Vikings fan here - I understand and respect the choice. I know folks that won't root for the Bills because they couldn't stomach that 0-for team getting a championship leaving us alone at 0-4 (similar to the Broncos winning in '97). I rooted along with Chiefs fans in '19 and the last few years it's been for the Bills. The Lions don't even feel like a rival considering their decades of futility. I enjoyed the Brewers-Rays WS after they knocked off the empires and I'd enjoy Bills-Lions even Bills-Bears (another NFC North team that had one great half-decade stretch 40 years ago and has otherwise experienced futility with an occasional out of nowhere good season).
Welcome to the mafia, Joe! As I was reading these weekly trials, I was wondering how long it would take you to settle on this most obvious of fits. We're happy to have you, now let's go win a Super Bowl!
Welcome aboard, Joe! Such a natural fit. I mean, you really just drifted a few miles down the Erie shore to another wonderful and under-appreciated Great Lakes town with a great tradition of hardworking, devoted fans. Like you. Like your Dad.
Growing up in Southern Ontario we got all the Buffalo TV stations (Irv Weinstein, Love that Super Duper!) so the Bills became the team of my youth. Reggie McKenzie and the Electric Company, the exciting Joe Cribbs/Ferguson teams going up against Gastineau et. al. I've been in Colorado 40+ years, but I still found myself rooting for the Bills to beat the Broncos in the playoffs last Jan. I didn't realize my deep allegiance until late in the game when I uttered "oh no" when the call went the Broncos way. My family, thinking I was a devout Bronco, looked at me in horror. Busted!
As a hardcore Bills fan…welcome! And, I’m sorry for whatever misery will inevitably come your way. But, it’ll be a worthwhile misery.
For a good crash course you might want to watch even just the first episode of the Tubi (yes, Tubi — it’s a thing) five-part series on the Bills Mafia, “Just One Before I Die.” Part of being a Bills fan is that I knew many people in the series. https://youtu.be/S2JK3VgoV1A?si=O6ynFcyTKLYVHzXQ
Well, you must not have seen the Chiefs/Broncos game last weekend. Talk about a heart breaking loss. But you're right about the Bills. They deserve it, and I hope they complete the trifecta. Basketball, Baseball, Football. Firsts for all. P.S. Used to read your column in the Star every day. It's so sad that newspapers are disappearing, and even more so, have lame reporting across the board. They used to be such a part of our lives. Now it's printed 3 hours away and the term 'local news' is an oxymoron.
I love Joe and I love his writing. But let’s be realistic. He may very well be a huge jinx. As a dolphins fan this makes me so happy. I understand the Dolphins aren’t close to competing this year, but I am happy with the direction under the new regime. And with Joe putting his stink on the bills, things are looking up.
I am also curious with as snake bit as the bills have been why nobody thought maybe there was the curse of Orenthal
Unless they go head to head with Chicago in a playoff game, I am all in for Bufflao. Very much like my favorite team, Da Bears. Thank for you for your kind comments abou the Bears, and I agree with you completely regarding good reasons to root for the Bills.
For the benefit of Joe and anyone else close to Wegmans, like Sahlens they carry a number of WNY delicacies in all their stores. I very strongly recommend Weber's horseradish mustard and Chiavetta's marinade (soak skin-on chicken thighs in it and grill - it's like barbecue and salt-and-vinegar chips had a delicious baby)
"some people are saying glowing words about He Who Shall Not Be Named’s resilience,"
I've been reading that and I honestly don't get it. Leads the league in sacks. Only 7 TD passes. Bottom of the barrel in QRB, mediocre in passing rating. All against a fairly weak schedule. Are people so desperate for a redemption story, they're looking at this meh-to-bad season and saying, "hey, he's back!"
The BEST thing that ever happened to me as a Brewers fan was winning the World Series this year.
The SECOND best thing that ever happened to me as a Brewers fan is that, like three years ago, Mike Schur and Joe Posnanski decided that the people of Seattle deserved a World Series more than the Brewers. This was not because of recent track record - the Brewers have been far more successful than the Mariners in the last... what, two decades now? It wasn't because Seattle has had a rougher time than Milwaukee; tough to argue that any coastal city has had a rougher time over the last 50 years than the Midwestern manufacturing beds. It was because... aw, who KNOWS why. And I admit, I was - at first - peeved. "Julio is amazing!" the Poscast would say... and then not mention Brice Turang for entire seasons. "Seattle deserves this!" the Poscast would say, forgetting about the San Diegos and Milwaukees that have suffered longer. Look; I have nothing against Seattle. But in the wake of the World Series, I am SO GLAD that Joe and Mike kept pulling for that franchise, left mine alone, and now we've won it all.
