Week 11: Cincinatti Bengals

Victory, Celebration, Nuvo

        The Bills did not make it easy.  They took the long road, deciding against a victory in the first 8 weeks, opting to put up that first W in week 9 instead.  The crowd this past Sunday was one of the largest we have had and many of us stayed for hours after the game ended just to bask in that winning feeling.  If you are starting to lose that feeling of victory, here are a few more victories to get it back:

"Medium Per Capita Income"  (Buffalo: $14,991 - Detroit: $14,717)
"Average Annual Snowfall"  (Buffalo:  95.4 inches - Detroit:  43.3 inches)
"Narrow advantage in the percentage of fires started in vacant buildings" (Buffalo:  41% - Detroit: 42%.. real statistic!)
"Host city Pan-American Exposition - 1901"   (Buffalo:  Host City - Detroit:  Not Host City)

        Speaking of the "Pan-American Exposition of 1901" (Worlds Fair), I came across some photos of the Exposition while surfing the web for WNY related information.  I thought the below pictures might interest a small percentage of you.  This entire complex was torn down shortly after the event- in hindsight, a great idea...

        For those of you wondering what was that shot you took to celebrate the Bills first victory in 2010 this past Sunday- it was "Nuvo."  Nothing quite embodies the spirit of the Buffalo Bills and Western New York quite like a the world's only French sparkling vodka infused with wine and natural fruit ingredients:

This Week at Bleacher Bar

Halftime Entertainment TBD - Someone is winning $50 - intimate knowledge of Chyna not required this week.
Tailgate Specials:  11 am to 1 pm - 1/2 priced Beef on Weck, $1 Sliders
Free Wings at Kickoff and Halftime
First 4 people to arrive wearing Bills gear get a free 22 oz mug of beer compliments of the Bills Backers of Fenway.
Buckets of Labatt Blue and Genny Cream Ale:  (6 for $20 & 6 for $15)

Buy low, sell high- join the "Back to Buffalo" movement.  Direct roundtrip Jetblue flights are less then $150.   Bills tickets are selling under $40.  Flights to Buffalo - anytime Saturday - Flight back:  Jetblue 6:22 pm 12/12.  Bills Tickets: Section 117.  Tailgate spot:  TBD.

Week 10: Detroit Lions

Straws For Grasping

Disclaimer: The theme of this email is admittedly a serious reach - it was bound to happen - blame the Bills.

       

        Its 2010 - The Bills are winless after 8 games.  Their losses have come in all varieties: inept defense, inept offense, game-changing turnovers, heartbreaking OT defeats, blown leads, blown comebacks, missed field goals, missed extra points, and levitating fumbles.  This season's rollercoaster of failure has lead to the largest fracture of faith since "The Second Great Awakening" when WNY/CNY was referred to as the "Burned-over District".    
        For those of you who do not scour the internet looking for obscure details relevant to WNY, the "Burned-over District" is a term used to describe the many spiritual and religious movements that swept through our region in the mid 1800s.  Three of the most notable religious movements of this era were:

1.)  The Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons): Believed the angel Moroni descended from the heavens to deliver the principles of purity, piety, and plural marriage.
2.)   The Oneida Nation: Most known for their unique interpretation of group marriage- spouses are chosen by committee and offspring raised by the community.
3.)  The Shakers:  Beliefs of social equality, communal farming and rejection of any sexual relations are still widely practiced by exactly no one today.

For further reading on the "Burned-Over District": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burned-over_district

"Back to Buffalo" 12/12/2010

        If you are not scared, join the growing movement to return back to Buffalo for the Bills vs Browns on 12/12.  Direct round trip Jetblue flights are less then $150.  Bills tickets are selling under $40.  Flights to Buffalo - anytime Saturday - Flight back:  Jetblue 6:22 pm 12/12.  Bills Tickets:  Section 117.  Tailgate spot:  TBD.
 

