"Are you carrying currency over $1,000?" asked the US Customs and Border Patrol officer at the Queenston/Lewiston Bridge yesterday morning around 9am. This came after I was asked to remove my cap and wind down my rear window (I don't have tinted windows). Maybe his reflector sunglasses prevented him from seeing the folded card table, barbque, bag of charcoal and our other usual Bills game gear in the back seat of the car.
"No Sir" I answered, trying not to make my response too military sounding. He then handed the 2 passports back to me and we were on our way south towards Orchard Park. I must have crossed the border in my car close to 100 times and somehow, I'm sure by design, every time I do, I am asked a question which I have never heard before.
The NFL has made a concerted effort over the past few years to make the game-day experience more "family friendly" and this effort continues. There was more evidence of it yesterday with an increased police presence in the parking lots before the game (we saw mounted police for the first time) and a new fence which effectively removed access to a small stream bed beside Drive 5 which had always been a very popular urinating location (for men at least). The atmosphere at the tailgate party was more subdued than it has been in the past and security inside the stadium has, over the last 10 years or so, gone from non-existent to being "on call" by way of a simple text message. Messages on the jumbotron encourage fans to report any security or behaviour "issues" they may be having by text and the take-up of this service seem to be strong. Maybe too much so. At least twice, 2 Erie County Sheriffs were summoned (we presume) to the section beside ours to "deal with" a few Carolina fans who appeared to be guilty of simply cheering for their team. They didn't look to be drunk, abusive, excessively loud or disruptive. It looked like some Bills fans just didn't like them showing up and rooting for the visiting team. The worst offence we saw was a few people sitting in our section without proper tickets. When I first started going to what was Rich Stadium in the 1980s, it was a real-life "Lord of the Flies" experience. The most obvious result of this effort by the league to transform the game-day experience is that there are noticeably more women attending the games. Although the Lord of the Flies experience was often entertaining, it was sometimes unsettling. I think its a better experience now.
Bills rookie quarterback EJ Manuel took a big step yesterday. After struggling at times and turning the ball over twice in the second half, he lead the team to a game-winning 80 yard touchdown drive in the last 1 minute and 38 seconds, with no time-outs left. Aided by a key (but undeniable) pass interference call against Stevie Johnson deep in Carolina territory, Manuel found Johnson in the corner of the endzone (the corner closest to our seats) with 2 seconds left to tie the game at 23. The extra point sealed the win. Fans were rightfully ecstatic and, as Tony Dungy said last night, it looks like the Bills and their fans have someone under centre who they can believe in. Jim Kelly retired after the 1996 season and the franchise has been in the doldrums more or less ever since. In his second NFL game ever, EJ Manuel became the toast of the town yesterday and he has the potential to lead a turn-around that Buffalo and Bills fans have been denied for far too long.
Also, this just in: Cam Newton is a good athlete.
The 1-1 Bills travel to New Jersey next Sunday to face the Jets in a big division match-up before returning home to face the defending Superbowl champion Baltimore Ravens in week 4.
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