OpIv37
02-06-2008, 08:53 PM
First of all, Ralph wants concessions from the league. If he goes on record as saying "the team's fine- we're not going anywhere," it undermines his position as the economically disadvantaged owner.
Second, even if Ralph did say that the team was staying, he'd be lying. The economics of the game are moving away from the true hardcore fans and towards corporate "fans" with big bucks for advertising and luxury box. That makes sense in a purely economical sense but it breaks the true sports fan's code of blind loyalty. Eventually, it will catch up with the NFL, but there is lag in the system: the loyal fans won't be giving up anytime soon. So, the NFL will walk alk over us and still make zillions of dollars for the next few decades until the hardcore fans die off.
Sometime in the next decade- probably sometime in the next 5 years- the Bills will be leaving Buffalo. Ralph has made a lot of mistakes with this team recently and hasn't changed with the game and the economy, but I have a feeling that his legacy will be us thanking him for buying us a few more years with this Toronto deal.
Second, even if Ralph did say that the team was staying, he'd be lying. The economics of the game are moving away from the true hardcore fans and towards corporate "fans" with big bucks for advertising and luxury box. That makes sense in a purely economical sense but it breaks the true sports fan's code of blind loyalty. Eventually, it will catch up with the NFL, but there is lag in the system: the loyal fans won't be giving up anytime soon. So, the NFL will walk alk over us and still make zillions of dollars for the next few decades until the hardcore fans die off.
Sometime in the next decade- probably sometime in the next 5 years- the Bills will be leaving Buffalo. Ralph has made a lot of mistakes with this team recently and hasn't changed with the game and the economy, but I have a feeling that his legacy will be us thanking him for buying us a few more years with this Toronto deal.