John from Riverside Posted May 19, 2011 Posted May 19, 2011 very late to the party on this one. As a Southern California native who was stationed up in Cape Cod MA for like 5 years I really wished I had made the trek to Buffalo while I was up there.....its now likely I will never get that chance. Would have liked to been at a actual Bills game just for the atmosphere....being able to come out to the tailgate with you guys.....freeze my @ss off....etc etc As long as I have my Direct TV Im good. I miss Empire Network with a passion.
JLO Posted May 19, 2011 Posted May 19, 2011 Moved out to Los Angeles right before the Flutie era after being born in Brockport and raised in Churchville, in between Rochester and Batavia. I still go back every year around the holidays and try to catch either a Sabres or Bills game while there, and always go and support them when they play out here. The 10am starts are a little rough especially after a heavy night of partying and I miss much of the local cuisine such as Garbage Plates, Wegmans Subs, decent chicken wings(bleu cheese,, not ranch) and of course an ice cold Labatts!
The Senator Posted May 19, 2011 Posted May 19, 2011 What's it like being a Bills fan on the west coast? Nice, very nice. But for all you posters who aren't from there, or haven't been there in a long time, here's a fine little clip about The Nickel City: youtube.com/watch?v=JNYue0Os55A&feature=player_embedded That is a very well produced video - reminds me of those old Ronald Reagan 'It's morning in America' campaign commercials, especially with the narrator's 'Hal Riney-like' voice-over. (It's much better than I thought the campaign would be when I first heard the slogan was going to be "Buffalo, for real." )
Joe Miner Posted May 19, 2011 Posted May 19, 2011 Most peeps are damn lucky to be born or living near Buffalo. But some of us in the periphery have to make due with how our lives have unfolded. How many here are transplants from Buffalo? And how many are fans who never grew up in Buffalo but naturally realized Buffalo is our team (such as me). SF is supposed to be my team. They are fairly close enough and they became my 2nd fav. But for some damn reason Buffalo got a hold of my heart before the Niners could and never let go (and the Niners are damn close to my heart). I'm a hard core Bills fan since 87 and perhaps 86 if pressed. and I'm damn proud of it! How did you all (who live away from Buffalo) get sucked into the awesomeness of being a Bills fan? Did it come as naturally as my situation? Do tell! I grew up in MO. I've never set foot in Buffalo. I guess I should have been a Cheif's fan according to my location. I just could never get into Chief's football. Martyball was not my cup of tea as I was growing up. Too slow, and predictable and boring. Not flashy or exciting at all. I loved the Bills after the first time I saw them play on the TV. Late 80's Probably around '88 or so, just a season or two before the first SB. They were so fast, and quick on Offense. Just able to do it all, run and pass and score...a lot. And just nasty on D. Night and Day from what I had seen from the Chief's, and was immediately a fan. Even though I got tons of crap for liking the Bills growing up, especially after the SB runs and they got crappy in the late 90's (my college years), I've stuck with them.
NickelCity Posted May 19, 2011 Posted May 19, 2011 Born in Buffalo, spent my childhood there, moved out to CA but I go back every summer. So I suppose no story there. I was raised a Bills fan, and you better believe we didn't change our team once we left.
ARTnSocal Posted May 19, 2011 Posted May 19, 2011 I miss Empire Network with a passion. You and a whole lot of others
Smiley Dear Posted May 19, 2011 Posted May 19, 2011 I love these threads. There's one every off-season. I thought I was Steelers fan when I moved to Medina, NY. It's understandable since it was 1978, we were moving from Johnstown, PA, and I was only 8. My dad took me to my first Bills game the following year. It was a December game and there was 6 in of snow on the aluminum benches at Rich. The Bills lost to Denver 19 to 17 on a last second field goal and I was genuinely disappointed. We went to the seasonopener every year after that. I watched every televised Bills game and listened to Van whenever the games were blacked out, which was often in 1984 and 1985. Yet I still thought the Steelers were my favorite team until 1986 when the 3-7 Bills hosted the 3-7 Steelers. After suffering through 35 loses out of the past 42 games, I was physically unable to root for a Bills loss. I cheered like hell as the they managed to pull off the upset. I realized that day that its easy to love a team when they are good and usually win. Fans love their team just as much when they aren't winning. Those fans are rewarded expontentially when the team does turn it around. I've been a die hard ever since. Ive lived Cleveland, St. Martin, and London, and I've always found a Bar or Casino willing to show the Bilks Game. I live in Chicago now and used to watch all the games at the coolest beer and shot joint in the city, Delilah's. I have kids and Sunday ticket now. Still never miss a game. I read this message board several times a day. Whenever my 3 year old sees any sports logo anywhere, he says look dad it's the Buffalo Bills. Sorry this was so long, but love talking about the Bills.
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