For the last, Oh-say, fifteen years, I have been a Buffalo Bills sceptic. Ever since they lost their second straight Super Bowl I pretty much ignored the Bills and at times found humor at watching the fans throw away their money on a losing team. Well for the first time in god-how many years, I’m actually excited about the team and its chances this year.
I can still remember the day as if it was yesterday. It was the Bills Vs Redskins in the Bills second Super Bowl. Buffalo decided to not show up and they were losing with what team did show. I was piss drunk and mad as hell at all the bad calls and bad plays. So I took every piece of Bills paraphernalia I owned and started a bon fire.
Until that day I was the proverbial Bills greatest fan, but when they were losing again something just clicked and I had a revelation. What I realized is, no matter how good or bad the Bills do, it doesn’t change a thing in Buffalo or around the world. I was living in Jacksonville Florida at the time and it sure as hell wasn’t going to affect me for the better or worse if they won or lost.
So it dawned on me, why does every football fan put so much time and energy into this game. You see these people everywhere, gotta get the new jersey or they go nuts for some BS hat and crap that just drains their wallet. I have had the argument with freinds and family that it’s about hometown pride and some fools even think that a football franchise actually brings jobs here.
I guess that in some small way the hometown pride thing is valid but when you consider that all the players on the team will leave today for a hundred grand more in a new contract, it kinda throws a wrench into the theory. This year seems different some how. I can’t explain it. I’m not running out to get Bills stuff but I find that I would rather sit home Sunday’s and watch the game. I even went to the home opener for the first time in quite a while.
What I can’t figure out is why? Why is this year different than last year, at least for me? All I can say is this. Go Bills and I hope you win and get in the playoffs. I can’t call myself a Bills fan just yet but I will give them the due they deserve. You aren’t such a terrible team any longer and football is fun again.
