Follow the leader?

Who doesn’t love the Simpsons? It has been on TV for like 20 years and I have never found anyone to have a bad thing to say about the animated series. I happen to really enjoy the mid-90’s version, as Homer seems to be just stupid enough that it doesn’t seem to be as force fed by the writers like it does nowadays.

For one specific episode, there was this religious cult that was taking over Springfield. Pretty much “The Leader” ripped off the community of Springfield by having citizens sell all their property and move to some sort of religious plantation to worship him. During their time on the plantation, the citizens of Springfield weren’t having the time of their life, as they were picking corn and doing a bunch of slave work. All they had was their imagination on what the Leader would bring/sell to them. Fortune and glory or a better walk of life. At one point, the leader’s car, who had never been seen, rolled up towards the workers on the plantation and everyone stopped what they were doing.

“My God! The leader!?”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umd0TbZuIGg&w=406&h=182] Goto the 10:00 mark for scene

With all the eyes of Springfield on the car, the leader opened his window a crack and waved towards the crowd. No face, no smile, nothing more than a gloved hand. With that, the car drove off and everyone felt like they just saw God. They went back to doing their mindless, crappy jobs. Just having the moment of some con artist wave to them, made it all worth it. They probably knew they were getting suckered or were just plain dumb, but they were happy in being able to believe in him. They signed up for this and were looking for anything to hold their hat on. 

At times, I wonder if Buffalo fans are like the people on that religious plantation and then when Ralph Wilson or Buddy Nix speak/appear in public, we tend to go ape sh#$. Anytime their old mouths are jawing, a sense of growing optimism sweeps across the region. When Ralph Wilson said a few weeks ago that the Bills needed WRs, my Twitter feed blew up with fans/writers tweeting about signing Reggie Wayne or Vincent Jackson. “Look for the Bills to be active in free agency!” Really? When the hell was the last time they really signed a big time free agent who cost more than 5-million bucks? But hey, because Mr. Wilson said something about improving the team, we go on a sugar high and spaze out.

Yesterday, Buddy Nix came out and pretty much read off any sort of Bills off season plan that a writer or fan could come up with. Everyone was so impressed with him because he’s such a straight shooter. As a public speaker, he’s great. He’s the exact opposite of Dick Jauron. #Winning

If anyone represents the Simpsons leader, it’s Ralph Wilson. He doesn’t make as many appearances as in years past because of age, but when he does and he seems to be disappointed, or has a plan set in motion, or is emotional, we tend to start feeling good because he cares. As if he has never said anything like this over the last 12 years. 

I ask this without trying to come off as condescending, but are we a stupid fan base who are willing to buy a pet rock? Are we those people on the plantation waiting for the leader to deliver us a championship? I don’t know, but the reaction from Buddy’s press conference by fans/media was really an eyeopener for me. Suddenly, a season that ended with 7 out of 8 losses, became a stepping stone in the right direction because Buddy Nix spoke the truth?

Sorry, but I’ve seen enough Larry Quinn/Russ Brandon/Tom Donahoe press conferences/pep talks to understand the book on damage control. Tell the public what they want to hear and be sorry/truthful. When you have a fan base like Buffalo, who are constantly looking for silver linings more so than a coin collector or the Bush Administration, I guess it is easy to believe in something you love, even though they have failed you 30 times before.

The Bills biggest problems over the years haven’t been about lying. Hell, they know they are bad! The problem has been the people in charge, and the words at year end press conferences aren’t going to make me feel good anymore. Maybe they did 7 years ago, but now, can you blame me for being skeptical or not post a story about loving what Nix had to say? It is window dressing to me until this team does something to make me feel good.

The past 12 years for Bills football have been awful. These aren’t the Steinbrenners, who would kill their first born son in order to win a pennant. So, when they say something, I’m not running to the phone to call me friend and ask if he heard what Buddy said?!?

I’ve seen bravado at One Bills Drive in the past to know that I will believe it when I see it. Like Buddy said during his first month on the job, “Show me the baby.”