Too often, when reflecting back on the Buffalo Bills of the early 90s, the negatives all too prominently swim about at the surface.
Wide right, four straight losses, cursed; those are the phrases that most hear or remember. A litany of losing that stood as a jumping off point for almost two decades of ineptitude.
For fans outside of Western New York, the derision cast down upon you by those who discover your NFL allegiance is almost comical. Such overblown, incredulous expressions, such sincere, yet insulting condolences; I mean, how many of you Buffalo-born haven’t had someone say, “Oh, I’m so sorry” when they find out where you’re from and who you root for… season after agonizing season?
Fathers will force it on their unwilling sons, mothers on uncaring daughters, regaling them ad nauseum about those near touches with the divine, yet always lamenting their “cursed” fate throughout. For those who lived during that time in Buffalo, there is no greater symbol for their plight and their hometown than their Bills; a team so close to greatness, yet somehow denied it in the end and then mocked for it to boot, as if they were silly to even think they could.
“Almost a Dynasty: A Fan Story” (buffalobillsmovie.com) serves, then, as a reminder to those who have forgotten how great their city is and how amazing that team was (and still is) for its loyal fans.
A soon to be released 68-minute documentary from 1derful Film Productions that mixes old footage with new interviews concerning the Bills’ improbable and likely unrepeatable four year run to the Super Bowl, this short film takes a look at what was truly happening in Buffalo during that short blip in time.
1derful Films takes a decidedly fan-centric look at “The Run” using a patchwork, tatterdemalion of interviews ranging from players (Kelly to Tasker) to locals (Dave Shatzel, owner of local favorite Coles).
Whether it be a casual fan or a broadcasting pro (Chris Berman, or course, is featured), this is a surprising and refreshing take on the often unjustly spat on Buffalo Bills and, more importantly, the inhabitants of the Queen City themselves.
Whether it be a casual fan or a broadcasting pro (Chris Berman, or course, is featured), this is a surprising and refreshing take on the often unjustly spat on Buffalo Bills and, more importantly, the inhabitants of the Queen City themselves.
In the trailer, Steve Tasker, former Special Teams monster for the Bills, is quoted as saying, “When it happens there in Buffalo, it’s not even about football, it’s about Buffalo, and it’s amazing”, and that seems to be the directors’ approach to the material. NFL Films can give you better footage of the story on the field and the cold, hard stats of their regular season dominance can be found anywhere on the Internet, but the filmmakers are giving you a different take here.
They’re telling a little known story about a time and place in sports history (yes, history), utilizing an oral tradition older than football, and letting the voices of those who watched it unfold stand right alongside the usual players and coaches soundbites, resulting in something much fuller, more rich.
They’re telling a little known story about a time and place in sports history (yes, history), utilizing an oral tradition older than football, and letting the voices of those who watched it unfold stand right alongside the usual players and coaches soundbites, resulting in something much fuller, more rich.
It’sa modern fairy tale in their hands, with an ending not quite so dark and hopeless as many (even fans) seem to recall. “Almost a Dynasty” tries to shine the light on the hope and joy of a city whose previous claims to fame were really only a presidential assassination and a blizzard (that largely hit south, as the snow always does), looking, perhaps, to find them a piece of the respect they’ve so long deserved (but rarely asked for).
They ask, “Would you trade the glory of The Run, for one?” reminding fans of the excitement (and dumb luck) in bringing such a tremendous amount of talent to Buffalo at one time. For you sports nuts, think the Montreal Expos in 1994, as the list of talented players was just a who’s who of future Hall of Famers.
There was the consistently spectacular Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, and Andre Reed (along with Metzellars and Hull and Davis and Bebee) keeping their offense continuously in the top 5 (if not first place) in the league, outscoring at will it seemed.
Meanwhile, their defense brought in names like Bruce Smith (a nightmare squeezed into an NFL uniform), Cornelius Bennett (“Biscuit”, described in the film as Mickey Mantle in a football uniform), and Darryl Talley (the ugliest man in football and the driving soul of the team), leading a domination that matched the pace set by the offense.
There was the consistently spectacular Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, and Andre Reed (along with Metzellars and Hull and Davis and Bebee) keeping their offense continuously in the top 5 (if not first place) in the league, outscoring at will it seemed.
Meanwhile, their defense brought in names like Bruce Smith (a nightmare squeezed into an NFL uniform), Cornelius Bennett (“Biscuit”, described in the film as Mickey Mantle in a football uniform), and Darryl Talley (the ugliest man in football and the driving soul of the team), leading a domination that matched the pace set by the offense.
