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

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

[ALOHA RONNIE]

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For..


..'We Were Soldiers Once and Young'

http://www.lzxray.com
(Website)

http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_collection.htm
(Photos)

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[coincheck]

let us not forget that there are three battalions of men who feel the same way about their country and their unit as Pat Tillman, men who are willing to put their lives on the line to keep us safe and free. the best unit i served in while i was in the army was in the 2/75th Ranger Battalion. the point of the spear. Rangers Lead The Way
HOOAH!
coincheck

[Dante3]

#71: Excellent.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Thanks for posting that link, Tbird.

[1john2 3and4]

they believe that they are better than we are, more noble, because they believe in non-violence & mother earth, hence their frequent references/signs @ jesus & gandi (i saw one at a demonstration in cincinatti; "who would jesus bomb?"- i can see protest warrior taking that one and replying; "ever hear of sodom?")

see http://www.coachwyatt.com/HOLLEDER.html story of another hero, don holleder

i could only hope to aspire to tillman's class

[Coop]

I just got back from the make shift memorial The Cardinals have set up in front of their training complex in Tempe. Lots of kids and parents there, signing messages for the Tillman family. Many local TV news stations there too.

Thank you for the report from Arizona.

[Coop]

Very nice tribute.

[Dante3]

I hope the picture in #71 will be available as a poster.

Pat Tillman was a true hero and he will be missed. There have been also many others who have died heroic deaths and should be remembered such as Neil Roberts.

[kstewskis]

I hope Mel Gibson will make a film about him.

...and might I add, I hope he asks Jim Caviezel star as Tillman. The resemblence is somewhat uncanny!

On a side note, people are still lining up at the Cardninals memorial to sign and pay their respects to Tillman. One of the local AM news radio shows was set up at 5am today (Monday), to pay a nice tribute to him. The radio personality knew him personally, and was in contact via email with Tillman up until just a couple of weeks ago.

Another nice thing that is being reported, is that the media at large is beside themselves that the Tillman family is not speaking to them. They want their privacy, period, as it should be. Even the radio personalities on this particular station, support the Tillmans all the way.

[dfwgator]

Rest in peace, hero.

A rare case where the use of the term "hero" is completely justified.

[dfwgator]

This may sound trivial, but his number should be retired out of respect.

I hear you, but those gestures seem so trivial and cliched. IMHO the best tribute the NFL can give is to simply have each player or former player spend some time in a VA hospital, or write a hand-written letter to a serviceman thanking them, or something like that. The press never has to know, just like the way Pat served in the Army. To me that's the best way for the NFL to pay tribute to Pat.

[dfwgator]

The other player I remember was Rocky Bleier who served in Vietnam before playing for those great 70s Steeler teams.

[Coop]

Roger Staubach served in 'Nam.

[dfwgator]

Very true, and Landry served during WW II as well. What a different time that was. Back then guys like Tillman were the norm rather than the exception.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

I think it's a good time to remember all of these patriots who did their duty at great sacrifice. Jimmy Stewart, an actor, not an athelete, is another name to remember, as well as Roger Staubach as mentioned above.

[Dante3]

Caviezel would be a good choice.

the other day I saw tributes to Tillman on Fox, MSNBC and CNN. I was pleased that they were all handled well -- at least those were that I saw. <I feel a great sense of loss and sadness.

[Dante3]

bttt