This Week at Bleacher Bar

WNY / Bills Photo-hunt at halftime:   Teams of 4 will compete for a $50 Bleacher Bar gift card.
Tailgate Specials:  11 am to 1 pm - 1/2 priced Beef on Weck, $1 Sliders
Free Wings at Kickoff and Halftime
First 4 people to arrive wearing Bills gear get a free 22 oz mug of beer compliments of the Bills Backers of Fenway.
Buckets of Labatt Blue and Genny Cream Ale:  (6 for $20 & 6 for $15)
* Game is not on local TV - but this powerhouse matchup will be shown in all its glory at Bleacher Bar.   If you choose to watch the Bills alone- you have a problem.   We can help,
Buffalo Bills fan support groups meet every week at 1 pm at Bleacher Bar.

        So come on down to Bleacher Bar this Sunday where you can watch the Bills beat the Lions, practice abstinence, help raise a child, pick up a 2nd husband/wife and vote on an arranged marriage.    

Week 9: Chicago Bears

They will come home... they always come home.

        The crowd at Bleacher Bar this past Sunday did not sound like, look like or feel like an 0 and 6 crowd.  Despite many of us waking up brutally hungover, we still managed to get up and get out so the Bills could torture us... again.  We did not allow external factors to dampen our internal spirit.  On numerous occasions, the nearly 100 Bills fans in attendance stood in collective silence, chanted an ironic: "Yes We Can" and tapped shot glasses with strangers.  We danced to "Shout" as touchdowns scored, challenges failed and field goals sailed wide.  Of course, the end of the story was all too familiar, but at this point who cares?  We are still managing to have a blast.  In the end, winning is great but if you can only have a good time when the scoreboard tilts in your favor, you are not a fan- you just like winning.    

"Back to Buffalo"

        Yesterday during a particular boring team meeting, I day dreamed myself an idea.  This season has been tough on all of us; the Bills are finding new and creative ways to raise our hopes before shattering them.  We are frustrated, but we cannot allow the Bills' current failures to weaken our collective loyalty .  
        It is no secret the Bills are on a short list of franchises that could be relocated.  We cannot allow our story to change from "small market team with a rabidly loyal fan base" to "small market team whose fans are becoming disenfranchised."  This is not who we are!  We are not Jets/Patriots fans- our passion does not rise and fall based on our proximity to relevancy.  We cannot afford to be fair weather fans.  Each game we fail to sell out The Ralph weakens the value of the team and increases the likelihood for relocation.  
        With this said, I urge you to join the Bills Backers of Fenway and travel Back to Buffalo for Bills vs. Browns on December 12th.  Jetblue flights are cheap and direct.  Tickets to the game are cheap and plentiful.  Tailgating at a Bills game is a special kind of fun.  (Feel free to contact me for more details via email or at Bleacher Bar this Sunday)

This Week at Bleacher Bar

WNY / Bills Jeopardy @ halftime: Teams of 4 will compete in a Jeopardy/Double Dare hybrid.  $50 to the winners.
Tailgate Specials:  11 am to 1 pm - 1/2 priced Beef on Weck, $1 Sliders
Free Wings at Kickoff and Halftime
First 4 people to arrive wearing Bills gear get a free 22 oz mug of beercompliments of the Bills Backers of Fenway.
Buckets of Labatt Blue and Genny Cream Ale:  (6 for $20 & 6 for $15)



Week 8: Kansas City Chiefs

Exodus from Failure's Land

       At the conclusion of last Sunday’s game I was awash with hope.  Yes we lost in typical Bills fashion, but in this loss we survived the 10th and final plague: “Death of a first round draft pick.” (Sorry Aaron Maybin)   With all the “plagues of failure” complete, we are free to cast off the chains of bondage and travel back to our homeland: Success.
       No longer will we fumble kickoff returns that only require us to maintain possession to ensure victory.  No longer will the refs watch our players levitate for 15 minutes before calling a fumble in overtime.  No longer will playing on Monday night require that we lead for the entire game only to lose by one point in the final seconds.  No longer my friends, we are now free.
       This Sunday you will wake up zapped of your motivation.  Your Saturday night Halloween party will get out of hand.  You will be up later than you thought.  You will drink more than you anticipated.  However, YOU WILL NOT allow these factors to decrease your loyalty to your region and your team.  Prophet Fitzpatrick's arms will not stay raised forever and when the waves come crashing down and the sea restored – on which side of the water will you stand?

       Salvation thy name is Bleacher Bar.

