Twentysomething in Buffalo

Canadians prefer tailgating to luxury suites

Sorry this is up a day later than it should, but it took me a day to recover from my Bills-victory induced hangover.

Anyway, I went to Sunday's Bills-Dolphins game - my first of the year - and of course had a blast. Even though I - and my colleagues - have voiced concern over Bills fan behavior, I'm pleased to say that from tailgating in the Fieldhouse lot to hollerin' and high-fiving in section 126, I saw no one do anything particularly heinous. Outside of seeing a bunch of green security jackets converge on a 300-level section from a distance and the sad-sack Miami fan behind me puke a pile of hot dogs and beer, it was appropriately and safely rowdy.

One of my favorite parts of tailgating and the game is wandering and meeting people - you meet a lot of fun people that way. At this particular game, however, I met a large number Canadian fans, and not just St. Catharine's and Niagara Falls folk. Many, and I mean at least 20 or so that I talked to, were from Toronto, which invariably led to me asking an obvious question: Are they hoping the Bills move to Toronto?

The answer to my unscientific and informal poll surprised me - not a single Torontonian wants the Bills to move to Toronto. In fact, several don't want the Bills to even split home games between the two cities.

The common explanation? Practicality.

Here are some of the comments they made:
"Where can you tailgate in Toronto?"
"Where are they gonna play, the Skydome?"
"All you'll be able to do is take the train to the game, blow your money at the bars, then go home."
"I am not going to Scarborough for a game."

Now, I'm not going to pretend the above unattributed comments are the voice of all Torontonians, as these are folk clearly willing to drive to Buffalo, but it makes you think: would moving to Toronto really save a team like the Bills?

Consider:
A) The Skydome is too small to be a regular NFL host.
B) Like densely populated New York City, there's no real reasonable place to build an NFL-sized stadium within the city.
C) Tailgating = Heaven
D) Look at this list. It's rankings of team brand success - basically how successful individual teams are in their markets. Look where the Toronto Raptors (who are good) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (who are terrible) rank. Look where the Buffalo teams (both currently mediocre) rank. Well-run teams can succeed in smallish markets. Poorly (LEAFS) run (LEAFS) teams (LEAFS) in big-money cities live off a cornered market

And anyway, why would any NFL team build a stadium in a place like Scarborough, a sprawl-created suburb away from their city's central core? That would be a mistake, right? (MULLIGAN!)

PS- I know, Scarborough is technically a part of Toronto proper, but they have a regional government. If Buffalo played by their rules, UB's North Campus, the Galleria Mall and yes, the Ralph would be technically within the City of Buffalo.

Re: Being a poor sport

I just wanted to share a quick update on the State of Buffalo Fan Behavior following the Bills' Sunday shellacking at the hands of the New England Patriots.

While I didn't go to the game, I know several people who did along with several travelers in town for the game. And while I hoped (and honestly believed) a fan base relatively accustomed to losing would handle defeat with a modicum of dignity, early word-of-mouth reports are telling me that's not the case.

Bearing in mind this is all hearsay, many people I spoke with said hometown fans became hostile as quickly as the game turned into a blowout. Several Patriots fans told me that while they were anticipating being heckled, they were surprised at the violent threats they received and decided to leave midway through the third quarter to avoid trouble.

Another Canadian gentleman I met, sporting no fan gear marking fandom either way, said when he stood up after Randy Moss' third touchdown catch, others around him threw beer cups and other trash while shouting at him. For standing up. To go to the bathroom. Seriously.

Now I know all this is hearsay, but I'd be willing to bet in the coming days that there will be news reports that will say either the volume or magnitude of drunken goonery was uncomfortably high. I really hope I'm wrong.

As a fan, I've been known to be boisterous and use colorful language, but there's a fine line between funny and being a jerk. I'm not saying entire stadiums should be G-rated, but I'd hate for a certain spelling-challenged Arizona commenter to be justified in calling us Buff-oooooons.

-Evan Parker Pierce

PS: I know I return taunts. The difference? These guns stay holstered.

Being a poor sport

As a Bills fan myself, I know that fans around these parts are absolutely crazy.

This Sunday I went to the Bills/Bengals game and showed up in the parking lot about 8:30 a.m. With the extra hour of sleep the night before, fans seemed full of life and extra rowdy.

Bengals fans appeared in various spots around the Ralph Wilson parking lot, and like every home game, Bills fans taunted and jeered them. The innocent rivalry is not only a pastime, but can actually be exciting for fans of either team.

But I was appalled to see how some Buffalo fans treated Cincinnatians. As a group of fans walked by us in their black and orange colors, we all started booing (it had to be expected) and the opposing fans raised their arms supporting their team. But as they made their way to the gates, one Bills fans threw his drink in their faces and then continued disrespecting them by throwing the can at them as well. I rolled my eyes and let it go.

At 1 p.m., we made our way to our 300-level seats and low and behold who was sitting directly in front of us? Four Cincinnati fans. We introduced ourselves to try and maintain some good fun while we all enjoyed the game.

