So What's the Story Behind Bermans Love of the Bills?

[raphael120]

I know he's a big fan but I've been looking up his bio's all over the place and it says ntohing about him ever being in Buffalo, working in Buffalo, or living there...

I've always assumed there was some reason why he likes the Bills...when he did/why did he become a fan? During the Super Bowl years..what?

Sorry if it's a stupid question but I guess I'm just extremely bored with this crap football game on right now. Haha.

[Devin]

Re: So What's the Story Behind Bermans Love of the Bills?

Actually thats not a bad question at all ive always kinda been curious about this myself.

[raphael120]

Re: So What's the Story Behind Bermans Love of the Bills?

Actually thats not a bad question at all ive always kinda been curious about this myself.

Glad I'm not the only one who is clueless!

[Luisito23]

Re: So What's the Story Behind Bermans Love of the Bills?

I love Boomer!....I still remember when he use to pick us against the 9ers every year for the Superbowl..."Nobody circles the wagons.....




GO BILLS!!!!!!!

[Slim]

Re: So What's the Story Behind Bermans Love of the Bills?

I dont know. Second generation fan?

[Mr. Miyagi]

Re: So What's the Story Behind Bermans Love of the Bills?

Good question. I'm not sure either but I'd really like to know.

Maybe the 4 SB appearances really earned his respect? Marv gave him a good talking to?

[YardRat]

Re: So What's the Story Behind Bermans Love of the Bills?

Berman and ESPN were treated very well during the early Polian/Levy era when visiting training camp at Fredonia, if I remember correctly, and they just kind of hit it off.

Didn't hurt that the 'cab driver' in the organization made info available to Boomer at appropriate times.

[BillsPride12]

Re: So What's the Story Behind Bermans Love of the Bills?

Basically Jimbo always invited Boomer over to party and get hammered after big wins

[TheGhostofJimKelly]

Re: So What's the Story Behind Bermans Love of the Bills?

I met Berman years ago at the Hartford Civic Center. My buddy and I were walking in the hallway and we seen him with his two kids. We said something like Hey Mr Berman, we are from Buffalo. He stopped and talked to us for like 15 minutes about how much he loves Buffalo. He was always invited by Jim Kelly to the parties after the games and he attended. He was just about the nicest guy I have ever met, especially with any kind of celeb status. I would assume the way he was treated by the city and the early 90s Bills is a huge reason why he likes the Bills. He is also a big guy.

[mybills]

Re: So What's the Story Behind Bermans Love of the Bills?

You don't have to live in Buffalo to be a Bills fans. He went to college here in RI.

[Philagape]

Re: So What's the Story Behind Bermans Love of the Bills?

He seems like a Buffalo-type of guy. Down to earth, unpretentious, balding and chubby, not some slick, spiffed-up, model-look anchorman ... he's a regular guy, the kind you'd like to hang out in a bar with. That's his appeal.

I also like that he references hockey a lot more than the rest of ESPN.

[Coach Sal]

Re: So What's the Story Behind Bermans Love of the Bills?

Back in 1988, after the strike season and the Bills went 7-8 and were a perennial loser, Berman liked what he saw out of the team and thought they were on the verge of something special.

So, in his pre-season SB pick, he picked "Bills vs. 49ers." Everyone knew the Niners would be good, but no one else picked the Bills. So, in a city that was starved for some positive attention (the Sabres sucked, too), Bills fans loved him for doing this and treated him like royalty every time he came to town.

When the team actually did start playing like SB contenders, it became like a badge of honor for him that he was the first one to pick the Bills. So, since they were good, and since everyone knew he was the first one to "Billieve," he also formed a great relationship with the organization (being good also helped the Bills ESPN exposure, which also gave Berman more fuel for this fire). They became his "adopted" team.

The Bills lost in the AFC championship game that year to Cincy. San Fran won the SB. So he picked them both again in 1989. And again the Niners made it and the Bills did not.

He then went on to pick "Bills vs. 49ers" for about another ten straight years! It became a national "joke," but also became a rallying cry for Berman. They became "his" Bills. And the fans, the city, and the organization always loved him for starting with them, and then sticking by them.

The funny thing is, for SEVEN straight seasons he actually had one of those teams right - SF,SF,BUF,BUF,BUF,BUF,SF. But they never both made it in at the same time - which was part of the reason why he kept picking them.

As Berman said when he picked them for the last time to play each other in back in about 2001, "I'm the first one on and the last one to leave."

That's where it all comes from.

[Don't Panic]

Re: So What's the Story Behind Bermans Love of the Bills?

Back in 1988, after the strike season and the Bills went 7-8 and were a perennial loser, Berman liked what he saw out of the team and thought they were on the verge of something special.

So, in his pre-season SB pick, he picked "Bills vs. 49ers." Everyone knew the Niners would be good, but no one else picked the Bills. So, in a city that was starved for some positive attention (the Sabres sucked, too), Bills fans loved him for doing this and treated him like royalty every time he came to town.

When the team actually did start playing like SB contenders, it became like a badge of honor for him that he was the first one to pick the Bills. So, since they were good, and since everyone knew he was the first one to "Billieve," he also formed a great relationship with the organization (being good also helped the Bills ESPN exposure, which also gave Berman more fuel for this fire). They became his "adopted" team.

The Bills lost in the AFC championship game that year to Cincy. San Fran won the SB. So he picked them both again in 1989. And again the Niners made it and the Bills did not.

He then went on to pick "Bills vs. 49ers" for about another ten straight years! It became a national "joke," but also became a rallying cry for Berman. They became "his" Bills. And the fans, the city, and the organization always loved him for starting with them, and then sticking by them.

The funny thing is, for SEVEN straight seasons he actually had one of those teams right - SF,SF,BUF,BUF,BUF,BUF,SF. But they never both made it in at the same time - which was part of the reason why he kept picking them.

As Berman said when he picked them for the last time to play each other in back in about 2001, "I'm the first one on and the last one to leave."

That's where it all comes from.

Thanks for the insight, Sal. I remeber those Bills/SF preseason picks very well. Something tells me he won't have those two in the Super Bowl together anytime soon! I love Berman's devotion though... what a wonderful treat it is to have someone of such high regard (media-wise) pulling for us on the national stage year in, year out.

[im4bflo]

Re: So What's the Story Behind Bermans Love of the Bills?

He came up with the circling the wagons thing too, we even gave him an award,
I know it had a wagon on it. BOOMER thanks for BILLIEVING man!

[JD]

Re: So What's the Story Behind Bermans Love of the Bills?

WHOP!