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/19/sports/football/buffalo-bills-fans-parents-kids.html This is a fun read for those of us who grew up during the Super Bowl years. There might be a paywall but I was able to read the entire article on my phone....it says you can sign up for a free account? Feel free to add your own lessons learned from the Super Bowl losses in this thread 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloButt Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 That was a great article that every Bills fan should take the time to read! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPL Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 I was between the ages of 4 and 8 during those years, so highly impressionable. The biggest lesson I took away is that life is unfair and nothing good will ever to happen to you. My first kid is due in two months. Wish us luck! 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaBillsFanSince1973 Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 not able to read it. paywall. nyt doesn't need my $. first sb I was 30. didn't have my first kid until '95 and as much of a die hard as I was/is, she has nothing to do with football, lol. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleezoid Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 3 minutes ago, DaBillsFanSince1973 said: not able to read it. paywall. nyt doesn't need my $. first sb I was 30. didn't have my first kid until '95 and as much of a die hard as I was/is, she has nothing to do with football, lol. Who has children at 95. And how did you age so fast? 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 5 minutes ago, MPL said: I was between the ages of 4 and 8 during those years, so highly impressionable. The biggest lesson I took away is that life is unfair and nothing good will ever to happen to you. My first kid is due in two months. Wish us luck! I re-learnt the same lesson that I took from the 1972-3 Sabres: don't quit. You might not get there, but you can live with yourself if you keep trying. When I was in Columbus, Ohio, I knew a VP of HR at a Fortune 500 company. He said that many companies around the country loved hiring Buffalonians because we: 1. Have no "quit" in us; 2. Are better at turning around office negativity; 3. Are less likely to lie to ourselves in the face of adversity; 4. Are more likely to try thinking outside the box when looking at solutions to difficult problems; 5. Are more natural leaders. He attributed this to things like the Super Bowl losses, the adversity of all the plants closing, the Blizzard of 1977, and such. He envied our camaraderie with Buffalo bars. He might be an exception, but it was interesting hearing that description of the Buffalo diaspora. 3 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikie2times Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 Interesting topic as I have reflected on this before, I was 9 Years old in 1990. I'm not from Buffalo. Those nights after we lost the Super Bowl would always end in a pillow of tears. The next day I would get teased relentlessly from my classmates. After each SB loss my mom would take me to Foot Locker and I was able to get either a new Bills jersey or hat. I would wear the hat almost non stop the next month almost begging for the negative treatment from my classmates. That Bills team is what did that to me and that sort of outlook carries onto this day. 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maybe Someday Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 I was 12 during that 1st Super Bowl loss and still remember that feeling of overwhelming shock that we lost the game. I couldn't believe it; I was just so sure we were going to win that game right up until the very end. It really did help teach me to keep my expectations in check. The last lines of the article really sum it up the best for me. "I just feel fortunate to get to watch them play.” That may be the best lesson of all. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaBillsFanSince1973 Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 19 minutes ago, Fleezoid said: Who has children at 95. And how did you age so fast? good one. got a chuckle out of that. 1995. hell, I'll never make it to 95. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsPride12 Posted January 20, 2023 Author Share Posted January 20, 2023 12 minutes ago, Marvin said: I re-learnt the same lesson that I took from the 1972-3 Sabres: don't quit. You might not get there, but you can live with yourself if you keep trying. When I was in Columbus, Ohio, I knew a VP of HR at a Fortune 500 company. He said that many companies around the country loved hiring Buffalonians because we: 1. Have no "quit" in us; 2. Are better at turning around office negativity; 3. Are less likely to lie to ourselves in the face of adversity; 4. Are more likely to try thinking outside the box when looking at solutions to difficult problems; 5. Are more natural leaders. He attributed this to things like the Super Bowl losses, the adversity of all the plants closing, the Blizzard of 1977, and such. He envied our camaraderie with Buffalo bars. He might be an exception, but it was interesting hearing that description of the Buffalo diaspora. This was beautiful man. Thanks for sharing 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsPride12 Posted January 20, 2023 Author Share Posted January 20, 2023 (edited) I was super young during the Super Bowl losses, elementary school age and those are some of my earliest life memories. I remember all of the Euphoria surrounding the whole thing, the crazy neighborhood parties, the huge pep rallies at school leading up to the Super Bowl weekend. I thought the Bills were destined to win some of those Super Bowls. I thought for sure the Bills would make it back