Toronto Star Plugs Billsinsider.com

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http://www.thestar.com/images/thestar/img/050118_serasin_r_225.jpg

BLAIR BUNTING/GETTY IMAGES
Buffalo native Rick Serasin now lives in Phoenix, Ariz., but that hasn’t diminished his fanatic attachment to the NFL Bills. The 40-year-old has a trove of team memorabilia and spends up to eight hours a day running a Bills fan website. “My wife thinks I’m crazy,” he says.


Rick Serasin is a perfect example of that passion.

The transplanted 40-year-old Buffalo native runs a Bills fan website out of his Phoenix home, has a Bills tattoo on his arm, a Bills licence plate on his car, a den filled with everything from a Bills helmet to autographed drumsticks from the Flutie Brothers band.

He organizes three trips a season for up to 400 Arizona Bills lovers, taking them on tailgating trips to San Diego, New Orleans and Tampa Bay.

"My wife thinks I'm crazy," says Serasin, who runs an air-conditioning service and estimates he spends about eight hours a day writing and monitoring http://www.billsinsider.com.

But he doesn't consider himself America's greatest sports fan by any stretch.

"There are a lot of guys just like me," he says.

Story (http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1106002215940&call_pageid=968332188492)

[35Pete]

It's Serafin, not Serasin.

[SpikedLemonade]

That is one ugly bastard! :D

Could they NOT have hired a model instead? :ontome:

[35Pete]

That is one ugly bastard! :D

Could they NOT have hired a model instead? :ontome:

You are just begging to be banned, aren't you?

[SpikedLemonade]

You are just begging to be banned, aren't you?

Just having fun with THE MAN. :hoppin:

Besides, you won the Postal reputation and NOT me. :beam:

[gilchristfan]

THEY SPELLED HIS NAME WRONG!!!! S-E-R-A-F-I-N

But fortunately, they've got Billsinsider.com spelled right.

And Rick, out of all the stuff you could have worn, a court jester hat for the photo -op? :)

[г]

Just having fun with THE MAN. :hoppin:

Besides, you won the Postal reputation and NOT me. :beam:

Around these parts, they call him Mybills

[rob on the job]

That photo just destroyed me.

I thought Rick looked like the Hulk in a Bills jersey.

Instead, he looks like ... a 40-year-old AC businessman in Arizona. Wearing a jester's hat.

We will now have a moment of silence for the shattering of illusions.

[pigpen65]

LOL.

Super Cool. Congrats Rick!

[McD]

He looks like a Bills fanatic to me!

Nice job Rick!!

McD

[admarc]

He looks like a Bills fanatic to me!

Nice job Rick!!

McD

Congrats Rick. :thumbup:

[Player6600]

very cool Rick.

[Billsman]

Wow, I didn't realize it was out already. lol The photographer had me try on a dozen hats holding everything imaginable in all different positions. I even had a shoot with my Rottweiler where he was wearing his Kelly jersey. Im glad they got my Bruce Smith figurine in the shot though. ;)

[Overdue Bills]

Excellent work, Billsman!

[Billsman]

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=
1106002215940&call_pageid=968867503640&col=970081593064 (http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1106002215940&call_pageid=968867503640&col=970081593064)


If the link doesn't work just go to waymoresports.com and look for the article entitled 'A deep and abiding passion'

[Billsman]

I hope my girlfriend doesn't find out about my "wife". ;)

[Victor7]

Congrats to the man !!

[SpikedLemonade]

I hope my girlfriend doesn't find out about my "wife". ;)

I already told her. :loveme:

[rob on the job]

I already told her. :loveme:

ROFLMAO!

Rik:

Or u mad those morrons mizpelled ur name? What a bonch of stooped iddyots.

[Billsman]

KNot ate al.

It's actually pretty funny, I remember when my good friend Ken Johnson aka "the Pinto man" and "Pinto Ron" did an interview, it was a good piece but they wrote his name as "Ron Johnson" not Ken and that is how he got his name of Pinto Ron, he calls it his alias. :)

I'm just happy we got a free BillsInsider.com plug on a major newspaper site. Hopefully we'll get additional members here. :welcome:


:...: - Rick in the Desert


ROFLMAO!

Rik:

Or u mad those morrons mizpelled ur name? What a bonch of stooped iddyots.

[Jro]

nice man!


came out good

[mighty peace warrior]

i like the jester hat

[Karl]

Im glad they got my Bruce Smith figurine in the shot though. ;)
I have the same one, along with a Kelly one.

