Remembering Pat Tillman: Strong-willed and humble, former Cardinals star was indescribably rare

Sports Illustrated ^ | 4/23/04 | Tim Layden

[Coop]

This was an ordinary greeting card with a gray wolf on the front cover. Inside the card was blank -- no mass-manufactured poetry -- except for a note written in meticulous blue printing. The card was dated "12/8,'' which was Dec. 8, 1997, five days after a 2,000-word profile that I had written on Tillman appeared in Sports Illustrated.

[ExSoldier]

"Before you leave, you need to confront the clueless leftist and say "He did it for you and your family! Do you still say it's for nothing?"

My Lord, I've been fighting in this place for seven years. Do you really think I haven't done this all along? They don't get it because they don't want to get it. These people are not stupid! But they are what they are. Liberalism is destroying the country. It will be the vehicle by which Jihadism forces us into a final confrontation with all of islam.

[Minuteman23]

If there were more like him we wouldn't be in the mess we're in. God bless him.

[wingman1]

Dear Ex,

In your own way you are on the same type of mission as Tillman. You are not on the front lines eating sh#tty food and sleeping on the ground. But, you are doing a job that others in your profession don't consider doing. Those kids need examples like you - especially the inner city kids. Take heart.

[Coop]

Nomination for quote of the week!

Tillman was everything Kerry could never fool others into believing he was...

[WIladyconservative]

Ah, I've been weepy all day after hearing this.

His story reminds me of the attitude shown by some athletes after Pearl Harbor. Warren Spahn comes to mind - he was in the Battle of the Bulge, IIRC.

Godspeed Pat Tillman - you are a shining example to us all.

[freedom44]

Absolute Hero!..

[Coop]

It's pouring rain here right now. Seems fitting after hearing this terrible news this morning.

[1rudeboy]

His story is a great one, and I hope that everyone knows his name and the love he had for his country and the sacrifices that he made for the rest of us.

Ironic that God found a way for someone of such humility affect so many, and so profoundly.

[bigeasy_70118]

Pat Tillman = Great American

[AnAmericanMother]

Are you thinking about moving out of SFLA? If so, FRmail me, because I know of a couple of schools in the ATL area where you would really enjoy teaching bright, motivated kids, and you wouldn't have to put up with all the grief.

When America no longer produces these wonderful, brave young men who are willing to put their lives on the line, America will cease to be great.

[kimosabe31]

Go with God, Pat. It breaks my heart that we lost you, but I know you're in God's care now.

[Zack Nguyen]

You're right - they're not stupid. They know exactly how destructive their philosophy is, and they like it that way. Well, having said that, continue to treat them kindly as God would have us do.

[Wolfstar]

If someone like Pat doesn't have a special place in Heaven, there's not much hope for the likes of me.

Boy, ain't that the truth about me, too.

[Skywalk]

On a sports forum, there was a nice thread going until a couple of the far leftists opened their mouths. Right on schedule.

I can't believe that even AFghanistan is a problem for people--that's where AQ was and it was perfectly legitimate. They don't even possess the smallest scraps of intelligence OR integrity.

[Wolfstar]

Every loss, every family deserves the respect and dignity that this man is getting.

Of course, and those of us who pay attention do honor every soldier, sailor, airman, Marine and coastie. But, in our very hedonistic, selfish, materialistic age, for someone to give up fame, fortune and the celebrated, comfortable lifestyle that goes with a sucessful sports (or entertainment) career to join the Army Rangers in a time of war — that, my friend, is a very, very rare sacrifice. "Above and beyond the call of duty" doesn't even begin to describe Pat Tillman's heroism.

In a way, his willingness to pay the ultimate price in defense of his country stands as a stands as a very public symbol of all those more anonymous dead of whom you speak. Don't resent the attention Pat Tillman's service and death will justly receive, for it calls attention to the bravery and sacrific of all the others. In death, he stands for all our honored dead.

[TexasCajun]

May God bless ALL our fallen soldiers and the brave men and women still fighting for my freedoms and my security.

[ladyinred]

Only one word for Pat, a HERO.

We so often anoint our sports stars with that moniker, and actually, although they do possess athletic skills, they are not what you would call heroes in the true sense of the word.

Pat, by leaving his multi million dollar career behind to go and fight for a cause he believed in,( for his country )is now instead of just a talented athlete, a Hero in the true sense of that overused word.

RIP

[Dante3]

Amen.

[Wolfstar]

They don't get it because they don't want to get it.

The simple truth; one that many non-Leftists seem unable to wrap their minds around. Leftists aren't "sick," nor are they ruled by their emotions more than anyone else. Nor are they necessarily stupid or politically blind. Rather, they believe in a statist ideology. They are, for the most part, idealogues motivated by genuine political convictions — wrong-headed convictions, in my opinion, but convictions nevertheless. We must never be dismissive of nor underestimate them.