someday! I mean why wouldn't I!? At that point in life I was a youthful optimist who only knew of the Bills going to the big dance and good times in life. Then the drought came and then life came along next. All of a sudden those were just memories of a Magical time that felt more like something I dreamt about so many years ago. Who would've thought it would take nearly 3 decades for the Bills to become relevant again?? I guess those Super Bowl losses taught me that time is really Fleeting and nothing lasts forever. They taught me to savor the good times in life because you never know when they will come back around again. They taught me about resiliency and to never, never, never give up in life. They taught me about loyalty and staying true to your team and your city even when things aren't looking so good. They taught me as a kid who was born and raised in WNY there would never be a sports team I could identify with more than the Buffalo Bills Edited January 21, 2023 by BillsPride12 1 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 Addendum: I was at Michigan State during the Super Bowl years. I relearnt the lesson to stand up for what you believe in even if everyone else is against you. 16 minutes ago, KzooMike said: Interesting topic as I have reflected on this before, I was 9 Years old in 1990. I'm not from Buffalo. Those nights after we lost the Super Bowl would always end in a pillow of tears. The next day I would get teased relentlessly from my classmates. After each SB loss my mom would take me to Foot Locker and I was able to get either a new Bills jersey or hat. I would wear the hat almost non stop the next month almost begging for the negative treatment from my classmates. That Bills team is what did that to me and that sort of outlook carries onto this day. Indeed, for the 4th Super Bowl, all of the Bills fans on campus seemed to have broken out their Bills gear and wore it every day of the week. We all dealt with crap from others by flashing 4 fingers as if we were flipping 4 birds at the haters. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kkim0904 Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 (edited) Great stories that many of us feel the same way That was exactly how I felt when we lost first superbowl. I was 17 attended Amherst HS. Next morning in the school, nobody talked, total silence. We were so attached to Bills. Edited January 20, 2023 by kkim0904 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nextmanup Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 55 minutes ago, Marvin said: I re-learnt the same lesson that I took from the 1972-3 Sabres: don't quit. You might not get there, but you can live with yourself if you keep trying. When I was in Columbus, Ohio, I knew a VP of HR at a Fortune 500 company. He said that many companies around the country loved hiring Buffalonians because we: 1. Have no "quit" in us; 2. Are better at turning around office negativity; 3. Are less likely to lie to ourselves in the face of adversity; 4. Are more likely to try thinking outside the box when looking at solutions to difficult problems; 5. Are more natural leaders. He attributed this to things like the Super Bowl losses, the adversity of all the plants closing, the Blizzard of 1977, and such. He envied our camaraderie with Buffalo bars. He might be an exception, but it was interesting hearing that description of the Buffalo diaspora. You forgot point 6! 6. Are actually more likely to be available to work in non-WNY locales because the economy of WNY can't support them there. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astb41 Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 (edited) 59 minutes ago, KzooMike said: Interesting topic as I have reflected on this before, I was 9 Years old in 1990. I'm not from Buffalo. Those nights after we lost the Super Bowl would always end in a pillow of tears. The next day I would get teased relentlessly from my classmates. After each SB loss my mom would take me to Foot Locker and I was able to get either a new Bills jersey or hat. I would wear the hat almost non stop the next month almost begging for the negative treatment from my classmates. That Bills team is what did that to me and that sort of outlook carries onto this day. Similar. I was 7-10 for those Super Bowl years. Also not from Buffalo. Every time the Bills lost I purposefully wore a Bills shirt the Monday after just show they're still my team and will always be my team no matter what. I honestly still do it as an adult 😆 Edited January 20, 2023 by astb41 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 25 minutes ago, Nextmanup said: You forgot point 6! 6. Are actually more likely to be available to work in non-WNY locales because the economy of WNY can't support them there. LOL Actually, the discussion arose out of our criticism of NYS's tax and regulatory policies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BADOLBILZ Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 (edited) Those losses were rough but we used to have some hilarious stories on here posted about Dad's freaking out and smashing TV's and sh!t like that. The lessons I took were first that Buffalo could make it to a SB regardless of how incompetent Ralph was(which was something many Bills fans doubted)............and that it was fair to expect success from your team.........and that better coaching and sharpening your team against top competition during the season/playoffs are likely to make a big difference in the SB itself. Edited January 20, 2023 by BADOLBILZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
