Inside The Bills

Neiman painted Bills game

Famed American artist LeRoy Neiman passed away Wednesday evening at age 91. A popular painter of sports action scenes (including 5 Olympiads and countless Super Bowls), Bills owner Ralph Wilson commissioned Neiman to paint one of the first Bills home games the year Ralph Wilson Stadium opened in 1973.

The painting was of the Oct. 29, 1973 home game for the Bills against the Chiefs. O.J. Simpson is depicted in the piece as the ball carrier (see below). Also making an appearance in the painting is Mr. Wilson himself along the far sideline on the left side of the piece (see 2nd photo). The Bills won the game 23-14.