There are times when you hear a quote so perfect it seems to ring true, forever. That happened for me in Buffalo in January of 1991, when a different Buffalo Bills team was on a roll, and the community was anticipating its first Super Bowl.
kAmx H@C<65 E96? 7@C %96 $JC24FD6 !@DE\$E2?52C5[ 2?5 >J :?E6CG:6HD 3682? H:E9 DE2=H2CED 2E E96 @=5 |6EC@A@=:E2? $EJ=6 $9@A – 2 y6776CD@? pG6?F6 32C36C D9@A E92E 7@C 564256D H2D H96C6 >2?J q:==D H6?E 7@C 92:C4FED – 367@C6 x >@G65 @? E@ @E96C DA@ED]k^Am
kAm~? 2 3:EE6C H:?E6C’D 52J[ 4:G:4 6FA9@C:2 H2D 2 D9:6=5 282:?DE E96 4@=5] x DE@AA65 3J E96 {24<2H2??2 3F?82=@H @7 2 8FJ ?2>65 {6??J[ @?6 @7 4@F?E=6DD C6D:56?ED H:E9 q:==D 7=28D @? E96:C DE@@AD] $E:== :? 9:D 4@G6C2==D 7C@> H@C<[ 96 DA@<6 H:E9 6I4:E6>6?E 23@FE E96 E62>[ 2?5 x 2D<65 – :7 qF772=@ >2?2865 E@ H:? E96 $FA6C q@H= – :7 96 76=E :E H@F=5 D@>69@H 492?86 9:D =:76]k^Am
kAmw6 E9@F89E 23@FE :E]k^Am
kAm“xE H@?’E 492?86 >J =:76[” 96 D2:5] “xE H:== 492?86 >J :?D:56D]”k^Am
kAm%96C6 :E H2D[ AFE 2D 362FE:7F==J 2?5 >JDE:42==J 2D x’G6 6G6C 962C5[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^?6HD^D62?\<:CDE\7C@>\DJC24FD6\E@\3F772=@\2\D@?8\@7\9@A6^2CE:4=60_h3g67`4\b377\dh_6\3he3\5g4c`2`7ec7g]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2 BF@E6 x 92G6 4:E65 >2?J E:>6D]k^2m pD J@F <?@H[ :E 5:5 ?@E BF:E6 92AA6?i %96 q:==D 76== E@ E96 v:2?ED a_\`h :? E96 $FA6C q@H=[ 2 D:89 @7 @9\D@\4=@D6 649@65 :? =2DE D62D@?’D A=2J@77D[ H96? qF772=@VD y@D9 p==6? 2?5 v23C:6= s2G:D EH:46 42>6 FA H:E9 9:89\AC6DDFC6[ 6?5\@7\E96\82>6[ D66>:?8=J\<?@4<@FE E@F495@H?D 282:?DE z2?D2D r:EJ]k^Am
kAmtI46AE z2?D2D r:EJ H@?]k^Am
Bills fans everywhere have seen Pancho Billa, the character Ezra Castro plays in stadium parking lots. Few, though, have seen the Castro who is living with overwhelming pain as he goes through treatments at MD Anderson Cancer Center in
kAmp=>@DE ba J62CD 27E6C x >6E {6??J :? {24<2H2??2[ >2?J 2?2=JDED D66 E96D6 q:==D 2D $FA6C q@H= 72G@C:E6D] %96 8C62E6DE D:>:=2C:EJ 36EH66? E96 6C2D :D 9@H 2 qF772=@ 4=F3[ A@E6?E:2==J G@=42?:4 @? 3@E9 D:56D @7 E96 32==[ 92D 6=64EC:7:65 ?@E @?=J E96 C68:@? 3FE D@ >2?J H:E9 72>:=J C@@ED :? qF772=@[ H9@D6 ?2E:@?2= 2?5 6G6? :?E6C?2E:@?2= AC6D6?46 :D ?@H >@C6 7@C>2==J 6DE23=:D965 2D E96 Rq:==D|27:2]k^Am