[Snarf]

KNot ate al.

It's actually pretty funny, I remember when my good friend Ken Johnson aka "the Pinto man" and "Pinto Ron" did an interview, it was a good piece but they wrote his name as "Ron Johnson" not Ken and that is how he got his name of Pinto Ron, he calls it his alias. :)

I'm just happy we got a free BillsInsider.com plug on a major newspaper site. Hopefully we'll get additional members here. :welcome:


:...: - Rick in the Desert

Could have been worse, they could have called him "Rob Johnson".

Nice to see the Flutie Flakes got in the picture. I thought I was the only one who still had a box of them.

[ChesapeakeBills]

Says you live in AZ, but I'm wondering if and where you grew up around WNY?

There are a lot of transplants that are a part of the Range.

[Billsman]

Grew up in Dunkirk, lived there for 22 years before packing up the wagon and headin' west. I used to go to Fredonia and watch the Bills every spring, not a lot of fans that went there so if you went, you always got great seats or places to stand. I took my Mom with me one time, Kelly came up to her to sign an autograph for her and she grabbed his wrist bands right off his wrists. I was so embarrassed.

Still have a lot of family in WNY and Erie. East Aurora, Dunkirk, Hamburg, Rochester and other small cities.

The Range was created with all of us transplants in mind, when the internet first started out there weren't many Bills sites out there and the only sources of info was the Shout magazine that came out a week late. So with that in mind........ here we are. One big ol happy family. :)

[shiva2999]

Much respect from my homies.

Excellent article that once again proves how perceptive Canadians are.

BTW, you don't look anything like the drunk and abusive monster I heard you were.

[Billsman]

Every year we go back home we buy a theme hat, that one was from 3 years ago. :thumbup: i like the jester hat

[Billsman]

People who talk about other people behind their backs, they're not too good to listen to. When I go to Bills games, I rarely catch a buzz, I don't hang with anyone from the Range seeing no one lives out here and the times I have met up with Bills fans I'm usually the one driving their drunk asses back to the hotel room. :)

Now, where's my brew?!?


Much respect from my homies.

Excellent article that once again proves how perceptive Canadians are.

BTW, you don't look anything like the drunk and abusive monster I heard you were.

[Billsman]

I had my Kelly Krunch box in that pile somewhere, I think...



Could have been worse, they could have called him "Rob Johnson".

Nice to see the Flutie Flakes got in the picture. I thought I was the only one who still had a box of them.

[orthy]

From one Dunkirk native to another, CONGRATS, cool article...

[Billsman]

Thanks Orthy, be sure and drop by the 1st Ward Falcons club and have my Uncle Julian buy you a beer, it's on me. :)

[orthy]

Thanks Orthy, be sure and drop by the 1st Ward Falcons club and have my Uncle Julian buy you a beer, it's on me. :)

Gotta love DKNY.!! I'm still a member of the Lakeside Club and have spent many a rough evening at the Falcons both 1st and 4th. Did your father or uncle coach Babe Ruth baseball.? Your last name rings a big-time bell but I can't place it....

[Billsman]

I remember the fish at the Lakeside club, yummm. My dad coached Babe Ruth and even the Dunkirk All Stars.

[24Impala]

congrats Billsman, its great to see you and this great site get well deserved recognition!

[35Pete]

Much respect from my homies.

Excellent article that once again proves how perceptive Canadians are.

BTW, you don't look anything like the drunk and abusive monster I heard you were.

Ohh I think he's been drinkin' alright. Just look at that rosy face and that **** eating grin. And at such an inopprotune moment. Rick. Admitting you have a problem is the first step on the road to recovery. Myself? I don't want to walk down that road so I am 100% in denial. :D

[DannyBoy]

Billsman,
Your Hagar the Horrible Avatar was the best. Kinda looks like you too. Thanks for BBI and The Range. :fabulous2

[Billsman]

Is there a beer mart on that road some where?
Ohh I think he's been drinkin' alright. Just look at that rosy face and that **** eating grin. And at such an inopprotune moment. Rick. Admitting you have a problem is the first step on the road to recovery. Myself? I don't want to walk down that road so I am 100% in denial. :D

[Billsman]

Yeah, I miss ol Hagar, we go back a long way. Maybe I need to bring him back... ;)

Thank you for posting here, without fans such as yourself, we wouldn't exist. :beers:

Doh! There I go drinking again! Cheers to ya! \~/

Billsman,
Your Hagar the Horrible Avatar was the best. Kinda looks like you too. Thanks for BBI and The Range. :fabulous2

[Billsman]

Pete, the reason I have that grin is beacuse I was in my Bills thong. I sure wish they would have went with the full front photo....

