I’m Van Anthony, allow me to introduce myself
For my first piece, I want to take the time to introduce myself. Buffalo is a special city, with a very special franchise and organization, in the Buffalo Bills. I was born and raised a Bills fan, and I am so excited to have this opportunity to bring the stories of such an exceptional organization, to their extraordinary fans.
The question I seem to be asked most when people learn that I am, in fact, a Bills fan; “Why in the world would you love THAT team?”
And to that question, I pose an answer that I’m sure many of you reading this can relate to, and appreciate.
More from BuffaLowDown
- Buffalo Bills were ready to trade back if they couldn’t get Dalton Kincaid
- Grading Buffalo Bills drafting Dalton Kincaid in 2023 NFL Draft
- How the Buffalo Bills can win Day 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft
- Buffalo Bills having conversations about trading for DeAndre Hopkins
- Buffalo Bills Draft Rumors: Bills linked to this shocking first round target
I LOVE conflict! I enjoy competition. I like the hard work and dedication of our athletes and staff. I like that there are goals. Real goals for a team, an organization, and the city. I love trial and error, and the obvious lessons learned from mistakes. Coach against coach, strategy against strategy, in other words, opinion of the game versus opinion of the game.
I like seeing what people are made of. What do you have within you? Who are you? How deep can you dig and how bad do you want it? This city and the Bills, are full of heart, passion, and raw emotion. I like the history, the stories of victory and tragedy. Every ounce of energy and sweat, every drop of blood and tears shed. They mean something and are for a purpose, something bigger than any one individual.
I love that it gives us pride as a city!
“Even though every season seems to end in utter heartbreak, The Ralph will continue to sell out of seats, the fans will continue to sit in the cold, cheering on their beloved Buffalo Bills, as they take the field.”
Look even further than the city limits and you’ll find millions of lives are touched and changed. Attitudes adopted, messages shared. Strangers are brought together from all walks of life. No regard to age, race, gender or financial status.
A touchdown gets a high-five from the people to your left and right, as you come together in a brief moment in time as a fan base, cheering and hoping for a common goal. A common end result, and in it, we find our own passions. Our own attitudes. Our own stories.
Memories are made, experiences are had. All for what some will deem meaningless games and activities. But those games and activities touch the lives of many, and bring together what was a few, into millions standing.
Sports will forever be a connection and common ground between those who would otherwise more than likely be unaware of the very existence of the other. Here in Buffalo, we may poke jokes at ourselves and our team, but the Bills are the common thread that ties and binds this great city together.
must read: It's A Family Affair For Rex and Rob Ryan
Even though every season seems to end in utter heartbreak, The Ralph will continue to sell out of seats, the fans will continue to sit in the cold, cheering on their beloved Buffalo Bills, as they take the field.