Winslow Jr. should have apologized to Tillman at draft.
Posted on 04/26/2004 1:01:37 PM PDT by L.N. Smithee
Greatest story never told
Winslow Jr. should have apologized to Tillman at draft.
Kellen Winslow Jr. knew what he had to do.
After holding up the honorary No. 1 jersey of the Cleveland Browns while posing with NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, Winslow took an extraordinary step. When the flash bulbs had stopped popping, Winslow leaned in and whispered into the commissioner's ear. He wanted just a moment at the microphone, to address the assembled crowd at Madison Square Garden and the millions of fans around the nation.
Looking jittery for the first time in his life, Winslow stepped to the podium and spoke:
"I'd like to thank the Browns for selecting me today. It truly is the greatest day of my life," he announced.
"Like every other athlete in this building, I've always known that I'd have to sacrifice a lot to get where I am today. To reach this moment, I knew I'd have to give everything I had. And until yesterday, I thought I had."
The throng at MSG grew silent as Winslow spoke.
"But yesterday, we were all taught what the meaning of sacrifice really is. Yesterday, we were reminded that the games we play don't really amount to much, and that there really are more important things going on in our lives."
As Winslow continued, Tagliabue discreetly ordered the Detroit Lions' draft clock stopped. For the next several moments, the wheeling and dealing was halted, the war room phones went silent, and the NFL nation stared intently at the stoic young man at the podium.
"On the greatest day of my football career," Winslow continued, "I cannot stop thinking about the worst day of my career.
"Last November, my Miami Hurricanes were beaten by Tennessee. I was upset. And I said some things that I've never really understood until yesterday. People always compare football to war, and that day, I believed I knew what war was."
A single tear emerged from the corner of Winslow's eye, desperately hanging on and refusing to cascade down the tight end's burning right cheek.
"I screamed and I called myself a soldier," he stammered. "And I said I wanted to kill my opponents because they wanted to kill me. I said I was at war."
Another extended pause.
The tear struggled to maintain its grip.
"Well yesterday I finally realized what a soldier was. And I finally understood what killing really means. Now I know what war really is. And today, as I stare up at that No. 40 Cardinals jersey, my only wish is that I could have known Pat Tillman. I wish I knew the man who actually understood the meaning of the word 'sacrifice'. Someone who was actually willing to give it his all. Someone who knew what was worth fighting for, and who had the courage to actually fight for it."
The tear gave way, picking up momentum and leading several others on its descent to the podium below.
"Today I apologize to Pat Tillman. And to every soldier who is risking his life for me. And to every family that has to live with the sacrifice made by their loved ones.
"Today, we will all celebrate the great achievements of our careers, but we'll also finally have some perspective, and some understanding of how lucky we are to be playing games instead of fighting in real wars. God bless you, Pat Tillman, and thank you for the lesson you've taught us."
In the standing ovation that followed, no one noticed a visibly moved Eli Manning slipping through the crowds and embracing Winslow as he left the stage. And the crowd once again fell silent as Manning approached the podium.
"I, too, want to apologize. To everyone. Pat Tillman gave up a multimillion-dollar career to die for our country, and I've been up here acting like a spoiled brat, upset about which team was going to be paying me tens of millions of dollars for the rest of my life. I'm sorry, San Diego. And I'm sorry for not understanding how good I have it. I'm sorry, Pat."
Sports personality Bob Frantz is a regular contributor to The Examiner.
Why, are you one of his pals?
Actually Winslow Sr. was lobbying Jr hard to go to Michigan State University and play for Bobby Williams (who was and is black). Jr. made the final decision to go to Miami.
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