The Buffalo Bills curse is a subject of much discussion and debate among fans of the National Football League (NFL). The curse is said to haunt the Bills, a team based in Buffalo, New York, which has had a series of heartbreaking defeats and missed opportunities over the years. The curse is often traced back to the Bills' Super Bowl appearances in the early 1990s. From 1990 to 1993, the Bills made it to the Super Bowl four times in a row, an impressive feat in itself. However, they lost all four Super Bowl games, becoming the only team in NFL history to reach the championship game four consecutive times and not win the title. These losses, particularly the magnitude of the defeats, have fueled speculation about a curse on the team.
Before enjoying super success, the Bills first need to 'reverse the curse'
Despite participating in four of the 56 Super Bowls, the Buffalo Bills have yet to win the NFL championship game. For those fans searching for answers, Greg Brown, sports columnist for the Challenger, says it's due to a curse that dates back to 1966.
"It is said that the curse was put upon Buffalo after that shabby treatment of Ernie Warlick," Brown explained. "Some say it's just urban legend; others say there is certainly truth to it."
The Bills were back-to-back winners of the championship of the American Football League in 1964 & 1965, the years prior to the start of what is now the Super Bowl.
"In fact, he (Warlick) was one of the key contributors. He was the starting tight end and he caught a key touchdown pass against the Chargers and Buffalo won (the championship game) in an upset victory."
According to Brown, Warlick arrived to training camp the following year needing to play one more game to qualify for an AFL pension. That game never came.
"Ralph Wilson (owner of the Buffalo Bills) cuts him. The story was that because Ernie Warlick was one game from his pension, Ralph would save some money and get a younger, cheaper player."
Brown says it's part of the mixed legacy of Ralph Wilson who was often criticized throughout his many years as team owner for cost-cutting moves.
"But the interesting thing about him was that at his demise he left these incredible fortunes both to the city of Buffalo and the city of Detroit," Brown pointed out.
"That was an incredibly generous and loving gesture."
Bills fans, of course, would love to win a Super Bowl. Brown says that's why it's time to 'reverse the curse.'
"It would be a wonderful thing for the Bills. It would at least clear the way of any supernatural forces that could stand in their way. But it would also be a good opportunity for this city to come together in support of a cause that is near to everyone and that is the Bills making it to--and winning--Super Bowl LVII," said Brown who is calling on the expanding membership of the Bills Mafia to join him in this quest.
What if the curse were to be reversed and the Bills were to win the Super Bowl?
"I think it would change the rotational axis of the Earth. I think it would be big for Buffalo. I think the city has been on the rebound but I think it would give it some added boost. I think it will make this region feel even better about itself," Brown said.
"I think that the Bills will be an emblem for the kind of heart, guts and moxie that they have shown, but has really been a reflection of this community."
‘The Buffalo Sports Curse’ examines 120 years of bad luck in new RIT Press book
‘The Buffalo Sports Curse’ traces 120 years of the city’s professional sports.
Did someone put a hex on professional sports in Buffalo, N.Y.? Sports writer Greg D. Tranter thinks so. His new book makes a case for the curse, beginning in 1901, when the promise of an original American League baseball franchise in Buffalo came and went—to Boston.
Tranter digs into the city’s long history of upsets in The Buffalo Sports Curse: 120 Years of Pain, Disappointment, Heartbreak, and Eternal Optimism, published by RIT Press. He investigates why Buffalo has never won “a universally recognized championship in any of the four major professional sports in America: baseball, basketball, football and hockey.” (The author dismisses the Buffalo Bills’1964 and 1965 American Football League championships as secondary to the National Football League in that era.)
Tranter traces the curse on professional sports in Buffalo to a trifecta of bad luck in 1901, beginning with the lost bid for the new major league baseball franchise, extending to the assassination of President William F. McKinley while attending the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, and sealed by the sudden death of the owner of the Buffalo Bison’s minor league baseball team. The book catalogues 120 years of cursed moments.
“All of the close calls, blown calls, injuries, deaths, nefarious back-office dealings, maladies, and weird happenings have occurred at just the wrong time to keep Buffalo teams from winning those championships,” Tranter writes. “Buffalo’s losing ways are too pronounced to ignore, which gives rise to the idea of a curse.”
Buffalo sports fans are the champions in Tranter’s book. He lauds their extreme loyalty and devotion, and details some of the curse-countering rituals that are woven into Buffalo’s saga.
To purchase a copy of The Buffalo Sports Curse, contact RIT Press at 585-475-5819 or [email protected].
These losses, particularly the magnitude of the defeats, have fueled speculation about a curse on the team. Many theories have been put forward to explain the curse, ranging from supernatural forces to simple bad luck. Some believe that the team is cursed by a former owner or player, while others attribute the curse to the team's geographical location or even to the color of their uniforms.
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Curses!
Regardless of the cause, the Bills have struggled to shake off the curse and have not returned to the Super Bowl since their string of losses in the early 1990s. They have had periodic success in the regular season and have reached the playoffs multiple times, but each time they have fallen short of winning the Super Bowl. The curse has become part of the Bills' identity and is often invoked by fans and commentators when discussing the team's performances. It has also led to the Bills being the subject of jokes and memes among football fans. Despite this, the Bills' fan base remains loyal and optimistic, hoping that one day the team will break the curse and win the Super Bowl. In recent years, there have been signs of progress for the Bills, with the team making the playoffs multiple times and winning division titles. In 2020, they even reached the AFC Championship game before being defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs. This has given fans hope that the curse may finally be lifted and that the Bills could achieve the ultimate success in the near future. Only time will tell if the Buffalo Bills curse will ever be broken. Until then, the team and its fans will continue to face the challenge of overcoming the curse and chasing their Super Bowl dreams..
Reviews for "The Buffalo Bills Curse: A Haunting Reality for Fans"
1. John - 1 star
I was really excited to read "Buffalo Bill's Curse" as I have a fascination with true crime stories, but I was sorely disappointed. The story lacked any depth or suspense and the characters were completely one-dimensional. The writing felt rushed and sloppy, with numerous grammatical errors throughout. I also found the plot to be predictable and unoriginal. Overall, "Buffalo Bill's Curse" did not live up to my expectations and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling true crime read.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
I found "Buffalo Bill's Curse" to be fairly average in terms of true crime novels. While it did have some intriguing elements and a unique premise, it failed to deliver on the promised suspense and tension. The pacing was off, with long stretches of exposition and unnecessary backstory that did little to further the plot. The characters were forgettable and lacked depth, making it difficult to become fully invested in the story. Additionally, the writing style felt amateurish and I noticed numerous editing errors. Overall, "Buffalo Bill's Curse" had potential but fell short in execution.
3. Robert - 2 stars
As a true crime enthusiast, I was excited to dive into "Buffalo Bill's Curse," but unfortunately, it did not meet my expectations. The storyline felt disjointed and confusing, with many loose ends left unresolved. The author seemed to rely too heavily on shock value and graphic descriptions, rather than developing a compelling narrative. The characters lacked depth and their motivations were unclear. The book felt rushed and poorly edited, with spelling and grammatical errors that detracted from the reading experience. Overall, I found "Buffalo Bill's Curse" to be a disappointing true crime novel that failed to engage and satisfy.