Tribute to Pat Tillman
Those of you living outside of Arizona cannot imagine what a larger than life person Pat Tillman was
before he walked away from the money and the glamour of the NFL to join the Rangers. He played his college ball here at ASU, where he was considered too small. When his coach suggested that he redshirt his freshman year so that he could grow a little, he responded with something like, "Do what you want, but you've only got me for four years. I've got a life to get on with."
By his senior season he was the defensive player of the year in the PAC-10. He played gung-ho, balls to the wall on every play. But he was not a dumb jock. He graduated in 3-1/2 years with a 3.84 GPA with a degree in marketing. Considered too slow for the NFL, he appeared to get a sympathy pick from the Cardinals with their last choice in the draft. Five months later he was a starter on opening day. I was a little cynical about the decision at first, assuming the Cards were trying a little marketing of their own, but he made a believer of everybody.
He had an opportunity to join a much better team after a superb 2000 season, in which he set a team record for tackles. The Rams offered more money, but he signed with the Cardinals out of loyalty. It was that same spirit that led him to walk away from the money to serve his country.
Thanks, Pat. We will long remember your sacrifice.
