Beyond the fact NBC’s Tim Russert was an icon unlike any other in politics, he was an advocate for his hometown, a city that takes pot shot after pot shot, Buffalo, New York.

Because he was so proud of his heritage, so proud of his hometown, a city most of us think of as nothing more than snowy, dreary and depressing, Tim Russert became the city’s favorite son. Heck, they named a children’s park after the guy, he did ads for the city, and it seems everyone in the town links him with Buffalo.

But most, he loved the hard-luck Buffalo Bills. He’d end “Meet the Press” on NFL Sundays with the phrase “Go Bills!”.

And the team, and fans, unofficially, dubbed him the number one fan. The team released a statement, saying it was “devastated” by his death. The team’s message board is filled with the same, comments like this

“Its hard to keep the tears from squirting out of my eyes … What a sad day for sure”

“I had to read the thread title three times, to comprehend what I was seeing. Horrible”

“This is awful. Sympathy goes out to his family. God Bless you Tim Russert. He will be missed”

“I’m not afraid to admit I’m bawling like a baby right now”

“Many prayers to his wife and son, as well as Big Russ, on this Father’s Day weekend. We’re worse off without you Tim, but we are better for having known you”

The Tim Russert bobblehead and a super NFL Films piece with Russert after the jump.

The city loved him so much the Buffalo Bisons gave him his own bobblehead doll, with the word “Buffalo” listed on a mock white board, one mimicking his use of “Florida” during the 2000 Presidential Election coverage.

This was something NFL Films did earlier this decade on the love Buffalo has for the Bills, and how frustrated they were about the team’s losses. The guy they started and ended with? Tim Russert.