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by Matty Coco
On Thursday June 4th, Ralph Wilson Jr. revealed his presenter for induction in to the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year. Wilson has Selected ESPN’s Chirs Berman to do the Honors at the August 8th Ceremony at Canton’s Fawcett Stadium in Ohio. Ralph Wilson Jr. received the honors of being named to the Hall of Fame on the 50th Anniversary year of the Buffalo Bills. Wilson has been a cornerstone owner in the NFL for 50 years.
When Berman was announced as Wilson’s presenter most Bill’s fans were surprised by Wilson’s choice. Many thought Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy would be Wilson’s first choice. Levy re-joined the Bills organization as the acting general manager in 2006 following the controversal Tom Donahoe Era. Levy was signed to a two year contract as the Bills General Manager. Levy was brought in to help a front office in transition led by Vice President Jim Overdorf. Levy had input in Buffalo’s draft choices and player personal while Overdorf handled the free agent acquistions and contracts.
The Bills Fan base was a bit surprised when Levy resigned as Acting GM in 2008. Since Marv left One Bills Drive, little has been heard from or about Marv Levy. When The Bills signed Owens media outlets approached Marv on his take only to find out he didn’t know already. This was the final peice of evidence that Marv truly was off-board at One Bills drive. Now just a few months later Wilson selects Berman to present for him at the induction ceremony and questions are rasied as to whether there may have been a falling out between Levy and Wilson. This is not the case. Levy left Buffalo confident he did what he needed to and that Dick Jauron was the next version of…well Himself- “It has been an experience that I have enjoyed immensely,” Levy said in a statement released by the Bills. “Despite an unprecedented number of season-ending injuries, Dick Jauron, his coaching staff and an admirable core of high-character players are heading in the right direction.”
Following Marv’s Statement Wilson released a statement on Marv’s resignation- “I will always be grateful for his service,” Wilson said. “When we needed new focus and direction, Marv improved our organization’s morale, attitude and environment: All of that, plus the stability we needed to move forward.”
I have to admit, when I first saw Berman was presenting for Wilson I was a bit shocked as well. As I sat and thought about Wilson’s choice or lack there of, it became clear to me why Berman is Wilson’s guy this year. Berman joined Espn in 1979 about a month after their founding. Since then Berman has been the most notable media enthusiast (outside of the late Tim Russert) for the Buffalo Bills. Spanning almost 30 years of media work and 6 time national sports caster of the year awards, Berman is pretty popular among sports fans. No one has done more in the media for the Bills than Berman. Most notably he coined the phrase “Nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills.” I have to admit I make time to watch prime time after a Bills win just to hear him say that. It is also important to note Wilson and Berman have been friends for years. Wilson has always been a fan first owner and selecting a fan to present for him makes sense. I also have to believe Russ Brandon had something to do with this. That guy loves the media market attention in Buffalo anyway he can get it.
Ralph Wilson is long overdue for the Hall and its nice to see what would probably be the fan’s choice asked to present for him at the Induction ceremony this year. Berman had this to say when informed he was Wilson’s selection: “Fifty years in sports, there’s only one constant —Ralph Wilson is the owner of the Buffalo Bills,” Berman said in a statement. “What Mr. Wilson has done for pro football and for the city of Buffalo and Western New York, it’s hard to put into words. He remains in it for the same reasons he got into it in 1959—he loves the game of football, and that’s apparent in everything he does. It will be an honor to have a bird’s-eye view to watch him be inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, especially this year, in the 50th year of the old American Football League.”
It is also important to Note that Berman has been the master of ceremonies for the Hall of fame ceremonies the past ten years. Not only will he be the master again this year, he has the honors of inducting his sports role model into the Hall of Fame: Ralph Wilson Jr.