I've said all that to say this: I'm sorry, Bills fans. I think this conclusion of Joe's is a very bad thing for you. I wouldn't have wished it on anyone (other than Vikings fans, upon whom I most definitely WOULD wish it, as a Packers fan living in MN). Sorry Joe has ruined your season, and possibly enacted some sort of curse upon you. Mariners fans, maybe you can convince Pos to stop rooting for you, and you can have the joy I'm feeling. Padres fans, your team was undeniably the second-best team in the postseason, and you absolutely deserve a title, too... so stay as far away as possbile from Joe Posnanski.
Welcome to the Team! My wife converted a few years ago(although she has never been to Buffalo) and has cheered and suffered since. It’s the team and the people. The full Buffalo fan experience.
Another factor you may ,or may not, have considered is that unlike the Knicks and the Brewers , Buffalo has no other major league teams that have won a championship( looking at you Sabres) and no significant success at the collegiate level either( UB grad here … they are better now than when I was there but still not going to ever contend )
I think you are just what the Bills need to put them over the top!
I know someone who is a Bills fan because he also went to Wyoming like Josh Allen. He lives in NYC and goes to a Bills bar he found for every game. Western and Central New York, where I live, is solidly Bills country. Alas, I am a not a fan. I am sadly a Lions fan who have never won anything in my entire 66 years of life. I do however do the majority of my shopping at Wegmans. I close my eyes when I go past the Bills merch area.
As a Rochester area resident for the last 25 years, I can confirm that Wegmans started here, not in Buffalo. Also, the Bills have training camp over here (in the Rochester suburb of Pittsford, where I live) at St. John Fisher University.
I remember visiting my first Wegman's soon after moving to Rochester. A friend said I had to see it, called it Wegman-opolis. I had worked for Whole Foods Market in Houston, Philadelphia, and Oklahoma City; this was out-of-this-world HUGE.
Vikings fan here - I understand and respect the choice. I know folks that won't root for the Bills because they couldn't stomach that 0-for team getting a championship leaving us alone at 0-4 (similar to the Broncos winning in '97). I rooted along with Chiefs fans in '19 and the last few years it's been for the Bills. The Lions don't even feel like a rival considering their decades of futility. I enjoyed the Brewers-Rays WS after they knocked off the empires and I'd enjoy Bills-Lions even Bills-Bears (another NFC North team that had one great half-decade stretch 40 years ago and has otherwise experienced futility with an occasional out of nowhere good season).
Welcome to the mafia, Joe! As I was reading these weekly trials, I was wondering how long it would take you to settle on this most obvious of fits. We're happy to have you, now let's go win a Super Bowl!
Welcome to the Bills Mafia. Love having you here, Joe.
Welcome aboard, Joe! Such a natural fit. I mean, you really just drifted a few miles down the Erie shore to another wonderful and under-appreciated Great Lakes town with a great tradition of hardworking, devoted fans. Like you. Like your Dad.
Growing up in Southern Ontario we got all the Buffalo TV stations (Irv Weinstein, Love that Super Duper!) so the Bills became the team of my youth. Reggie McKenzie and the Electric Company, the exciting Joe Cribbs/Ferguson teams going up against Gastineau et. al. I've been in Colorado 40+ years, but I still found myself rooting for the Bills to beat the Broncos in the playoffs last Jan. I didn't realize my deep allegiance until late in the game when I uttered "oh no" when the call went the Broncos way. My family, thinking I was a devout Bronco, looked at me in horror. Busted!
I hope you stick it out!
As a hardcore Bills fan…welcome! And, I’m sorry for whatever misery will inevitably come your way. But, it’ll be a worthwhile misery.
For a good crash course you might want to watch even just the first episode of the Tubi (yes, Tubi — it’s a thing) five-part series on the Bills Mafia, “Just One Before I Die.” Part of being a Bills fan is that I knew many people in the series. https://youtu.be/S2JK3VgoV1A?si=O6ynFcyTKLYVHzXQ
Well, you must not have seen the Chiefs/Broncos game last weekend. Talk about a heart breaking loss. But you're right about the Bills. They deserve it, and I hope they complete the trifecta. Basketball, Baseball, Football. Firsts for all. P.S. Used to read your column in the Star every day. It's so sad that newspapers are disappearing, and even more so, have lame reporting across the board. They used to be such a part of our lives. Now it's printed 3 hours away and the term 'local news' is an oxymoron.
Ah, the Bills..... I want to know how they got the team to do this commercial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhMD8PAjnjw
I gotta agree with Joe on indoor football. Nothing better than a snow game in January!