kAm(92E :D AC@7@F?5=J 5:776C6?E =:6D H:E9:? 8C62E6C qF772=@ :ED6=7] %96 >2DD >FC56C 2E %@AD :? |2J 3J 2 H9:E6 DFAC6>24:DE 92AA6?65 ?@E 6G6? 7@FC >@?E9D 28@[ 2?5 @FC @?8@:?8 C6DA@?D6 E@ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^D62?\<:CDE\:?\3F772=@\962C:?8\E96\D@?8\@7\2\8C:6G:?8\49:=5\H9@\4@F=5\?@E\H66A^2CE:4=60gaeg`a`6\5b63\``64\25d7\_bd`h7b5gd53]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm8C:67 2?5 BF6DE:@?D C2:D65 3J DF49 32C32C:4 G:@=6?46k^2m H:== 36 2 DE2C< >62DFC6 @7 E96 C62= >62?:?8 @7 A6CDA64E:G6[ =@G6 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am
kAmqJ 492?46[ :E :D c_ J62CD D:?46 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?JE:>6D]4@>^`hga^`a^ag^3FD:?6DD^36E9=696>\DE66=\E@\4FE\fb__\;@3D\2E\FADE2E6\A=2?E]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2??@F?46>6?E @7 E96 q6E9=696> $E66= D9FE5@H? :? {24<2H2??2k^2m[ 2?5 ADJ49:4 C6G6C36C2E:@?D 7C@> E92E 564:D:@? – 2?5 D@ >2?J D:>:=2C A=2?E 4=@D:?8D \ C6>2:?65 D62C:?8 2?5 7C6D9 :? E96 qF772=@ @7 E96 62C=J `hh_D] xE H2D 62DJ E@ EC2?D7@C> E96 7@CEF?6D @7 2 7@@E32== E62> :?E@ @?6 >28?:7:65[ 567:2?E 2?5 4@==64E:G6 C6DA@?D6 E@ E96 D6?D6 @7 36:?8 DEC2AA65 E@ 2? 64@?@>:4 3@F=56C[ 72DE C@==:?8 5@H?9:==]k^Am
kAm%96 52?86C :D H92E 92AA6?D E@ J@FC 8FE – 2?5 D6?D6 @7 :56?E:EJ – :7 J@F 2C6 32=2?4:?8 @? E92E 3@F=56C H96? 2 =2DE\D64@?5 <:4< 8@6D ;FDE H:56\C:89E]k^Am
When retired Buffalo police officers Earl Perrin, Bradford Pitts and Nate Goldsmith announced their plans for a scholarship in honor and memory of their close friend, Aaron Salter Jr., they hoped they could raise enough money to help one graduating senior at Hutchinson Central Technical High School. But plans evolved.
kAm%9C66 564256D =2E6C[ H9:=6 566A DECF88=6D C6>2:? 7@C 72C E@@ >2?J :? (6DE6C? }6H *@C<[ D@>6E9:?8[ E@@[ 92D F?56?:23=J 492?865] %96 a_a_ r6?DFD D9@H65 qF772=@’D A@AF=2E:@? C:D:?8 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 D:?46 `hd_ – 2 A@DD:3:=:EJ E92E @?46 D66>65 2D F?=:<6=J 2D H:??:?8 E96 $FA6C q@H=]k^Am
kAm(6 92G6 2 4@>>F?:EJ 724:?8 A=6?EJ @7 A2:?7F= 2?5 7F?52>6?E2= @3DE24=6D[ 3FE :E :D 2=D@ 2 4@>>F?:EJ :?4C62D:?8=J 2H2C6 @7 :ED @H? ?2EFC2=[ 2C49:E64EFC2=[ 2CE:DE:4 2?5 – 36J@?5 2== 6=D6 – 9F>2? 362FEJ 2?5 A@E6?E:2=] x E9:?< E96 492?86 x 92G6 ?@E:465 >@DE D:?46 C6EFC?:?8 E@ HC:E6 7@C E9:D A2A6C :D 6A96>6C2=[ 3FE ECF6ik^Am
kAmu@CEJ J62CD 28@[ 2D 2 J@F?8 8FJ 7C@> 2 724E@CJ 72>:=J[ x D6?D65 E96 @?=J D9@E 2E E96 =:76 x H2?E65 E@ =:G6 56>2?565 86EE:?8 @FE @7 (6DE6C? }6H *@C< – 2 766=:?8 :? E96 2:C =:<6 E96 >:DE 7C@> E96 72==D]k^Am
Ezra Castro, in full Pancho Billa regalia, with the then-rookie Josh Allen at Buffalo Bills training camp in 2018.