Pictured Below:
1.) Artist rendering of a young Ryan Fitzpatrick being discovered in the reeds of the Niagara River.
2.) Fitzpatrick presents the Two Commandments:  Love thy Region & Love thy Bills.
3.) Fitzpatrick blazes a trail to salvation.

**TV Coverage Map (the game is not on local TV): Gus Johnson and Steve Tasker- I like you... a lot.**

This Week at Bleacher Bar

• Salvation for all Buffalo's children.
• Tailgate Specials:  11 am to 1 pm - 1/2 priced Beef on Weck, $1 Sliders
• Free Wings at Kickoff and Halftime
• First 4 people to arrive wearing Bills gear get a free 22 oz mug of beer compliments of the Bills Backers of Fenway.
• Buckets of Labatt Blue and Genny Cream Ale: (6 for $20 & 6 for $15)



Week 5 Photos!

Week 7: Baltimore Ravens

11 and 5 - I see you & I hear you.
      

        This past week the Buffalo Bills had a "players only meeting."  In my mind, this players meeting was the most intense and inspirational event to happen in Buffalo since the invention of Lucky Charms (made in Buffalo).  I picture Lee Evans standing on a chair, wagging his finger in the faces of his teammates as he screams:

        "We owe it to the people of WNY to turn this season around! These people get 120 inches of snow a year. They have lost population and industry every year since 1976.  They have the lowest median income of any NFL market, but still manage to sell out one of the largest stadiums.  They gather in bars across the country, punishing themselves with cold Labatt Blue and warm shots of Crown Royal.  They are a people of little hope.  We can change that!  We can go out and turn this season around! We will not only save our football team but also the soul of an entire region."    

         

        At the conclusion of this speech, the locker room is in emotional chaos- grown men are crying, on their knees begging God for forgiveness.  They kill goats as sacrificial penance and brand each other with the phrase: "One region, one team, one moment."  They bust out of the locker room filled with purpose and promise.  They stop at every home they pass and ask forgiveness.  They......... it is usually around this point I realize that my co-workers have begun to notice I have been staring out the window of my office for 10 minutes, mouthing phrases like "soul of an entire region."

This Week at Bleacher Bar

• WNY/Bills Pictionary - Teams of 4 - Winner gets $50 gift card to Bleacher Bar.  (Please contact me if you are interested we may have to limit # of teams)
• Tailgate Specials:  11 am to 1 pm - 1/2 priced Beef on Weck, $1 Sliders
• Free Wings at Kickoff and Halftime
• First 4 people to arrive wearing Bills gear get a free 22 oz mug of beer compliments of the Bills Backers of Fenway.
• Buckets of Labatt Blue and Genny Cream Ale:  (6 for $20 & 6 for $15)
• We say goodbye to Carl and Maria Osterlof.  These founders of the Bills Backers of Fenway are moving in 10 days for California; this Sunday is their final game at Bleacher Bar.

BYE Week

Sunday 10/17/10 - You disappoint me.

        The BYE week has come.  Every year I look at the schedule and the only thing that scares me is the week labeled "BYE."  This week provides us with a small window into the off-season where we cannot fall into the arms of Sunday's upstate comfort.  But, let's not think of that... instead, let's recall the memories of this past weekend.  Despite the Bills performance, everyone who attended Bleacher Bar scored their first personal win of the season.      
        Even Patriots fans could not hate on us.  I found this article written by a visiting Patriots fan about last Sunday at Bleacher Bar.    A few backhanded compliments but all-in-all, pretty complimentary:   http://mcmanuspicks.wordpress.com/2010/10/11/bye-week-bills-fan/
        Even though the Bills are not a very good football team, we are going to be going strong at Bleacher Bar the rest of the season.   After the BYE week, we start the entertainment portion of the season:  WNY Family Feud, Scavenger Hunts, Upstate Dating Game & 10th Grade Bio: Frog Dissection lab.
        This past Sunday was incredible.  Below are just a few of the pictures taken at the 1 year party - the rest will be posted to the Bleacher Bar website, Bills Backers of Fenway blog & the our facebook page.    (links below).  Pictures from week 1 are already on the Bleacher Bar website, last week's pictures will be posted shortly.