oracle
09-07-2002, 04:34 PM
Several articles about Tillman have been posted in the past, but this is the best one yet.
An Army of one (http://www.washtimes.com/national/default-200297234312.htm)
By Bob Cohn
<font size=1>THE WASHINGTON TIMES</font>
"Acknowledging the fact that a Ranger is a more elite soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea or air, I accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects me to move further, faster and fight harder than any other soldier." -- from the Army Ranger creed
Heroism has been linked with athletic feats since about 490 B.C., when Phidippides died after running what became the first marathon. But there are many who believe Pat Tillman is a hero for not competing in sports.
A hard-hitting safety for the Arizona Cardinals since 1998 and a starter the past two years, he quit the NFL in the spring and enlisted in the military, sights locked on becoming an Army Ranger. He was joined by his younger brother, Kevin.
At 25, Pat Tillman was entering his football prime, with a three-year contract worth $3.6 million on the table.
Goodbye to all that.
He instead chose a three-year commitment to the Army, a starting salary of less than $13,000 a year and enduring one of the most rigorous, even torturous, regimens in any branch of the service shortly after marrying his high school sweetheart.
The emotions among coaches, teammates, friends and fans ranged from surprised to stunned. The media went on high alert. But Pvt. Tillman, now going through basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., has refused to speak publicly about his decision. No interviews, no exceptions. The networks, major newspapers and slick magazines have been turned away.
Only those who have privately communicated with Pvt. Tillman have even a clue about his motivation. There seems to be little doubt, though, that the terrorist attacks of September 11 had something to do with it.
"If that hadn't happened, he probably wouldn't be doing this," said Bruce Snyder, his coach at Arizona State. "He might be going down the Amazon or something else, but I think September 11 made a lot of sense for him to do this." One of the first people Pvt. Tillman informed, Cardinals assistant coach Larry Marmie, asked whether the attacks inspired such a life-altering decision. Mr. Marmie was told that it wasn't the determining factor, "but, yeah, it had something to do with it."
The two met at a coffee shop in mid-April, not far from the Cardinals' practice facility in Tempe, Ariz. Mr. Marmie, who was the defensive backs coach when Pvt. Tillman joined the Cardinals as a seventh-round draft pick, is now the defensive coordinator. Mr. Marmie is close with Pvt. Tillman, and he understands him. That's important because Pvt. Tillman is considered somewhat unconventional.
At ASU, where he played linebacker and was named the Pac-10 Conference's defensive player of the year, Pvt. Tillman had the longest hair on the team, flowing locks that flapped well below his helmet. He used to meditate sitting atop a light tower.
After he made the Cardinals, he rode a bicycle to practice. Pvt. Tillman once ran a marathon simply because he was bored, he said. Then he did a triathlon. He constantly questioned his coaches, often suggesting a better way. He graduated from college in 3-1/2 years with a 3.8 grade point average and a major in marketing.
...
Click here to read more (http://www.washtimes.com/national/default-200297234312.htm)
An Army of one (http://www.washtimes.com/national/default-200297234312.htm)
By Bob Cohn
<font size=1>THE WASHINGTON TIMES</font>
"Acknowledging the fact that a Ranger is a more elite soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea or air, I accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects me to move further, faster and fight harder than any other soldier." -- from the Army Ranger creed
Heroism has been linked with athletic feats since about 490 B.C., when Phidippides died after running what became the first marathon. But there are many who believe Pat Tillman is a hero for not competing in sports.
A hard-hitting safety for the Arizona Cardinals since 1998 and a starter the past two years, he quit the NFL in the spring and enlisted in the military, sights locked on becoming an Army Ranger. He was joined by his younger brother, Kevin.
At 25, Pat Tillman was entering his football prime, with a three-year contract worth $3.6 million on the table.
Goodbye to all that.
He instead chose a three-year commitment to the Army, a starting salary of less than $13,000 a year and enduring one of the most rigorous, even torturous, regimens in any branch of the service shortly after marrying his high school sweetheart.
The emotions among coaches, teammates, friends and fans ranged from surprised to stunned. The media went on high alert. But Pvt. Tillman, now going through basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., has refused to speak publicly about his decision. No interviews, no exceptions. The networks, major newspapers and slick magazines have been turned away.
Only those who have privately communicated with Pvt. Tillman have even a clue about his motivation. There seems to be little doubt, though, that the terrorist attacks of September 11 had something to do with it.
"If that hadn't happened, he probably wouldn't be doing this," said Bruce Snyder, his coach at Arizona State. "He might be going down the Amazon or something else, but I think September 11 made a lot of sense for him to do this." One of the first people Pvt. Tillman informed, Cardinals assistant coach Larry Marmie, asked whether the attacks inspired such a life-altering decision. Mr. Marmie was told that it wasn't the determining factor, "but, yeah, it had something to do with it."
The two met at a coffee shop in mid-April, not far from the Cardinals' practice facility in Tempe, Ariz. Mr. Marmie, who was the defensive backs coach when Pvt. Tillman joined the Cardinals as a seventh-round draft pick, is now the defensive coordinator. Mr. Marmie is close with Pvt. Tillman, and he understands him. That's important because Pvt. Tillman is considered somewhat unconventional.
At ASU, where he played linebacker and was named the Pac-10 Conference's defensive player of the year, Pvt. Tillman had the longest hair on the team, flowing locks that flapped well below his helmet. He used to meditate sitting atop a light tower.
After he made the Cardinals, he rode a bicycle to practice. Pvt. Tillman once ran a marathon simply because he was bored, he said. Then he did a triathlon. He constantly questioned his coaches, often suggesting a better way. He graduated from college in 3-1/2 years with a 3.8 grade point average and a major in marketing.
...
Click here to read more (http://www.washtimes.com/national/default-200297234312.htm)