As the fourth quarter began and the Bills took a lead over the Bengals, fans were louder than ever and rubbing it in the opposing team's face. I was then presented with another discouraging situation. A fan next to me was personally degrading and humiliating a female Cincinnati fan and her three friends. The misconduct was so uncalled for that I was offended not only as a woman, but also as a Buffalonian. It showed a lack of maturity, a lack of respect for the game, and for the people sitting within range. It wasn't long before the clearly inebriated fan was escorted out of the stadium.

I have always been proud to call myself a Buffalonian, but on Sunday I felt that some Bills fans reflected a bad image on our city, and on those who still enjoy the true meaning of the game. Whatever happened to good sportsmanship?

-Kelly Boquard

Tailgating

Ask anyone what day of the week is his or her favorite, and nine times out of 10 I bet you will hear "Friday or Saturday"

Not me. I love Sundays because they are a day of no obligations, no friends repeatedly calling your cell phone, and hours and hours of Lifetime movies, football games and reality TV.

But the main reason I love Sundays is tailgating at Buffalo Bills games. It is an experience that can't be beat. I wake up earlier on Sunday morning to go sit in the parking lot with a grill and a few friends, than I do to get ready for work on Monday.

I went to the Bills/Jets game last Sunday and the Bills/Cowboys game last night, and loved every minute of it. Everyone brings a dish to pass, people are throwing footballs, Jets fans are mocking Bills fans and Bills fans are taunting Jets fans.

Sure, it's jam-packed with adrenaline and cheap beer, but I think that's part of the beauty. Everyone is sitting in the back of their SUV wearing their team logos to celebrate and support their city. The great thing about Buffalo is that whether we're down 0-3 or up 3-0 the cheering never fades and the hope never dies.

I don't follow football much, but that doesn't seem to matter. At the beginning of the Jets game I sat in the 300s surrounded by total strangers, and by the end of the first half I knew most of their names and what towns they live in. The couple that sat in front of us were two schoolteachers from Pennsylvania who rent a hotel room for every Bills home game -- talk about devotion. At the end of the game, hugs were exchanged and you could hear fans chanting throughout the Ralph.

This is what I love about Buffalo; this is the reason that no matter what, I could never leave this city. Go Bills!

-- Kelly Boquard

On the chopping block

I'm numb. Seriously, that's all I can say. Numb. Has there ever been an organization, a sports town, a city and a fan base as tortured as Buffalonians? We really are the da Vinci of losers.

In all of history, I don't think one city has ever generated as many new ways to lose as Buffalo? Wide Right, In The Crease, Home Run Throwback, Thurman's Helmet, Elam's miracle kick against the Broncos in Week 2 and now the Second Chance Collapse against the Cowboys. Is that a good nickname? Anyone? Is this a loss, where the Bills were already a heavy underdog, even deserve a nickname? Excuse me while I go take a cold shower to clear my head.

I know I could catch a lot of blogger guff for referencing him, but Bill Simmons' "Levels of Losing" column at ESPN.com perfectly describes Buffalo sports luck. Monday night nearly ranked as a "Monkey Wrench" game to the Cowboys, where an underdog upsets a powerhouse, but ended as a combination of "The Guillotine" and a "Stomach Punch" game, perhaps the worst combination possible. Needless to say, I am currently giving myself a punch in the stomach and laying my neck on the chopping block that is my family room ottoman.

Just a quicky shallow note on yesterday's Monday night game - ESPN's star announcing team of Ron Jaworski and Tony Kornheiser made the requisite lame Buffalo references on Pardon The Interruption yesterday, joking about how many wings they left on the table at the Anchor Bar, but that got me thinking.

Big games, like Monday Night Football, bring a number of celebrities to town. Buffalo, with the scant exception of local heroes (Ani DiFranco, any Sabre or Bill, "Huge" Fucillo. uh, scratch that last one.) isn't exactly a haven of A-, B- and even C-list stars. I mean, the Niagara Gazette ran a front page story about "Good Morning America" shooting at Niagara Falls. Seems a little desperate don't you think?

That being said, I'm a junkie for celebrity sightings just like anyone else, so anybody out there see anyone interesting recently? With Steve Young, Jaws, Terrell Owens and a smattering of other sports biggies in town, someone must have been spotted dripping bleu cheese on their tie.

- Evan Parker Pierce

Are you ready for a beatdown?!

If you couldn't tell from this post's title, I'm less than optimistic for a Bills victory tonight against the undefeated Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are simply strong where we are weak - an elite offense against a depleted defense, strong secondary against a struggling pass attack.

But we already know the Bills aren't a Super Bowl contender, so as fans there is still something to look forward to:

An upset would be great, but I'd be satisfied with the Bills finally cracking 100 yards running. Official Twentysomething Running Back Marshawn Lynch gives teams reason to respect the run, but almost all his yards come from tough runs. The offensive line needs to step up and make the game easier for the rookie.

And how great would it be to see Official Twentysomething Rookie Trent Edwards continue to play well?

I for one am simply looking forward to the hullabaloo (such a great word) surrounding  Buffalo's first Monday Night Football game in 13 years.  Should I stay in and watch my Bills in glorious HD? Should I go to a bar like, say Faherty's, and watch the game with beers? Should I just go down to Orchard Park and tailgate my face off?

Anyone out there have any suggestions? I'm not tied to any one place, so convince me of my best options.

- Evan Parker Pierce