entropyrules Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 1 hour ago, Fleezoid said: Who has children at 95. And how did you age so fast? obvious-the trauma of being a Bills and Sabres fan..I'm 73 and look like 103 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikie2times Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 1 hour ago, Marvin said: Addendum: I was at Michigan State during the Super Bowl years. I relearnt the lesson to stand up for what you believe in even if everyone else is against you. Indeed, for the 4th Super Bowl, all of the Bills fans on campus seemed to have broken out their Bills gear and wore it every day of the week. We all dealt with crap from others by flashing 4 fingers as if we were flipping 4 birds at the haters. Nice to see a Sparty on here 👍👍 45 minutes ago, astb41 said: Similar. I was 7-10 for those Super Bowl years. Also not from Buffalo. Every time the Bills lost I purposefully wore a Bills shirt the Monday after just show they're still my team and will always be my team no matter what. I honestly still do it as an adult 😆 I think a lot of us exist. Non Buffalo, life long Bills fans. They got a lot of TV exposure in that era. Fun team to watch if you’re a kid. Then for most of us, you can’t go through that experience and just be like, ok, I’m good. Let’s pick another team. In the many years since it never felt like picking another team was an option. In fact, to me, what the team is and being a fan is so linked to the city that even not being from Buffalo, if they ever moved I would stop being a fan. Thankfully that no longer seems to be as much of a risk as it once was. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Duffy Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 1 hour ago, Maybe Someday said: I was 12 during that 1st Super Bowl loss and still remember that feeling of overwhelming shock that we lost the game. I couldn't believe it; I was just so sure we were going to win that game right up until the very end. It really did help teach me to keep my expectations in check. The last lines of the article really sum it up the best for me. "I just feel fortunate to get to watch them play.” That may be the best lesson of all. Yeah I was not much older than you, I was 14 that year. I remember being shocked and speechless just sitting there with my mouth dropped in disbelief for quite a few minutes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRH Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 Subscribers can gift up to 10 articles a month. this is my gift to you all when you speak of me, speak well 1 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schoolhouserock Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 I was in elementary school during those years. I learned that the Bills would always be good. It is what first got me hooked on being a Bills fan. Little did I know… Now I have nieces and nephews and little cousins and am taking this opportunity to teach them the same. The hard learning will come whenever Allen retires. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 14 minutes ago, BRH said: Subscribers can gift up to 10 articles a month. this is my gift to you all when you speak of me, speak well Thank you SO much. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 (edited) 9 hours ago, BillsPride12 said: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/19/sports/football/buffalo-bills-fans-parents-kids.html This is a fun read for those of us who grew up during the Super Bowl years. There might be a paywall but I was able to read the entire article on my phone....it says you can sign up for a free account? Feel free to add your own lessons learned from the Super Bowl losses in this thread Message we should all take near and dear to heart: ENJOY THE RIDE It’s pathetic hearing the fans who are already talking about the season being a failure if the Bills aren’t in the Super Bowl. This is entertainment. We’re all passionate fans, but life goes on. Have fun. Go Bills! Edited January 20, 2023 by eball 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punching Bag Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 32 minutes ago, BRH said: Subscribers can gift up to 10 articles a month. this is my gift to you all when you speak of me, speak well I subscribed once using an email I never used for anything else and had no emails for a year. After I subscribed I regularly got spam mail from non-NYT and each time I got email it would use spelling for name I supplied (not my real one and not a real person). NYT uses emails to sell to junk mail companies. The NYT ought to do investigative reporting on this practice bur editors would reject it since they use it themselves. 12 minutes ago, eball said: Message we should all take near and dear to heart: ENJOY THE RIDE It’s pathetic hearing the fans who are already talking about the season being a failure if the Bills aren’t in the Super Bowl. This is entertainment. We’re all passionate fans, but life goes on. Have fun. Go Bills! Some of the fans would be happier as Pat(hetic)s fans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRH Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 2 minutes ago, Limeaid said: I subscribed once using an email I never used for anything else and had no emails for a year. After I subscribed I regularly got spam mail from non-NYT and each time I got email it would use spelling for name I supplied (not my real one and not a real person). NYT uses emails to sell to junk mail companies. The NYT ought to do investigative reporting on this practice bur editors would reject it since they use it themselves. A simple “thank you” would have sufficed… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punching Bag Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 (edited) 8 minutes ago, BRH said: A simple “thank you” would have sufficed… Thank you for taking the bullet. Edited January 20, 2023 by Limeaid 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 During those SB years, they would do these huge features in the newspaper (D&C), with a huge photo of each player each day. I used to cut out those photos and hang them all over our basement. I remember right after that first SB loss, going down to the basement and putting up a piece of paper with the score on it and date, and then writing Bills versus ______ (1991 SB) next to it for the next SB. I was so sure they would be back. