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        the Gridiron >> the Sidelines >>  A TRUE HERO  Tillman Killed in Afghanistan
        
(Message started by: Mossaholic on Apr 23^rd, 2004, 10:21am)

Title: A TRUE HERO Tillman Killed in Afghanistan
Post by Mossaholic on Apr 23^rd, 2004, 10:21am

Somethings are definately more important than football and the draft.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4815441/

Title: Re: A TRUE HERO Tillman Killed in Afghanistan
Post by StegRock on Apr 23^rd, 2004, 10:52am

My God!

I hope network (ABC) and 24-hour (CNN) news get this story out and give it its DUE. It's something that everyone should know about... well.

Thanks for posting this, Mossman. I'm in disbelief and shock! [smiley=no.gif]

Title: Re: A TRUE HERO Tillman Killed in Afghanistan
Post by bgsgfan on Apr 23^rd, 2004, 10:54am

I just heard this on Sports Center. Yes, a hero. A real man, a role model, an inspiration.

I know the chances of his family ever reading this are slim to none, but they have much to be proud of, and my thoughts and prayers are also with them.

Title: Re: A TRUE HERO Tillman Killed in Afghanistan
Post by Tony_O on Apr 23^rd, 2004, 11:34am

Here are a couple quick briefs about the inncident:

Cardinals: Former NFL player Tillman killed in Afghanistan

by Fanball Staff - Fanball.com
Friday, April 23, 2004

News
Former Cardinals safety Pat Tillman, 27, has been killed while serving the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, CNN.com confirmed with Pentagon officials. Details have not yet been released. Tillman attended Arizona State and played with the Cardinals from 1998-2001. In May of 2002, Tillman chose to join the army along with his brother, Kevin. Both siblings signed up for three years of duty and became Army Rangers. Pat turned down a three-year, $3.6 million contract to enlist, and Kevin left his minor-league baseball career.

Views
Our condolences to the Tillman family, especially to his wife Marie, brothers Kevin and Brad, and parents. We also send our apologies to the Cardinals organization and all the players, coaches, trainers, and other personnel that played with or against Tillman over the years. We tend to remember Pat as a hard-hitting, hard-working defensive back (and college linebacker), but that view is clearly limited by our sports-related mentality. We're sure that those people who knew the man intimately will have more beautiful, profound words to say over the coming days, but all we can say at this point is that it's a sad day for all who had the opportunity to watch him play and wished him the best on his journey into military service.

Report: Former NFL S Tillman dies in action in Afghanistan

April 23, 2004
ATLANTA (Ticker) - Former NFL free safety Pat Tillman, who joined the U.S. military as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, reportedly was killed in action Thursday.
According to CNN, Tillman, 27, was on a mission with Army Special Operations, which was responsible for mopping up the remnants of Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan.
Tillman's unit worked in rugged circumstances, often fending off ambushes and avoiding road-side bombings, CNN said.
The Pentagon was not expected to make an official announcement until at least Saturday, the report added.
Tillman gave up a three-year, $3.6 million contract to serve his country. The 5-11, 202-pounder from Arizona State spent his four NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, recording a franchise-best 155 tackles in 2000.

Updated on Friday, Apr 23, 2004

Title: Re: A TRUE HERO Tillman Killed in Afghanistan
Post by Philly on Apr 23^rd, 2004, 11:46am

Wow. I have friends who are currently enlisted, but none are in the Middle East yet. This, however, seems to bring it all home as I remember watching Pat Tillman and admiring his hard-nosed play. I even had him on my fantasy team one year when I played in an IDP league.

I know Pat Tillman did not do this for the recognition, but the NFL should absolutely do something in his honor.

Title: Re: A TRUE HERO Tillman Killed in Afghanistan
Post by Tony_O on Apr 23^rd, 2004, 12:56pm

Another hit on this sad, but truly inspirational story!

Former NFL player killed in Afghanistan

By JOHN J. LUMPKIN, Associated Press Writer
April 23, 2004
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Pat Tillman was killed in Afghanistan after walking away from an NFL career to join the Army Rangers, U.S. officials said Friday.

The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said a formal announcement was expected later in the day. Spokesmen at the Pentagon and U.S. Army declined comment.

There were no immediate details how Tillman died. He was 27.

A military official, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that a soldier had been killed in action in Afghanistan Thursday, but could not confirm that the soldier was Tillman.

Some members of the Army's elite Ranger units were taking part in the hunt for al-Qaida and Taliban fighters in southeastern Afghanistan, the military official said.

``Pat Tillman was an inspiration both on and off the football field,'' White House spokesman Taylor Gross said. ``As with all who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the war on terror, his family is in the thoughts and prayers of President and Mrs. Bush.''

Tillman played four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals before enlisting in the Army in May 2002. The safety turned down a three-year, $3.6 million deal from Arizona.

He made the decision after returning from his honeymoon with his wife, Marie.

Tillman's brother, Kevin, a former minor league baseball prospect in the Cleveland Indians' organization, also joined the Rangers and served in the Middle East. They committed to three-year stints in the Army.

Tillman's agent, Frank Bauer, has called him a deep and clear thinker who has never valued material things.

In 2001, Tillman turned down a $9 million, five-year offer sheet from the Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams out of loyalty to the Cardinals, and by joining the Army, he passed on millions more from the team.

Tillman turned aside interview requests after joining the Army. In December, during a trip home, he made a surprise visit to his Cardinal teammates.

``For all the respect and love that all of us have for Pat Tillman and his brother and Marie, for what they did and the sacrifices they made ... believe me, if you have a chance to sit down and talk with them, that respect and that love and admiration increase tenfold,'' Coach Dave McGinnis said at the time. ``It was a really, really enriching evening.''

It was not immediately clear when Tillman went to Afghanistan.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Tillman was distinguished by his intelligence and appetite for rugged play. As an undersized linebacker at Arizona State, he was the Pac-10's defensive player of the year in 1997.

He set a franchise record with 224 tackles in 2000 and warmed up for last year's training camp by competing in a 70.2-mile triathlon in June.

Tillman carried a 3.84 grade point average through college and graduated with high honors in 3 1/2 academic years with a degree in marketing.

``You don't find guys that have that combination of being as bright and as tough as him,'' Phil Snow, who coached Tillman as Arizona State's defensive coordinator, said in 2002. ``This guy could go live in a foxhole for a year by himself with no food.''

Tillman and his brother Kevin last year won the Arthur Ashe Courage award at the 11th annual ESPY Awards.

Title: Re: A TRUE HERO Tillman Killed in Afghanistan
Post by Callie on Apr 23^rd, 2004, 6:06pm

Freedom isn't free.

Title: Re: A TRUE HERO Tillman Killed in Afghanistan
Post by StegRock on Apr 24^th, 2004, 11:54am

I just watched the ESPN SportsCenter segment on Pat and Kevin Tillman. ... WOW! ... It did make me feel good/proud to hear that Kevin was a Philosophy major, who considered (and, I suppose, still may consider) becoming a professor (of Philosophy, I gathered was the intimation). ... I only wish I had in me all that they have in them. I don't. But, within this free society that we have been given to exist in and for which many men have sacrificed and died to maintain and defend, I will do my best to be and, moreover, try to fight against the deterioration of "things" in America by being a man of reasonable conviction, self-reflection and sacrifice.