Letters To The Editor

The Bills

I have always been a big reactor when it comes to television. When Rory Gilmore rejected Logan’s proposal, I audibly gasped by myself in my bed. When Devi was packing for college, I was silently crying, again by myself in my bed. But nothing, NOTHING, has ever made me so angry as a football game.

In October of 2023, I decided to learn football. Initially, yes, it was because of Taylor Swift, but it was mostly because I would rather spend time watching giant men chase a ball than sit on my phone with my sister. I started picking up bits and pieces of the game with the help of my willing dad and slightly frustrated cousin. I knew touchdown, first through fourth down, some other basic terminology and that’s about it.

Flash forward a month or two. My football knowledge had not expanded, but I was determined to learn. After getting a full rundown of the AFC West, the NFC South and everything in between, I was overwhelmed by the amount of teams—I soon came to understand it was only 32 and not that bad.

I knew I had to pick a team. Pretty quickly, I was able to eliminate a few teams from my roster.

First, the New York Jets. I knew already that they sucked, their supposedly savior quarterback Aaron Rodgers got injured in the first game of the season (shocking that I even knew that) and that it was my dad’s team, so why would I pick the same as him?

Secondly, the Los Angeles Chargers. Again, they also sucked and it was my cousin’s team. A lot of decisions were made out of spite.

Afterward, I was able to get rid of a few others. The Washington Commanders, New York Giants and Cleveland Browns had dumb logos. The Texans from Texas? Really? Los Angeles Rams, basic. Dallas Cowboys, basic. The Kansas City Chiefs, BASIC.

After weeks and weeks of tireless contemplation, I narrowed it down to five teams. The Baltimore Ravens, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Miami Dolphins, the Detroit Lions and the Buffalo Bills.

To make my decision, I did what any teenage girl would do: rank the teams based upon various criteria, including colors, logos, helmets, uniforms, social media page, fanbase name, celebrity clout and, with minimal research, their group standing.

The Eagles were out because their fans are crazy and I didn’t like one of their shades of green. The Ravens were out because I thought their uniforms were ugly. The Dolphins really had everything going right for them, until they lost to a bad team and I was quickly over them.

And then there were two. It was a really close call, but the Bills won by a landslide. Good colors, good standings, Hailee Steinfeld, good logo and good social media page (I saw one funny video and thought it was sufficient enough to back the whole social media claim).

I became invested—or a true member of the Bills Mafia, as one might say. I started watching every game from start to finish, only going on my phone minimally, seeing football videos on my Explore Page and moving the ESPN app to a convenient spot on my home screen. The most unfortunate part about all of this though, was that it was the week before the first round of playoffs.

So I watched the first playoff game, easy money for the Bills. I was feeling pumped for my team and happy that I didn’t pick the Dolphins or Eagles who crashed out big time. So onto round two we went.

I will never forget the anger I felt at that loss. They’re all professional football players. They should not be missing game-tying, overtime-sending field goals three points down.

I was pissed, not only because the Bills lost, but because my hatred for the Chiefs was only growing. While I do like the Kelce family, I DO NOT like Patrick Mahomes and I DO NOT like the fact that they rig the NFL. I’m still angry.

So now, as we enter the week before the Super Bowl that nobody wanted, I can only reminisce about what could have been for my team as a Chiefs hater, ex-Swiftie and your new favorite football fan. However, I am also grateful that a simple question led to a new passion that has completely opened my eyes to the world of Brads, Chads, and Dads. And don’t worry, I’ll still be watching the game.

Parker Keston
Junior Reporter

Palisades Safari

You don’t have to go far to enjoy an active and wild game drive. Early morning walks with my lab Hank bring the loud hooting of a nearby owl. Never can spot the owl but know he/she is enjoying a morning snack.

Another great morning sound is the loud buzz of hummingbirds lining up at the feeder for a dawn shot of energy. Last week a large coyote stared me down from across the street. I clapped my hands but he just gave me a slow hard look and moved on in his search for rabbits.

In the spring, flocks of green parrots go to the top of a nearby tree to bask in the warm first sunlight. As they warm, they get more active and louder.

Early Palisades morning walks may not bring sights of lions and tigers but it’s always a great morning on Palisades Safari.

Kent Sather