Athlete News (just not about athletics)

It's hard being a Buffalo Bills fan. Allow me to elaborate, because in no way do those seven words adequately convey the trials and tribulations my fellow Bills fans have gone through in the past decade. For some who may not be familiar with the Bills organization (why would you be?), and are still curious as to what I'm talking about; I'll explain.

I am talking about an NFL team that has failed to make the playoffs since the turn of the century, and this year looks to be no exception. I'm also talking about a city that ranks right behind Detroit and Cleveland with a lower standard of living than most third world countries (see athletes, Oct. 8).

Recently though, fans are taking action against the organization's abysmal performance. Sports Illustrated reported that after the Bills lost four of their first five games of the season, an unemployed 18-year-old, Ryan Abshagen of New Freedom, Pa., raised enough money through an Internet campaign to rent a billboard and advertise a message of discontent for everyone in Buffalo to see. It only took a little over a week for Abshagen to raise over $1,400.

"I honestly never thought it would ever be this big," Abshagen said in an interview with Sports Illustrated. "Fans are disgruntled. It's out there. It's big. People are going to hear about it."

The message is targeted at the owner of the Bills and communicates that their coach Dick Jauron needs to be fired, flashing, "It's time to clean house RALPH!" The statement started appearing on Billboards this Monday and will be running until next Monday, Oct. 26. It will be flashed up to 3,000 times per day.

During their last home game, cameras focused on a group of fans wearing paper bags over their heads and wearing t-shirts that said: "Fire Dick now!" As a loyal Bills fan, I couldn't agree more; get rid of Dick!

In other news, Sports Illustrated is also reporting that Burger King and the Fox network have apologized for a cartoon skit that recently aired during Fox's NFL Sunday. The cartoon focused on Jessica Simpson's supposed weight gain and mocked Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo for dating her.

Despite the cartoon failing to mention the millions of other people that have become obese while incorporating Burger King into their diet, I'm hoping Fox entertainer Glenn Beck will shed some on-air tears for Ms. Simpson. Of course, while eating a "Whopper."