I love Joe and I love his writing. But let’s be realistic. He may very well be a huge jinx. As a dolphins fan this makes me so happy. I understand the Dolphins aren’t close to competing this year, but I am happy with the direction under the new regime. And with Joe putting his stink on the bills, things are looking up.
I am also curious with as snake bit as the bills have been why nobody thought maybe there was the curse of Orenthal
Unless they go head to head with Chicago in a playoff game, I am all in for Bufflao. Very much like my favorite team, Da Bears. Thank for you for your kind comments abou the Bears, and I agree with you completely regarding good reasons to root for the Bills.
For the benefit of Joe and anyone else close to Wegmans, like Sahlens they carry a number of WNY delicacies in all their stores. I very strongly recommend Weber's horseradish mustard and Chiavetta's marinade (soak skin-on chicken thighs in it and grill - it's like barbecue and salt-and-vinegar chips had a delicious baby)
"some people are saying glowing words about He Who Shall Not Be Named’s resilience,"
I've been reading that and I honestly don't get it. Leads the league in sacks. Only 7 TD passes. Bottom of the barrel in QRB, mediocre in passing rating. All against a fairly weak schedule. Are people so desperate for a redemption story, they're looking at this meh-to-bad season and saying, "hey, he's back!"
The BEST thing that ever happened to me as a Brewers fan was winning the World Series this year.
The SECOND best thing that ever happened to me as a Brewers fan is that, like three years ago, Mike Schur and Joe Posnanski decided that the people of Seattle deserved a World Series more than the Brewers. This was not because of recent track record - the Brewers have been far more successful than the Mariners in the last... what, two decades now? It wasn't because Seattle has had a rougher time than Milwaukee; tough to argue that any coastal city has had a rougher time over the last 50 years than the Midwestern manufacturing beds. It was because... aw, who KNOWS why. And I admit, I was - at first - peeved. "Julio is amazing!" the Poscast would say... and then not mention Brice Turang for entire seasons. "Seattle deserves this!" the Poscast would say, forgetting about the San Diegos and Milwaukees that have suffered longer. Look; I have nothing against Seattle. But in the wake of the World Series, I am SO GLAD that Joe and Mike kept pulling for that franchise, left mine alone, and now we've won it all.
I've said all that to say this: I'm sorry, Bills fans. I think this conclusion of Joe's is a very bad thing for you. I wouldn't have wished it on anyone (other than Vikings fans, upon whom I most definitely WOULD wish it, as a Packers fan living in MN). Sorry Joe has ruined your season, and possibly enacted some sort of curse upon you. Mariners fans, maybe you can convince Pos to stop rooting for you, and you can have the joy I'm feeling. Padres fans, your team was undeniably the second-best team in the postseason, and you absolutely deserve a title, too... so stay as far away as possbile from Joe Posnanski.
Welcome to the Team! My wife converted a few years ago(although she has never been to Buffalo) and has cheered and suffered since. It’s the team and the people. The full Buffalo fan experience.
Another factor you may ,or may not, have considered is that unlike the Knicks and the Brewers , Buffalo has no other major league teams that have won a championship( looking at you Sabres) and no significant success at the collegiate level either( UB grad here … they are better now than when I was there but still not going to ever contend )
I think you are just what the Bills need to put them over the top!
I know someone who is a Bills fan because he also went to Wyoming like Josh Allen. He lives in NYC and goes to a Bills bar he found for every game. Western and Central New York, where I live, is solidly Bills country. Alas, I am a not a fan. I am sadly a Lions fan who have never won anything in my entire 66 years of life. I do however do the majority of my shopping at Wegmans. I close my eyes when I go past the Bills merch area.
As a Rochester area resident for the last 25 years, I can confirm that Wegmans started here, not in Buffalo. Also, the Bills have training camp over here (in the Rochester suburb of Pittsford, where I live) at St. John Fisher University.
Beat me to it! Let the Rochester-Love Pile-On begin!
I'm with you my Flower City brothers, and I'll take a Zweigles Red Hot over a Sahlens any day of the week
I remember visiting my first Wegman's soon after moving to Rochester. A friend said I had to see it, called it Wegman-opolis. I had worked for Whole Foods Market in Houston, Philadelphia, and Oklahoma City; this was out-of-this-world HUGE.
And proud supporter of University of Rochester. Rochester is also the home of the garbage plate. https://www.visitrochester.com/restaurants/the-garbage-plate/
Don't forget the Strong National Museum of Play, aka The Toy Museum!
https://www.museumofplay.org/
The 2026 nominees for their Hall of Fame are out!
https://www.museumofplay.org/exhibits/toy-hall-of-fame/2026-finalists/
(I'd go with bingo, mah jongg, Pokemon, and the slide.)