09/20/09: Pinto Kenny, Body Paint and 50th Birthdays: Buffalo Bills Extreme Tailgating Kicks Off at RWS

VIEW VIDEO REPORT: Bills Fans Cheers, Beers and Buddies
The Buffalo Bills season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers means extreme tailgating is in full affect at Orchard Park. Tailgaters bounced into the Bills spirit around 11 a.m. outside Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Cheers, beers and buddies seemed to be the theme among fans setting out their spreads on the lot around the field house. Ken “Pinto Kenny” Johnson served up his game day grub on his burned out 1980 Pinto. The rusted out car is a tailgating tradition outside the Ralph. Tailgaters order food prepared on the rusted over car hood. They also take liquor shots out of 16pound bowling balls. Pinto Kenny even stores his cold ones in a commode.
“Well I had an old toilet and I figured I might as well use it to store my beer,” laughed Johnson opening the toilet seat to show his drink stash. He says he hasn’t missed a game since he got the car in the early 80’s. Amazingly the car still works. “I drive it into the field house lot every home game,” smiled Johnson. Pinto Kenny stands out among the thousands filling the lots around Ralph Wilson stadium. But there are plenty of extreme fanatics painted up and decked out in buffalo wing hats, costumes and body paint.
“I just wear this, people love to see it. I love it winter, summer, rain, shine, snow it doesn’t matter,” said Buffalo’s Gary Bradley.
He covered his face and body with red, white and blue paint. A batman-style mask was painted over his eyes and a huge “B” covered the girth of his belly. He also sported Bills and Sabres logos on both pecks. Bradley is no stranger to snow and says a couple cold temps won’t make him cover up his Bills body paint job.
“Yeah the Cleveland game last year I was purple,” said Bradley with a chuckle.
Whether you come for the food or just like to throw the pigskin around bills tailgating has something for everyone. Since this was a Buffalo game, there’s one thing that will never run out.
“You can’t come to Buffalo without having wings. I mean you can have anything you want. There is a ton of food up here. But you know what? Wings! That’s what Buffalo’s all about,” said Ontario’s Dave Griffith holding a sauce covered wing. Buffalo Bills spirit attracts fans from Western New York to the Midwest.
“My wife bought me tickets to see the Buffalo Bills all the way from Des Moines, Iowa for my 50th birthday and it’s the best gift I ever got in my life,” said Marion Butts hugging his wife Leona. “I love her and I love the Bills. Bills all the way!” Marion added as he kissed her on the cheek.