Ex-NFL player Tillman killed in Iraq

[Wheat]

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

BREAKING NEWS
NBCSports.com news services
Updated: 10:10 a.m. ET April 23, 2004Pat Tillman, who gave up a lucrative NFL contract with the Phoenix Cardinals to join the Army Rangers, has been killed in Iraq, according to NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski.

In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Tillman decided to turn down a three-year, $3.6 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the Army.

© 2004 NBC Sports.com

[TruBlueCowboy]

Wow. What are the odds that he would be one of the casualties? Damn, this war is getting bloody. Prayers to his family. He was a class act.

[Doomsday101]

I hate to hear that, Tillman was a good guy and thought enough of his counrty that he was willing to sacrifice his NFL career and his life. My prayers go out to his family

[Hostile]

Wow. That is really sad. Prayers go out to his family.

[Rocco]

I remember when he decided to do that. At least he gave his life doing something honorable..

[guag]

Wow... this is sad news. I was pulling for that guy too... he was a brave man to decline an NFL contract and instead serve his country. My thoughts are with his family.

[Hostile]

ESPN crawl says he was in Afghanistan.

[BrAinPaiNt]

Best Wishes to his family....and much praise to the man that turned down all that money and went to serve the country that could provide him with the chance to turn down that kind of money.

Once again best wishes to his family and a big Thank You to him for serving this country.

[LaTunaNostra]

How tragic.

Prayers go out for his family, friends, and past team-mates.

[guag]

Best Wishes to his family....and much praise to the man that turned down all that money and went to serve the country that could provide him with the chance to turn down that kind of money.Very well said.. couldn't have said it better myself.

[jkbear11]

I remember when he decided to do that. At least he gave his life doing something honorable..

yup i remember it too... i think i heard him join the army at dan patrick's radio show.... man~~~

[Skip]

Really sad, God Bless his family!

Here is a link to the story:

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

[OldButDeadly]

Man...that is too bad to hear....could not believe it when I heard it....

Now...does he have a brother or something in the forces too?? I don't know if I am remembering this incorrectly.

Kev

[Hostile]

Man...that is too bad to hear....could not believe it when I heard it....

Now...does he have a brother or something in the forces too?? I don't know if I am remembering this incorrectly.

Kev

Yes his brother joined with him.

[SoTex]

Horrible news. He was the kind of guy you hope your son grows up to be like. God bless him and his family.

[OldButDeadly]

Yes his brother joined with him.

Well....I hope they pull him out of harms way...

God Bless him and his family!

Kev

[CowboyJunkie]

It sure does put alot of things in perspective when you see something like this. With all of the selfish atheletes out there, it is amazing that someone could give up his life (the ultimate selfless act) so we can sit here and talk about football all day. I will tell all four of my kids about Pat Tillman tonight at dinner and hopefully help them understand what fighting for something really means.

[Mattsdad]

He was a class act. Wow. Prayers to his family and friends.

[SoTex]

It sure does put alot of things in perspective when you see something like this. With all of the selfish atheletes out there, it is amazing that someone could give up his life (the ultimate selfless act) so we can sit here and talk about football all day. I will tell all four of my kids about Pat Tillman tonight at dinner and hopefully help them understand what fighting for something really means.


Great post. Amen brother.

[Woods]

Really is sad.

Though NBC just said he was killed in Afganistan - not that it really matters.

You have to really respect a guy who can walk away from lots of fame, money, etc. and serve his country because he wants to. Not because he is asked, or forced to.

That takes a special person.

[Hostile]

It sure does put alot of things in perspective when you see something like this. With all of the selfish atheletes out there, it is amazing that someone could give up his life (the ultimate selfless act) so we can sit here and talk about football all day. I will tell all four of my kids about Pat Tillman tonight at dinner and hopefully help them understand what fighting for something really means.

That was really well said.

[TC4]

R.I.P. Pat

[Duane]

Sad news. I hope the NFL creates a new award for courage in his name.

[Doomsday101]

Sad news. I hope the NFL creates a new award for courage in his name.

I think that would be a great ideal

[ghosttown cowboy]

Kind of makes Eli and Archie Manning seem like a couple of babies. I have the ultimate respect for Patt Tillman. May god rest his soul and bless his family. Here is to selfish atheletes just going away.

[jamez25]

God Bless Him and His Family.

[Jimmie]

I remember hearing about him leaving the NFL to pursue the Army Rangers & really couldn't believe it! People take things for granted way to much these days (we all do it) and yea this really does make Archie/Eli look like a bunch of cry baby biatches(excuse the language)!

My prayers and condolences are with the Tillman family and thanks aswell for their son serving our country proudly!

[RCowboyFan]

Best Wishes to his family....and much praise to the man that turned down all that money and went to serve the country that could provide him with the chance to turn down that kind of money.

Once again best wishes to his family and a big Thank You to him for serving this country.


Damn, my feelings too. I register here and have to post to a sad news. He was a real hero in my mind.