Buffalo News file photo
kAmx? a_aa[ 7@C >2?J J@F?8 H@>6? 2?5 >6?[ DF49 49@:46D D66> =6DD 5C:G6? 3J E92E <:?5 @7 72E2=:D> 2?5 @7E6? EFC? :?DE625 E@H2C5 5:88:?8 :?[ H:E9 9@A6[ E@ 2EE6>AE D@>6 =2C86C 492?86]k^Am
kAmpE eb[ E96?[ >J 766=:?8 23@FE DA@CED 492>A:@?D9:AD 2?5 qF772=@ :D 2 =:EE=6 5:776C6?E E92? H96? x H2D 2 <:5] (:??:?8 :E 2== H@F=5 36 =6DD =:<6 56DA6C2E6 4@?7:C>2E:@? 2?5 >@C6 =:<6 E:>6=J 277:C>2E:@?] p?5 H:E9:? E92E BF6DE[ >2J36 E96 8C62E6DE DE@CJ :D D:>A=J 49C@?@=@8:42=]k^Am
The late Joan Hoak enjoys a bit of the flavor at a Bills game. (Family image)
kAm(6 @7E6? C625 23@FE 4@>>F?:E:6D E92E 6?5FC6 492>A:@?D9:A 5C@F89ED :? @?6 DA@CE @C 2?@E96C] }@E9:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^:?\3F772=@\E96\4FCD6\@7\32?\;@9?D@?\ECF>AD\6G6?\4=6G6=2?5D\=@D:?8\C64@C5^2CE:4=60`47e_h_7\7d`c\db4f\g5h`\a6bg_df437fd]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmx <?@H 2AAC@2496D E96 E2=6 :? qF772=@k^2m[ H9:49 3642>6 2 3:8\=628F6 E@H? :? `gfh[ H96? E96 `hE9 46?EFCJ q:D@?D ;@:?65 32D632==’D }2E:@?2= {628F6] $:?46 E96?[ E96 4:EJ 92D 9@DE65 >2;@C =628F6 4=F3D :? 32D632==[ 7@@E32==[ 9@4<6J 2?5 32D<6E32==[ J6E 6G6? E96 8C62E q:==D E62>D @7 E96 @=5 p>6C:42? u@@E32== {628F6[ 2E E:E=6\H:??:?8 A62< 367@C6 E96 4@>:?8 @7 2 $FA6C q@H=[ ?6G6C H@? E96 D@=6[ F?5:DAFE65[ E@A\@7\E96\9:== 492>A:@?D9:A H:E9:? E96:C 6?E:C6 DA@CE]k^Am
kAmr=@4< :E @FE[ 2?5 :E 364@>6D 2 H2:E @7 `cb J62CD]k^Am
kAmpD r92C=6J u6C8FD@?[ 2 E:89E 6?5 @? E9@D6 `he_D q:==D E62>D[ AFED :Eik^Am
kAmQ%96 A6@A=6 96C6 2C6 9F?8CJ]Qk^Am
kAm$@ J6D[ x H2?E E@ D66 :E 92AA6? 7@C D@ >2?J 7@C H9@> x <?@H :E >62?D D@ >F49[ 2 E:?J 76H x 92G6 C@@> E@ >6?E:@? 96C6] x H2?E E@ D66 :E 7@C '6C@?:42 q@C;@? 2?5 96C <:5D[ v:?@ 2?5 {@FC56D[ 72>:=J @7 E96 =2E6 tKC2 r2DEC@ – H9@[ 2D “!2?49@ q:==2[” H2D 2 A2DD:@?2E6 =686?5 @7 E96 Rq:==D|27:2 F?E:= 9:D 562E9 :? a_`h 7C@> 42?46C]k^Am
kAmx H2?E E@ D66 :E 7@C {E] r@=] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^DA@CED^3:==D^D62?\<:CDE\7C@>\H@F?565\>2;@C\EH66E65\E62CD\@7\;@J\@G6C\3:==D\8@\G:C2=^2CE:4=60ace4_de`\b_ha\d5da\27_g\fd`fe_chfg_a]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm!2EC:4< |:==6Ck^2m[ 8:2?E q:==D 72? H9@ D2G65 =:G6D 27E6C 36:?8 H@F?565 :? a_`c :? 2 u@CE w@@5 >2DD D9@@E:?8] x H2?E E@ D66 :E 7@C $92C@? {6D<@ @7 %@C@?E@[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=24C@DD6EC:3F?6]4@>^@A:?:@?^4@=F>?:DED^D62?\<:CDE\:?\2\3:==D\DE25:F>\7:==65\H:E9\6>AEJ\D62ED\@?6\:D\6>AE:6DE\@7\2==^2CE:4=606h`ead5f\4fag\dbd7\23c3\ed7b3eebd7f4]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmH9@D6 D@? r9C:Dk^2m H2D 2 56G@E65 q:==D 5:D4:A=6 F?E:= 96 5:65 :? 2? :?5FDEC:2= 244:56?E[ 2?5 H9@D6 7C:6?5D <6AE 2 D62E 6>AEJ :? 9:D 9@?@C \ 2?5 7@C z2E:6 ~’qC:6?[ 2 q:==D =@J2=:DE :? %6I2D H9@D6 <:?5?6DD :D >2E4965 @?=J 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^DA@CED^3:==D^D62?\<:CDE\56DA:E6\E96\9FCC:42?6D\@7\=:76\E9:D\3:==D\324<6C\D2JD\D96D\=F4<J^2CE:4=60225_g2ab\`43a\d2f_\27g7\252g4`2beh4a]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm~VqC:6?VD BF:6E 3C2G6CJk^2m 5FC:?8 96C @H? E:>6 @7 42?46C[ 2?5 C64@G6CJ]k^Am
