Pat Tillman

I know most of my posts are silly and makes me look like I do not take things seriously, but once in a while, a story will come up that will even make people like me think and write seriously. I can only remember two public events that really touched me personally in my life. One was the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center, and the other one was the death of Pat Tillman.

Pat Tillman was born on November 6, 1976 in San Jose, CA. He attended Arizona State University from 1994-1997. He was only 5-11, 200, but won the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 1997 as an undersized linebacker. Not only that, he also competed in a triathlon and graduated in three and a half years with a marketing degree. He was drafted in the 7th round (16th to last pick) by the Arizona Cardinals to play defensive back. Despite being a low draft pick, Pat not only made the team, but made 145 tackles in 2000 as a main force on the defense. Pat’s loyalty kept him with the Cardinals despite a $9 million over 5 years offer to sign with the St. Louis Rams. In 2001, Pat turned down the 3 year $3.6 million deal from the Cardinals to enlist in the Rangers after being affected by the September 11 incident. He and brother Kevin did not do this for publicity, turning down interviews after their enlistments. In 2003, the Tillman brothers won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for their unselfishness and courageous decisions. Both Tillman brothers were serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment when they were ambushed by enemy fire near the village of Sperah. The attack left two wounded and one dead.

I woke up around 2pm on this Friday morning. I am in the middle of a busy week, having just turned in a 13-page technical paper on Digital Light Processing, while planning on doing two other homework and a project all due at the end of next week. The first thing I did was walk to my computer while I wait for my body to wake up.

I opened up Internet Explorer. ESPN homepage had these words for me, “FALLEN SOLDIER, Former NFL DB Pat Tillman Killed Serving in Afghanistan”.

I was shocked as I start to remember the story of Pat Tillman, a young safety for the Arizona Cardinals who turned down a contract to enlist in the Rangers to fight Afghan terrorists. I immediately clicked on the Pat Tillman story and started to read. As I was reading the article, my mind was just starting to realize the information I was receiving. Involuntarily, tears came out of my eyes and down my face.

I was surprised that I was shedding tears for someone who I did not know, who played for a team that I did not like, who fought for a cause that did not interest me too much. I guess that is the power that a true hero has on people. I think everyone should know about the story of Pat Tillman and remember him forever, but chances are, he will be just one headline out of 365, one cover out of 52, and one story out of a million. By the next time somebody hits a homerun, scores a touchdown, makes a 3-pointer, a greater portion of the American people will be up cheering again, rooting for their “heroes” while the Pat Tillman story is being left in their past. I am not saying you should not celebrate sports, since I am sure I will be cheering for those “heroes” myself, but I am also writing this as a reminder to myself that there are athletes like Pat Tillman who does not live for the cheers.

--Bo Shue