This question goes out specifically to two regular posters (Nick in England and aussiew), but can be fielded by anyone who is not a native of the USA, or WNY for that matter:
The question is, how did you become such passionate Bills fans?
My passion for the Bills comes from the spirit that is ingrained in the youth of western NY. I was born in 1980, in Buffalo, and I was given the name of the starting quarterback of the Bills at that time. Although my parents claim that I was not named after Joe Ferguson the quarterback, I think subconsciously my dad named me Joe with some Bills fan intentions. Growing up with this name, and a family full of die hard Bills fans surrounding me, I had no choice but to love the Bills. During the glory years of the 90's, my passion grew stronger and stronger. After Super Bowl 25, I cried myself to sleep. My dad told my brother and I that it was only a game and we should not worry because we had no control over it. After tucking us in, he closed the door and we heard him screaming profanities at the top of his lungs. Due to this upbringing in Buffalo, I will always be a Bills fan, no matter how bad the team becomes.
So how does someone, especially living in a country like Australia or England, become a football fan, let alone a Bills fan. I know that the most popular sport in either of these countries is certainly not American football, so how do you get to the point where you are so passionate about the team that you make super long road trips to go see them play? Along the same lines, how does someone living somewhere else in the USA become a Bills fan, especially when they're are so many other teams who have a better history of success to choose from?