[marsbennett]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4815441/
Now that is a real hero! I'm so sorry to hear this news and I pray right now for he and his family.


........

[BadMeetsEvil]

When he gave up playing in the NFL to go back to the Military I couldn't believe the type of person he was.

Pat Tillman - Thanks for fighting for our country. R.I.P

[Doomsday101]

A correction he was killed in Afghanistan not Iraq. I know this means little just clarifing the report

[adbutcher]

May his soul and family find peace and comfort.

[ABQCOWBOY]

My first post on this forum. I'm honestly sorry it has to be on this subject.

Many will look to this and say this is why we should not be there. They, of course, will be intitled to there opinions. I, on the other hand, look at a man like Tillman and say he is exactly the reason this thing is worth the fight.

No desire to debate politically. Just affirming my particular point of view on this man.



"Posterity - one may never know what it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it."

John Quincy Adams - 1802

True then, down through history it rings true. Never truer then today.

RIP Patrick Tillman

[Roy Williams]

Man that's horrible news. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

RIP Tillman

[Tony D]

This is sad, real sad. He was a hero, all those soldiers are heroes. Unbelievable.

[Eric_Boyer]

This guy was all class.

Here are some other facts about him that I admire very much

Tillman, who attended Arizona State University, returned from his honeymoon in 2002 having decided to give up his seven-figure NFL salary to join the Army with his brother.

Tillman has always marched to his own beat. Upon entering Arizona State, he told coach Bruce Snyder that he was not redshirting, that he had a life to pursue after four years of college. He graduated in 3 1/2 years with a degree in marketing and a 3.84 grade-point average.

In 2001, he declined to pursue a five-year, $9 million offer from the St. Louis Rams because he felt loyalty to the Cardinals' coaches, who had taken a chance on him.

As a rookie trying to make the team, Tillman rode a bicycle to the team's Tempe facility each day because he didn't own a car. And he refused to use a cell phone.

[CapnComeback]

This absolutely sucks. I didn't understand why he decided to turn down an NFL contract in the first place but not only that but he goes to Iraq and pays the ultimate price. Damn, that's terrible!

[Doomsday101]

This absolutely sucks. I didn't understand why he decided to turn down an NFL contract in the first place but not only that but he goes to Iraq and pays the ultimate price. Damn, that's terrible!

Well in WWII you had actors and athletes alike volunteering for service, times sure have changed

[Avery]

The guy also ran a marathon because he was bored and planned to compete in a 70 mile triathlon.

Any man who can turn away from riches and glory to follow their heart is a bigger man than I.

[BulletBob]

..........

[BulletBob]

Kind of makes Eli and Archie Manning seem like a couple of babies. I have the ultimate respect for Patt Tillman. May god rest his soul and bless his family. Here is to selfish atheletes just going away.

An excellent point.

Mr. Tillman, you will never be forgotten. Words cannot express ...

So prayers will have to suffice.


....

[5 Super Bowls]

Best Wishes to his family....and much praise to the man that turned down all that money and went to serve the country that could provide him with the chance to turn down that kind of money.

Once again best wishes to his family and a big Thank You to him for serving this country.

Well said. I hope this turns into a big story and the media will set up some sort of fund for his family. I would gladly give his family a donation. God Bless America

[BulletBob]

Well said. I hope this turns into a big story and the media will set up some sort of fund for his family. I would gladly give his family a donation. God Bless America

Glenn Beck (a national radio talk show host) is encouraging all of his listeners to call up the NFL in NY and suggest that the 40 yard lines at every stadium painted be painted red, white, and blue this year, in his honor.

[Mavs Man]

Wow. This is truly sad news.

Mr. Tillman was a hero, and definitely one of the good guys in this life.

I'm sure he gave his life gladly for the cause - however, this world needs more people like him, not less.

[phdefense]

Mr. Tillman you are

A Role Model
A Hero
A Patriot

as a citizen of this country there is only 1 thing I can think to say

"Thank You"

[Jimz31]

I agree with that earlier poster.....this really does shed a different light on the Manning situation.

Prayers are with the family.

[Chief]

This reminds me of that line in "Braveheart."

Everybody dies. But not every man really lives.

What a hero.

[T-New41]

It is unbeleivable that in this day and age an athlete w/millions in the bank would walk away from the money, the fame to serve there country the way that Mr. Tillman did.

When I first heard he was going to join, I immediatly gained an enormous amount of respect for the guy. The fact he declined interviews because he felt that what he was doing was no less Patriotic than anyone else who joined further proves that this was a man amongst men.

It is very sad to hear of what happened to him. Pray for his family, but also pray for the families of ALL The soldiers defending our country right now. There are many others who have also given their lives and many who still have their lives on the line right now.

[Rack Bauer]

R.I.P.


It's a tragedy when any of our soldiers are killed in battle.

[RatisBeast]

Prayers go out to his family. This world is a little darker because of this. :( I really respect the man he was and hope his family can pull through this.