[35Pete]

Pete, the reason I have that grin is beacuse I was in my Bills thong. I sure wish they would have went with the full front photo....

Yeah yeah. Have another beer.

[Snarf]

I had my Kelly Krunch box in that pile somewhere, I think...

Now if you had some Steve Christie Kickers Sausage in there I would be really impressed.

[Mouldsie]

Sweeeeeet.

[PUCKER]

:clapper::jumpnclap:applause:

[Billsman]

I wonder if we'll get new members from the great white north now?

[gr8slayer]

Kick ass, your the man Rick.

[gr8slayer]

Rick, I have that same Bruce Smith figureine!!!! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:

[Billsman]

No, You Da man! hehe

[jimmifli]

Nicely done, Rick.

[rob on the job]

Pete, the reason I have that grin is beacuse I was in my Bills thong. I sure wish they would have went with the full front photo....

Why -- what kind of action figure did you have crammed in the crotch of your thong? :D

[SpikedLemonade]

Why -- what kind of action figure did you have crammed in the crotch of your thong? :D

Ha Ha Ha!!!!! :gap:

[Bellowing4DaBills]

Congratulations Rick! Its not only a terrific Bills football site but provides mucho entertainment on lots of other things that are of interests to me.

[Meathead]

“So how’d the assignment go today, Chris, aye?”

“Oh good, aye. I interviewed a guy named Ron Seresin.”

“Yeah? Anything worth running, aye?”

“Oh sure. He’s a huge Buffalo Bisons fan, he’s got all kinds of team paraphernalia, things like a Whammie Frank, a vintage Pastry Gilcrust bobble head, and even an autographed poster of the old ‘Gas & Electric Company’, aye”. He really puts the word ‘tic’ in ‘fanatic’”.

“How so? Aye”

“Well, even though he currently lives in Anchorage with his wife Beonce he still has time to run this huge website called ‘The Buffalo Ranch. They’ve only aye been in existence for fifteen months and yet they just signed up their one billionth member!”

“Pretty impressive. He aye must be really rolling in it now.”

“Oh yeah. He used to own the Empress Hotel in British Columbia but he gave it up because he broke his wrists winning a gold in a giant slalom accident during the 1990 Olympics and aye couldn’t keep up with all the masonry work. But through it all he still runs an ice delivery business out of his home.”

“Aye. Sounds really down to earth.”

“Oh, he is. He’s a real sensitive sort, gives regularly to the Gay aye and Lesbian Alliance, and was an unpaid volunteer on the John Kerry campaign.”

“Wow. We could use more like him in Canada, aye.”

“Well, that’s the thing. He says he is tired of living in luxury and wants to give it all up to start a new business selling reconditioned Pintos in aye Saskatchewan.”

“An aye real human interest story. I like it. Put it on page 87. We have to fill a spot left when Trojan decided to pull out.”

“Stop the presses, hosers! I've got a real hot one, aye!”

[bortz]

“So how’d the assignment go today, Chris, aye?”

“Oh good, aye. I interviewed a guy named Ron Seresin.”

“Yeah? Anything worth running, aye?”

“Oh sure. He’s a huge Buffalo Bisons fan, he’s got all kinds of team paraphernalia, things like a Whammie Frank, a vintage Pastry Gilcrust bobble head, and even an autographed poster of the old ‘Gas & Electric Company’, aye”. He really puts the word ‘tic’ in ‘fanatic’”.

“How so? Aye”

“Well, even though he currently lives in Anchorage with his wife Beonce he still has time to run this huge website called ‘The Buffalo Ranch. They’ve only aye been in existence for fifteen months and yet they just signed up their one billionth member!”

“Pretty impressive. He aye must be really rolling in it now.”

“Oh yeah. He used to own the Empress Hotel in British Columbia but he gave it up because he broke his wrists winning a gold in a giant slalom accident during the 1990 Olympics and aye couldn’t keep up with all the masonry work. But through it all he still runs an ice delivery business out of his home.”

“Aye. Sounds really down to earth.”

“Oh, he is. He’s a real sensitive sort, gives regularly to the Gay aye and Lesbian Alliance, and was an unpaid volunteer on the John Kerry campaign.”

“Wow. We could use more like him in Canada, aye.”

