The Bills, New York State’s Real and Only Team

I love rivalries.  I think they are great for sports and great for the fans.  Typically, some of the greatest sports rivalries came about because two teams or athletes were at their peak, at the same time, competing for the same goal.  Yankees vs. BoSox, Patriots vs. Colts, Red Wings vs. Avalanche.  But it is becoming less common in the sports world, where two teams can legitimately hate each other for reasons other than being competitive.  Since the dawn of the Jim Kelly era, Buffalo’s biggest rival has been the Dolphins. Miami had a stud at quarterback in Dan Marino and one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game in Don Shula.  Buffalo also had a tremendous quarterback and a great coach.

At it’s peak the Bills vs. Dolphins rivalry was intense.  Towards the end though, it became apparent that the rivalry was beginning to fizzle.  For the Dolphins, Kareem Abdul-Jabaar was their running back at one point, Orande Gadsen was their go-to receiver at another.  Poor Dan!  The rivalry has never been the same and no longer has the same intensity it once did.  I think all the best rivalries need something genuine to maintain the dislike between teams.  Yes, we can think back and realize that Buffalo was originally supposed to be in Florida, but that isn’t enough.  I have a new idea.

My nomination for Buffalo’s new rival…The New Jersey Jets and The New Jersey Giants.  I know, you are thinking they are both from New York, but they are not.  Buffalo is New York State’s only real team.  I say let’s go after the impostors.  The Jets and Giants have both signed on and committed to almost 100 years to stay in New Jersey.  That is more than enough time to have a legitimate rivalry.  Due to the fact that this rivalry is not player based, it wont end until the Jets and Giants do the right thing and change their name to New Jersey.

My main issue with both the Jets and Giants is the fact they call themselves New York.  There is nothing New York about them.  Mark Sanchez can’t live up to “Broadway Joe”. I guess they can call him “Turnpike Sanchez”?  Both Buffalo and the Jets are attempting to build a winner and are looking to become division champions.  This would be a perfect candidate to be Buffalo’s true rival. Let’s not forget those New Jersey Giants, equally responsible for the atrocity that is the New York fakers. But, wouldn’t it be great to genuinely dislike a team for something that will never go away, like the fact they call themselves one thing and in fact are another.

So to the New Jersey Jets and the New Jersey Giants…thank you, but no thank you.  I will not buy this propaganda that you are from New York.  The Baltimore Ravens are not called the Cleveland Ravens of Baltimore.  The Tenessee Titans are not the Houston Titans of Tenessee.  You are the New Jersey Giants and The New Jersey Jets, wear it loud and wear it proud, just don’t wear it to Buffalo.  This is where New York’s true team resides.

Tags: Dan Marino, Don Shula, Jim Kelly, New Jersey, New York, Orande Gadsen, Rivalries