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanC883 Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 Did not live in Buffalo then. After the last SB loss, we moved to PGH. Was 12. steeler fans teasing me, they had not even been to a SB then in any of these kids lives. Then they were suddenly good. Was great watching Steelers lose to San Diego in AFC Champ game, eventually years later Steelers became my 2nd team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JakeFrommStateFarm Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 It's not if you win or lose It's how you play the game Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astb41 Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 1 hour ago, BRH said: Subscribers can gift up to 10 articles a month. this is my gift to you all when you speak of me, speak well Not all heroes wear capes 🍻 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your Brown Eye Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 17 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said: During those SB years, they would do these huge features in the newspaper (D&C), with a huge photo of each player each day. I used to cut out those photos and hang them all over our basement. I remember right after that first SB loss, going down to the basement and putting up a piece of paper with the score on it and date, and then writing Bills versus ______ (1991 SB) next to it for the next SB. I was so sure they would be back. Same...my mom would even take them to the PennySaver to get them laminated for me to hang in my bed room, I had a large collection of them 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSE Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 I was broke and so were my kids All 4 years Sad story.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsPride12 Posted January 21, 2023 Author Share Posted January 21, 2023 1 hour ago, Patrick Duffy said: Yeah I was not much older than you, I was 14 that year. I remember being shocked and speechless just sitting there with my mouth dropped in disbelief for quite a few minutes. But at least on the bright side you were banging Carol Lambert around that time period 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stroke 17 Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE GONE TO 3 OF THE 4 SUPER BOWLS. WATCHED THE FIRST ONE AT A WHAT I THINK WAS A RADISSON HOTEL SOMEWHERE OUT BY THE AIRPORT. Bills lose and I wasn't the same for weeks. Next year was in Minnesota, Bills lose but he hurt was a bit easier as I was there and enjoyed the experience. My kids stayed with grandparents and were upset with the result, Next year off to Pasadena, kids with grandparents again. Bills lose again, bad and sad. Got back home 2 days later mother-in-law tells me the girls didn't want to go to school because their friends would pick on them about the Bills. (all Steelers fans in this area). Tried to make a change and explain its just a game, fun to root for a team. Enjoy the ride. 30 tears later and Bills inventing ways to lose games our happy Bills family still starved for that Super Bowl. Over the years I have apologized to them for the seasons of suffering.....but we are all in and now I have 5 grandkids all over the east coast proudly wearing their Bills colors. I am worried about their fandom futures but also so proud of all of them for keeping up the hope. 11 of the 13 of us will be in town on Sunday at the game. Its a family affair. GO BILLS! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsPride12 Posted January 21, 2023 Author Share Posted January 21, 2023 9 minutes ago, HOUSE said: I was broke and so were my kids All 4 years Sad story.... Lose all your money betting on the Bills to win those Super Bowls? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Duffy Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 4 minutes ago, BillsPride12 said: But at least on the bright side you were banging Carol Lambert around that time period Yeah those were the good ol days long before ladies shaved off all the hair on their hot pockets 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSE Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 2 minutes ago, BillsPride12 said: Lose all your money betting on the Bills to win those Super Bowls? Nope, those damn football pools 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stroke 17 Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 10 minutes ago, HOUSE said: I was broke and so were my kids All 4 years Sad story.... Those 4 years were just the beginning. So many heartbreaking losses in the last 30. Funny thing, in the Chuck Knox years with Fergy and Cribbs we made the playoffs, tore down goalposts, partied loke there was no tomorrow but the playoff losses didn't hurt so much. After those 2-14 seasons just having a winning season was a hell of a ride. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsPride12 Posted January 21, 2023 Author Share Posted January 21, 2023 6 minutes ago, HOUSE said: Nope, those damn football pools I had a buddy who was running a restaurant back then. He was running a Super Bowl pool for SB25 and Norwood's missed kick allowed his Dad to win $5K. His Dad was still rooting for the Bills to win the Super Bowl even though he had that riding on the missed kick. My buddy said he never seen somebody so pissed to win $5000 in his life before 😆 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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