“Well, that’s the thing. He says he is tired of living in luxury and wants to give it all up to start a new business selling reconditioned Pintos in aye Saskatchewan.”

“An aye real human interest story. I like it. Put it on page 87. We have to fill a spot left when Trojan decided to pull out.”

“Stop the presses, hosers! I've got a real hot one, aye!”


Aye, aye sailor. Eh?

Nice article Rick, Congratz!

[FrankieA]

Congrats Rick! This recognition and publicity in one of North America's great cities is long overdue for the man who started it all.

[evilfinkiller]

well I have to say this site has been great. I've been a member for 3 years. And being a misplaced Bills fan I can say without this I wouldn't have many people to talk football with here in Rams/Chiefs land. Thanks and Grats for getting recognition for it.

[MarcP]

Congratulations Rick.You deserve all the credit for this site becoming the best football fan site on the web. I still remember the early days when we communicated Bills info through E-Mails . That was the only way us expatriates could get any info . Geez 20-30 E-Mails a day from Bills fans scouring the web for Bills articles . Those were the days and I'm sure thankful for you and all the other contributors for making this site the best.

Marc

[Billsman]

Couldn't have done it without the great staff we have here as well as all the great members!
Go Bills!


congrats Billsman, its great to see you and this great site get well deserved recognition!

[gr8slayer]

We are also a top twenty vBulletin board on the ENTIRE WEB!

[rob on the job]

This is probably a dumb question, but have any WNY newspapers -- The Buffalo News, the D&C of Rochester, et al -- ever done a feature on BBI/The Range?

[JohnWinger]

We are also a top twenty vBulletin board on the ENTIRE WEB!

Where can you find that list?

[mighty peace warrior]

Aye, aye sailor. Eh?

Nice article Rick, Congratz!
lol..i was thinking the same thing picturing meathead with an eyepatch as i read

[rob on the job]

I wonder if we'll get new members from the great white north now?

Well, maybe not Canada, but definitely Michigan.

Check out this one new BBI fan who was so impressed with Rick that she drove out from her home in Michigan to be with the Billsman:

63 neglected cats discovered during traffic stop

ROSWELL, New Mexico (AP) -- A routine traffic stop Wednesday led to the discovery of more than 60 sick and hungry cats in the back of a moving van driven by a 71-year-old woman.

Mary Jane Lyle pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of animal cruelty at a court appearance. She was being held in a Chaves County detention center.

If prosecuted, the charges carry possible prison time.

An officer pulled over the van because one of its taillights was out. While the officer was talking to Lyle, he heard noises coming from the back.

"Our officer heard a cat that appeared to be injured in some way," said police spokesman Robert Giles.

Lyle said she had a cat. But when the officer opened the back of the truck, he discovered 63.

Two of the cats were dead and the others were "in various stages of health," Giles said.

The cats were turned over to local animal control officers.

Police said Lyle was traveling from Minden, Michigan, to Tucson, Arizona.

link: http://cnn.law.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=CNN.com+-+63+neglected+cats%A0discovered+during+traffic+sto p+-+Jan+20%2C+2005&expire=02%2F19%2F2005&urlID=12942101&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2005%2FLAW%2F01%2F2 0%2Fanimal.cruelty.ap%2Findex.html&partnerID=2013

[Wally]

OMG someone needs to make me a Billsman avatar!! cut just his head out with the jester hat on. I need it so bad!

[35Pete]

OMG someone needs to make me a Billsman avatar!! cut just his head out with the jester hat on. I need it so bad!

If you need it that bad may I suggest an escort service?

[rob on the job]

If you need it that bad may I suggest an escort service?

It's that jester hat! It's an aphrodisiac, I'm telling you. :cool2:

[Merc]

Congrats Billsman on the story. You should start a Bills Backers Club at the BWW bar. We have one here in VA Beach http://www.bills-backers.com and it's a lot of fun. 40 or 50 Bills fans sucking down suds and eating wings in one bar full of Bills memorabilia. I actually get to watch more games than my Dad who lives in Buffalo. Anyways, congrats on your 15 minutes.

[Mouldsie]

Chimpie you blew it.

That was terrible.

[Stealth01]

Woo hoo Rick Serasin!! :P

I have that Bruce Smith figurine, too. Big ol head.

[Billsman]

lmao

[35Pete]

Just having fun with THE MAN. :hoppin:

Besides, you won the Postal reputation and NOT me. :beam:

Since two years later I just got groaned by M76 I think perhaps I didn't let my sarcasm come across strong enough? LOL