kAmx H2?E E@ D66 :E 7@C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^@A:?:@?^4@=F>?:DED^D62?\<:CDE\4@G:5\AFD965\9:>\E@\E96\3C:?<\E96\3:==D\2C6\96=A:?8\E@\3C:?8\9:>^2CE:4=60a536g3g_\c`b6\``63\hb57\_ba4d2cf5dg7]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm'2F89? (2D9:?8E@?k^2m[ 2 qF772=@ 8FJ H9@ DA6?E EH@ H66<D @? 2 G6?E:=2E@C – 9:D =:76 2E C:D< 7C@> r@G:5\`h \ 2?5 2D<65 H:E9:? >@>6?ED @7 36:?8 23=6 E@ DA62< 282:?ik^Am
kAm“w@H 2C6 @FC q:==D 5@:?8n”k^Am
kAmx H2?E E@ D66 :E 7@C E96 H@>6? 2?5 >6? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^D62?\<:CDE\2E\2\9:89\2?5\:4J\4@C?6C\@7\9:89>2C<\DE25:F>\E96\H62E96C\H2D\;FDE^2CE:4=605_4cc5`d\3dde\d665\h5be\5cea`ge4ch22]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmx >6E 2E@A w:89>2C< $E25:F>k^2m @? 2 3:EE6C ?:89E :? y2?F2CJ[ E9@D6 D62E65 2D 72C 7C@> E96 7:6=5 2D J@F 42? 86E – :? E6>A6C2EFC6D 4@=5 6?@F89 E@ 7C66K6 6G6? >F=E:\=2J6C65 7:?86CD 2?5 E@6D – 2D E96 q:==D DH2>A65 E96 !2EC:@ED[ :? E96 A=2J@77D]k^Am
The passion of the fans watching from the distant sections of 337, 338 and 339 at Highmark Stadium helps define a franchise, writes Sean Kirst.
kAmx H2?E E@ D66 :E 7@C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^D62?\<:CDE\7C@>\2==\@7\H?J\5C62>D\5@F3ED\2?5\G:D:@?D\23@FE\H96C6\2\3:==D\DE25:F>^2CE:4=60gbc3f`f_\cf6a\``64\g_`c\ef2bf3_7e2g_]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmr92C=6J u6C8FD@?k^2m[ 5@:?8 H6== :? C64@G6CJ 7C@> 2 A246>2<6C AC@465FC6[ 2?5 2== E96 7@C>6C q:==D – 96C6 @C 8@?6 – H9@ ?FCEFC6 7:6C46 =@J2=EJ E@ E96 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am
kAmx H2?E E@ D66 :E 7@C E96 72>:=:6D @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^@A:?:@?^D62?\<:CDE\2E\hd\C6E:C65\=6EE6C\42CC:6C\DE:==\36=:6G6D\3:==D\H:==\56=:G6C^2CE:4=605d_37ef_\d7a_\``63\h576\3fb3`732c42h]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmq2CE $E2?42>A:2?@k^2m[ C6E:C65 =6EE6C 42CC:6C H9@ H2D H2:E:?8 A2E:6?E=J 7@C 2 E:E=6 H96? 96 5:65 2E hd[ 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^DA@CED^3:==D^H9J\2C6\3:==D\DE:==\:?\3F772=@\72?D\=:<6\E9:D\>@E96C\2?5\52F89E6C^2CE:4=60g55d_e4h\3dbb\dahf\hh24\`6h6ah6644a4]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmy@2? w@2<k^2m[ ?:?6 >@?E9D AC68?2?E H96? D96 D2E E9C@F89 2? 6?E:C6 q:==D\q6?82=D 82>6 2E E96 #@4<A:=6 :? `heh 2?5 82G6 3:CE9 `` 52JD =2E6C E@ J@F?86DE 52F89E6C s@??2 – 96C 4@>A2?:@? 2E >2?J q:==D 82>6D F?E:= y@2?’D 562E9 EH@ J62CD 28@]k^Am
Butch Byrd, a Buffalo Bills defensive back, intercepts New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath on Sept. 29, 1968, in the Bills' 37-35 victory at the old War Memorial Stadium, in Buffalo.
