Say what you will about the sports scene here in the ‘Lo, but when it comes down to it, we all know that so many of us live and die by our teams.
Yesterday I went to the Bills game for the first time in many years. I have been to a pre-season game or two, but not a regular season game–and certainly not to a game where we were the favorite and looking at 3-0 for the first time in 16 years! Gone were the days of the $10-post-1st quarter ticket; the “hustlers” were out scalpin’ away and getting big money for their efforts. Finally, we landed our tickets–and off we went.
You could feel it in the air. There was electricity all around. Although some were inebriated, the people were in a state of bliss and happiness. If you were representing the Bills than you were in. You were down. You fit.
As the game went on, you could sense that hardly anyone in the stands was giving up. Even though we were down with just minutes left, we knew that this year, we were going to win that game. Period. And so with 3 seconds left, Lindell kicked the winner, and the doors of Utopia a la Buffalo were opened.
With the win, everyone became one.* There were zero differences. Everyone was hugging (unless if you were a Raiders fan, lol), giving high-fives, bumps and screams. Everywhere you went you saw smiles and heard laughter. For that moment in time, we had no economic crisis; we had no issues of class or racial difference. We had no dominant gender or religion…we simply were Bills fans. Give the people something to unite with and buffalo is a thriving, Utopian community, if even for just 3 hours. Seems simple doesn’t it?
Sweet, sweet victory…Go Bills!
*Disclaimer: The point of view expressed in the above post is solely that of Eric Crittenden. Though we wish a sports win eradicated all economic, race and class issues, we have serious doubts. Still, we like Eric’s attitude in the afterglow of a win;-)
Photo: Courtesy of Buffalobills.com