1 Hour Ralph Wilson special on Channel 2 tonight

[SoulCrusher]

So when he says 'this is what we need to be competitive here' you hear 'I want to move'?

Sorry, but what he's hearing is more akin to what Ralph is really saying than what your hearing.

Ralph has used and abused Bills fans and WNY for a longtime now...of course, we are the fools for continuing to let him, but he does take advantage, none the less.

It does seem now, however, that maybe he's tryinh to go out on a better note, so I'll reserve my final judgement until after he passes and we see what becomes of the Bills. He could still go out on a high note and be loved by many, but I'll have to see more than what I've been seeing.

[Bills Fan in Philly]

Every single time he speaks about the team being "financially viable" in our small market, or needing PSL's, or more corporate sponsorship, or major facility upgrades "to remain competitive", that is exactly what he is threatening. Every single time he sticks his hand out, and expects the County or State to grease it, he is saying he needs help if we want his team to remain here, and we had better take care of him. Thinly veiled threats at best. People here under estimate his manipulative ability because he is old, and is not in your face, like Daniel Snyder or Jerry Jones. He knows exactly what he is doing, and has played us all like a fiddle for years and years.

The only problem I have with what you are saying is that Ralph does not have a good deal from the County and state. The Jets and Giants just had a stadium built for a ton of moneyRalph deal with the local govt is one of the worst around. The Falcons have a worse deal off the top of my head, but that is about all.

Here is a link that shows that in NYS the Yanks just got 300+ million in taxpayer money to build Yankee stadium. Jerry Jones got a ton. It is not directly related, but I am too bored with this to go into detail about this. Ralph is not cheap, he does not have the money to work with.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-0...4-billion.html

[EscapedfromNY]

So when he says 'this is what we need to be competitive here' you hear 'I want to move'?

I hear "help me if you want to keep your team" whenever he talks ticket sales, profit, "viability", small market, Toronto, ect. The only thing he has to hold over our heads is the team, so what else can it mean? That he will he will raise parking to $50.00 and beer to $15.00 a cup? The only leverage he has is the team, and the only thing he cares about is profit. He has repeatedly stated the Buffalo Bills' are a business, and he places that ahead of all else. He proved that with the pathetic attempt to sell tickets (and it worked) when he brought in T.O. I personally know at least 20 people on these boards that could have made better Draft, Coaching, front office personnel moves and free agent decisions than Ralph has made the past decade, and if the blunders were made by his hires, it still comes back to him. I refuse to revere a man who has consciously accepted and propagated a substandard product, and then acts like we owe him a favor. I got news for you, Ralph, our City's name is on your business stationary. Give us something to be proud of, or pack up your flea circus and see if L.A. buys your snake oil.

[jcmccall]

Wait, what? Considering the NFL had to fight with him to keep the Bills in Buffalo and with leasing? The factors that aside from his own daughter they were still speculating on selling the team? I think drinking the kool-aid of a positive image of a man who delivered so many dismal seasons and has yet to return to the play-off's because he's to cheap should make people think twice.

..and the "ink was wet" on the deal to move the Patriots to Connecticut. Think about the deal that was recently obtained...the Bills used their leverage and got a good return...and they got a long term lease deal. The tax revenue alone...ugh, I can't go through this again.

[jcmccall]

My question is why now?

[Psi13]

If people think Ralph is using the leverage against fans that's insane.

He is using it to get the politicians to cough up as much as possible to upgrade the stadium or build suites so on and so forth.

So is Ralph really out to get us fans? Conspiracy theories are great and all but maybe just maybe he used all tactics available, just as all good owners do, in order to keep the team here.

[DarylLamonica]

probably the same ole BS, we have a new coach, we need more time, blah,blah,blah, more losing on the way !

Pretty sad how you let your obsessive negativity make factually wrong comments about something you didn't even watch, that is a classic example of a closed, prejudiced mind. Going forward this is an example of why no one should bother reading your drivel.

[The Fun Police]

Just watched it tonight.

It's funny... over the past decade or so it has not been any fun to be a Bills fan. This show reminded me of a lot of the good times when Bills fans were not at each other's throats over trent or Losman or now Fitzpatrick.

It just used to be fun. I felt good about the Bills for a little while watching this, and I thank Mr. Wilson for making this whole thing possible.

I definitely recommend it.

[The Fun Police]

one other thing: who decided to put the goal posts right in the middle of the endzones?!

It drives me nuts watching film of old games. Did the decision makers in the league just lack common sense then or what?