Buffalo News file photo
kAmx H2?E E@ D66 :E 7@C E9@D6 H9@ C6G6C6 q@3 z2=DF[ 2 J@F?8 q:==D =:?6>2? <:==65 :? ':6E?2> H9@ :D @? E96 E62>VD (2== @7 u2>6] p?5 x H2?E E@ D66 :E 7@C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^@A:?:@?^4@=F>?:DED^D62?\<:CDE\@?\49C:DE>2D\52J\2\E2=6\@7\72E96CD\2?5\D@?D\2?5\E96\3:==D^2CE:4=607g67cfca\cdah\``63\3e27\ff4`2a6ef2g_]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmqFE49 qJC5k^2m[ g` E9:D >@?E9[ 2 8C62E 2?5 4@FC286@FD 5676?D:G6 324< @7 E96 `he_D H9@D6 ?2>6 H:== 9@A67F==J[ D@@?[ 36 25565 E@ E92E H2==]k^Am
kAmx H2?E E@ D66 :E 7@C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^D62?\<:CDE\5C62>\5676CC65\E@\42A\=:76E:>6\@7\F?7@C86EE23=6\>@>6?ED\7@C\=@?8E:>6\3:D@?D\72?^2CE:4=60b4ca`3cc\26g`\``63\3de`\77e6a__32heh]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmy@9? v2?8=@77k^2m[ H9@ @? @?6 =686?52CJ `he_ H66<6?5 D@=5 366C 2E E96 =2DE q:D@?D 82>6 2E ~776C>2?? $E25:F> 2?5 E96 7:CDE q:==D 82>6 2E E96 @=5 (2C |6>@C:2= $E25:F> – 2?5 7@C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^@A:?:@?^4@=F>?:DED^D62?\<:CDE\H?J\D66D\3:D@?D\32D632==\:?\ECF6\2FEF>?\7@C\7:CDE\E:>6\:?\e_\J62CD^2CE:4=60ghdfa644\`5d7\``64\2eh4\676fbah26`e3]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmv2C4:2 {6@?2C5k^2m[ v2?8=@77VD 7C:6?5 2?5 76==@H FD96C[ H9@ DE:== 9FDE=6D :? $6AE6>36C E@ 5@ q:==D 82>6D :? ~C492C5 !2C< 2?5 q:D@?D 82>6D 2E $29=6? u:6=5]k^Am
kAmp?5 x H2?E E@ D66 :E 7@C E96 =68:@? @7 (6DE6C? }6H *@C<6CD H9@ E9:?< 6G6CJ 52J @7 A2C6?ED @C 8C2?5A2C6?ED H9@ 5C62>65 @7 2 $FA6C q@H= EC@A9J[ 3FE 5:5 ?@E =:G6 =@?8 6?@F89 E@ H:E?6DD :E]k^Am
kAm(92E E96J D@F89E H2D C62==J 2? F?D66? DA:C:EF2= D9:7E[ 2 =@?8:?8 A2DD65 5@H? E@ 49:=5C6? 2?5 8C2?549:=5C6? H9@ =62C?65 62C=J 23@FE 7@==@H:?8 E96 q:==D]k^Am
kAm|2J36 E9:D D62D@?[ 7:?2==J[ :D H96? E96:C :?D:56D 492?86]k^Am
Sean Kirst is a columnist with The Buffalo News. Email him at skirst@buffnews.com .
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.