Product Description

On a breezy August day two weeks before the '86 regular-season opener, the United States Football League went belly-up, Jim Kelly became available, and everything changed. The swaggering quarterback whom Sports Illustrated called "Namath with knees" was coming to the city he had been dissing ever since Buffalo selected him in the first round of the 1983 draft. Faster than you could say "Machine Gun Kelly," the Bills became the hottest ticket in western New York, not to mention a plum assignment for a sportswriter. The 20 years that followed would be quite a roller-coaster ride, a time for Bills fans to shout and pout... Along the way, we would learn about the incredible passion western New Yorkers have for their football team--a passion underscored by the fact that the Bills led the league in attendance for six consecutive seasons despite playing in the NFL's third-smallest market. We touch on all of this and more in The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Buffalo Bills. While we don't profess to be the definitive history of the franchise, we do attempt to highlight the people and moments that have made the Bills a family tradition passed down from one generation to the next. As Van Miller, the legendary voice of the Bills, used to say before opening kickoffs: "Fasten your seat belts, folks." We hope you enjoy the ride back in time. --Scott Pitoniak, from the introduction

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #195415 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 208 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781600780080
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From the Inside Flap
What fans don't love to relive the highlights of their favorite team? Likewise, in a twisted sort of way, what fan can really resist a self-pitying look back at some of the times that tested his or her allegiance? After all, those games, seasons, and plays made the good times even better. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Buffalo Bills presents all the best moments and personalities in the history of the Buffalo Bills. It also unmasks the bad, the regrettably awful, and the unflinchingly ugly. This book sparkles with Bills highlights and lowlights, wonderful and wacky memories, legends and goats, the famous and infamous--no one is safe, and no moment is spared. You'll relive the 50 sacks of the fearsome 1964 defense but also the anemic offense of the 1-13 1971 Bills. You'll celebrate the hurry-up offense led by Jim Kelly but cringe reliving the nine turnovers in Super Bowl XXVII. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Buffalo Bills includes the best and worst Bills teams and players of all time, the most clutch performances and performers, the biggest choke jobs and chokers, great comebacks and blown leads, plus overrated and underrated Bills players and coaches. There are the Bills you loved for all the right reasons and those you couldn't stand; sublime and embarrassing records; and trades, both savvy and savagely bad. Let's not forget the brawls, controversies, and all the rivalries over the years. This title is loaded with compelling photographs, amazing accounts, and so much more. If you're a through-thick-and-thin Bills fan, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Buffalo Bills is especially for you. It will remind you of the good--and great--times and bring a knowing smile about the other times, when you proved to yourself just how loyal you are. For everyone else, this warts-and-all portrait of the Bills will provide countless goose bumps and laughs.

About the Author
Scott Pitoniak has been a sportswriter for three decades. After graduating magna cum laude from Syracuse University in 1977, he worked at several small dailies before coming to the Rochester [New York] Democrat and Chronicle in 1985. He was the Buffalo Bills beat reporter until his promotion to sports columnist/feature writer in 1990. Along the way, he has covered the Summer and Winter Olympics, eight Super Bowls, five World Series, the NBA All-Star Game, and the Ryder Cup. A native of Rome, New York, where he played football and baseball for state powerhouse Rome Free Academy, Pitoniak has received more than 100 national and regional journalism awards. His work, which often deals with the human side of sports, has been cited in Best American Sportswriting. Pitoniak was inducted into the Frontier Field Walk of Fame and Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications Hall of Fame. His inspirational writing resulted in him being selected as a torchbearer for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Scott is married to the former Beth Adams and is the father of two children, Amy and Christopher.

Customer Reviews

Great Book!
Bought this book for my husband for Christmas. He didn't ask for it, and had never even heard of it... but he loves it. Highly recommend for any true Bills fan! Great product... Great seller.