In the wake of a massive upset against a division rival last week, one Buffalo Bills fan is looking north to place some blame.
In a sign addressed to ‘Toronto Sports Fans’ and posted on a downtown Toronto light post this week, a Bills fan says that it’s time for Bills Mafia members on this side of the border to stop supporting the Western New York NFL team.
“This isn’t funny anymore,” the sign begins. “The Dolphins? The Dolphins?” it says, referencing the Bills’ 30-13 loss on Sunday in Miami to their AFC East rival.
The writer points out “a common thread” between the Maple Leafs’ never-ending failures, the Raptors current state of mediocrity and, of course, the Blue Jays’ recent World Series heartbreak.
“It’s not us, it’s you,” the sign reads. “Halloween may be over, but your curse isn’t. So we have to end it here.
The writer says that while there have been many great times together and memories to cherish, the team is “moving on and you need to too.”
The letter proposes a “straightforward” breakup, with cross-border visits allowed every other weekend (as long as the Bills are on the road) to shop at Trader Joe’s and that Buffalo fans can will head north to shop at Ontario outlet malls.
“We know it’s not going to be easy for you to stop rooting for us, but if you love us, you’ll let us go,” the letter concludes, signed by #BillsMafia.
In the past the so-called Bills Mafia has been very welcoming of fans from the North, who flock down to Highmark Stadium for games through thick and thin and nightmarish blizzards.
Who is actually cursed here?
But while Toronto has seen its fair share of sports heartaches and so-called curses, Hogtown has enjoyed much more success than Buffalo over the past few decades.
The Bills are one of 12 NFL current franchises to have never won a Super Bowl. They do, however, hold the distinction of having reached the championship game four times in a row – from 1990-93 – and fell short each time. Since that run, the Bills have not returned to the big game.
In the NHL, the Sabres can at least say they have made it to the Stanley Cup final more times than the Maple Leafs have since 1967, but Buffalo fell short in both 1975 and 1999. The Sabres also currently are mired in the longest playoff drought of any NHL team, having failed to make the post-season in 14 years.
Of course, the Blue Jays just came shy earlier this month of winning the team’s third World Series, but already have two championships from 1992-93.
The Raptors also won the NBA championship just six years ago.
So, perhaps this Bills fan should look around at his own glass house before firing stones across the border?