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.

[Coop]

Rest in peace, hero.

[Corporate Law]

Amen.

[sasafras]

mega bump

[RightWingMama]

Gosh darn it, here come the tears, again. He was a rare individual.

[annyokie]

[get'emall]

God bless Pat Tillman.

[Coop]

God bless Pat Tillman.

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

[handy]

I think anyone would be proud to have a son, father, husband, brother or friend like Pat. They would be lucky too.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

"But it doesn't do me any good to be proud. It'd be better to just force myself to be naïve about things,

Hint, hint, Simeon...

[DUMBGRUNT]

“LIFE IS EITHER A DARING ADVENTURE OR NOTHING AT ALL...”
Helen Keller

[Dante3]

I cried when I heard about it.

[ExSoldier]

I heard about this today in school. I was running off some xerox copies for my classes when an ultra left wing department head approached me to tell this sad story. He couldn't believe such a gifted young man would choose such a dangerous course in life and "all for nothing" as this puking leftist likes to constantly whine. It's hard being a conservative in an inner city school so full of anti-American vitrolic hatred for the sheer courage of the Pat Tillman's of the world. You know the worst part? They'll never "get it." I work in a liberal system and I knew that when I started as a teacher fifteen years ago. But it is just so more intense in the inner city! Been there seven years now and I think it's time to move on to another school. I have to salvage some remnant of my sanity.

[Coop]

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?"

[SPRINK]

I wish that I could be more like Pat Tillman.....he was a true modern day hero. RIP

[GRRRRR]

Every loss, every family deserves the respect and dignity that this man is getting. They all have given their very best and there are so many names and families that we will never know about...they are all precious to America. I wish there was some way we could learn about and thank all the families that are going through this most difficult time. Pat gave up football to serve his country and other men gave up being a father, teacher, fireman etc.

God Bless them all, it makes me weep inside, humbled by their bravery.

g

G

[ValerieUSA]

He gave his all for the greatest country EVER on this earth - and I thank him from the bottom of my heart.
Now the whiny kids who are held back from the NFL draft this year can follow the footsteps of a real man, a real hero, and join the military service.

I am very proud of my two sons in the Navy and the Army. If they were professional athletes I couldn't be as proud as I am that they are servicemen.

[wingman1]

Tillman was a real hero. 99% of his compatriots would have not chosen the path he chose - given the same options.

In my day, pro ballplayers skirted the draft because there were always open slots available for sacred cows. One notable exception was Rocky Bleier a hero and a story worth reading, in his own right.

Rest in peace Pat Tillman. Your mission is not over.

[pittsburgh gop guy]

Me too. While I was reading this thread, the local news did a story on Pat, and interviewed a couple of Philadephia Eagles that played with and against him.

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. And the sacrifices that all the soldiers over there have made.

He gave up a lot of material things and comforts, and in the end made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and the cause of freedom.

[The Bandit]

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

[Dante3]

I hope Mel Gibson will make a film about him.