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| Pat Tillman: The NFL’s Lonely Hero |
| 2003-12-04 |
| EFL Pat Tillman was the starting strong safety for the Arizona Cardinals when the 9/11 attacks occurred. He played out the 2001 season and then with his brother Kevin, a former minor league baseball player, enlisted in the Army Rangers. In doing so, Tillman walked away from a three-year, $3.6 million dollar contract with the Cardinals for an $18,000 salary and plentiful opportunities to get his head shot off. That hasn’t happened yet, and God willing it won’t. But the pay cut kicked in right away. Some Internet surfing revealed that the Tillman brothers are currently deployed somewhere in the Middle East with the elite 75th Ranger Regiment. On the weekend before Thanksgiving, the brothers spoke briefly with their parents, who do not know where they are or what mission they are pursuing. They do know that their sons were in Iraq in the spring during the height of the fighting, and that this summer they were briefly stateside at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington. Outside of an ESPY award earlier this year and the occasional column, Tillman’s story has gotten little press, but it’s not all the media’s fault. For one thing, as Tillman’s parents well know, there is precious little information. For another, the Tillmans have not granted a single interview since their enlistment. Apparently determined that their endeavor not be construed as self-aggrandizing or insincere, they have simply done what they said they would do -- leave behind the fantasy world of sports to serve their country. Snip While media coverage of the Tillman story has been very positive, a subtle "wait and see" attitude prevails in some of the pieces that have been written, as if some revelation about a big-bucks contract, or perhaps a movie deal, will surface sooner or later to compromise his decision. The "mystery" some commentators see in Tillman’s actions is almost certainly the result of his refusal to grant interviews; if he would only sit for a weepy tell-all, all of their doubts could be put to rest. For most Pat Tillman knows where the real war is, which is why he left the fake one behind. If he decides to return to football when his three-year tour of duty is up, he would have the impact of a human disinfectant on the NFL. And his fellow players would owe him their gratitude -- even Simeon Rice, assuming he can reach that high. What a great story. That we all should be filled with such honor! |
| Posted by:Dragon Fly |
| #11 Our family lost my sister in the Pentagon on 9/11/01; the grief is one we continue to feel. Knowing that men of Tillman's statue supported our counrty and what it represents tends to ease the pain of the loss. It is disheartening that Mr. Tillman pursued the evil that continues to threaten this country and lost his life in the process. Our family appreciates his efforts and grieve with his family and we are sorry for the loss of his life. |
| Posted by: Anonymous4589 2004-04-26 10:15:32 PM |
| #10 Today is the day we learned of Pat Tillman's death. I am so overwhelmed with sadness and with awe of this man who, along with others, put me, my family, this country and another country's quest for freedom, honor and security above his own importance. My heart and prayers go out to his family, his wife, brother and parents especially. I cannot imagine their grief...but I pray in time they will be somehow comforted to know that so many people like myself, when learning of their husband's, brother's and son's incredible sacrifice for us are left with a new realization of what it means to be a true hero and will stive to be more like Pat. |
| Posted by: Anonymous4506 2004-04-23 1:48:35 PM |
| #9 See how cool Rantburg is. Art Donovan it is, I saw his rant on some ESPN show. LR. Killer TR quote! |
| Posted by: Lucky 2003-12-5 12:07:37 AM |
| #8 I had forgotten about the Tillmans - but reading this segment brought back my memory of reading about their enlistment some time ago. In their honor, I will include a snippet of a speech delivered some 93 years ago, in Paris, by President Teddy Roosevelt. Forgive the long quote, but it does some justice to Pat Tillman and his brother: It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face in marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. Shame on the man of cultivated taste who permits refinement to develop into fastidiousness that unfits him for doing the rough work of a workaday world. Among the free peoples who govern themselves there is but a small field of usefulness open for the men of cloistered life who shrink from contact with their fellows. Still less room is there for those who deride of slight what is done by those who actually bear the brunt of the day; nor yet for those others who always profess that they would like to take action, if only the conditions of life were not exactly what they actually are. The man who does nothing cuts the same sordid figure in the pages of history, whether he be a cynic, or fop, or voluptuary. There is little use for the being whose tepid soul knows nothing of great and generous emotion, of the high pride, the stern belief, the lofty enthusiasm, of the men who quell the storm and ride the thunder. Well for these men if they succeed; well also, though not so well, if they fail, given only that they have nobly ventured, and have put forth all their heart and strength. It is war-worn Hotspur, spent with hard fighting, he of the many errors and valiant end, over whose memory we love to linger, not over the memory of the young lord who "but for the vile guns would have been a valiant soldier." (bold italics are mine). My sincerest respect out to the Tillman's. |
| Posted by: Lone Ranger 2003-12-4 11:54:41 PM |
| #7 Lucky - I coulda sworn the guy you were talking about on the Colts was in fact Art Donovan. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2003-12-4 6:07:10 PM |
| #6 My wife and I have agreed that when our son is old enough, he will be told the story of an heroic football player named Pat Tillman who sacrificed his career for the country he loved. |
| Posted by: Tibor 2003-12-4 5:20:52 PM |
| #5 DF, Staubach was a USNA grad. Not sure about 'Nam time. Rocky Bleyer(sp?), Notre Dame Grad & Steelers running back is a 'Nam vet. Took a round through the thigh. A lot of the NFL guys (i.e. Keyshawn "crybaby" Johnson, Terrell Owens, and any other grown man who dons earings under his helmet) make me laugh. Million dollar athletes w/fifty-cent brains. Earning adulations for playing a kid's game. I'd rather spend an hour w/a MOH Recipient then get a signed jersey & free tix from any of those chuckleheads. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2003-12-4 2:03:10 PM |
| #4 What pisses me off is anytime one of those gangsta thug receivers or db's scores a touchdown and SALUTES! Saw one of them doing it LEFTHANDED last weekend (cincy i think?). A complete lack of respect for the people that actually are out there fighting and have EARNED the right to salute by a bunch of overpaid spoiled thugs. The nfl should ban it, just like giving the finger or mooning the crowd. It's awful they let those scum do that. |
| Posted by: greetingamongsoldiers 2003-12-4 1:20:39 PM |
| #3 Wasn't Roger Starbuck(spell?) a Vietnam vet? USNA Grad? |
| Posted by: Dragon Fly 2003-12-4 1:10:48 PM |
| #2 There was a guy who played, I think with The Colts with Unitas, Donahue(?) A lineman. He was a combat veteran. He said "I've been to war, football isn't war". It's not a game either. Tillman is a stud. I'm sure he has no regrets. Now Pro Wrestling, That's war man. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2003-12-4 1:00:56 PM |
| #1 If he decides to return to football when his three-year tour of duty is up, he would have the impact of a human disinfectant on the NFL. Doubtful. There probably won't be much effect once the initial splash wears off. In addition to the the general public's typically short attention span, too many others take the the members of our armed forces and their sacrifices for granted. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-12-4 12:25:08 PM |