Ex-NFL player Tillman killed in Iraq

[Diomedes]

This was sad news indeed, but from what little I know of the man, he would prefer not to be singled out from any of other brave soldiers who have also given their lives.

Well said.

[Sgt PSN]

This was sad news indeed, but from what little I know of the man, he would prefer not to be singled out from any of other brave soldiers who have also given their lives.

Well said.

For the most part, just about any man or women serving in the military would prefer not to be singled out from anyone else.  I know I personally grow a little more humble every day.  Pat was obviously no different.  Although it's a shame that he, or anyone else for that matter, has to lose their lives but it's for what I beleive to be a noble and just cause as they did too.

[Reidme]

I think Pat does stand out a bit because of the initial sacrifice of 3+mil a year. In the end he sacrificed more, just as anyone in the military is aware they may be asked to do. I hope that the media and the NFL do not commercialize this to the point that the basic facts here are lost.

Tillman felt so strongly about his country and his brother, that he felt compelled to give, or at least risk all. It is hard not to think of this and feel a bit small. This had nothing to do with politics. This was about being a patriot, which he was. The Cards have some plans in the works already, along with his college.

I hope his family can find peace, as i know they already have gratitude. Thank You Pat.

[PhillyGirl]

Pat never wanted to be singled out. He turned down all media requests once he left the NFL. He wanted to be, according to him, like any other man or woman serving his/her country. I think he'd be embarrassed by the attention his death has gotten and he'd be telling the media to talk about the hundreds of others that have died doing what he was doing and to stop singling him out.

Just my opinion. I am greatly saddened by his death. Its been tugging at my heart since yesterday. I wish the best for his wife and family and friends.

Reidme, you don't know how many other men or women had the chance to make a lot of money and turned it down to join the Armed Forces. Its not about turning the money down that he was standing out, its because he was already a public figure.

Rest in Peace Pat.

[CT1]

Pat Tillman was and is a true hero.  One of the most unselfish persons you could ever hope to meet, his life touched millions.

All I can do is strive to be 1/1,000,000th the man, person, and American that Pat Tillman was.

Him and all the others fighting in our armed forces are the real heros.....not the guys we watch on Sunday.  Let's never forget that.

RIP Pat.

[Wingspan]

i'd really hope the cardinals retire his jersey...and help out his family...

[Fleagle]

God Bless Pat Tillman and his family...

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

The person who wrote this article deserves a slow, painful death at the hands of Army Rangers.

[Zanshin]

The person who wrote this article deserves a slow, painful death at the hands of Army Rangers.

Oh, no agenda there.

[Diomedes]

I agree with a lot of what this guy says, though not all of it.  For example, I think we needed to go into Afghanistan.  I think we needed to stay there, not abandon it.  So I disagree there.  I also diagree with the tone.  Suggesting that Tillman was an idiot--though you may think it, and are certainly free to do so--doesn't do anyone any good.  The guy is dead.  Save the bitter hate for the people who are responsible for his death..the leaders.

This is certainly a very different view from the ones parroted back and forth here.  Nice to see y'all respond to sentences and words with calls for murder.  Not everyone buys the party line.  Choke on it.

p.s. regarding agendas:  this op-ed piece is no more biased than any other, it's just bluntly pu, and since it isn't your bias, you call it shtein.  grow up.

[Zanshin]

"y'all?"  Just one, no?  And, for the record, I'm a firm advocate of the lost art of balanced reporting.  I don't want to see an agenda anywhere...you're making some assumptions about me.  Believe me, when it comes to the petty bickering about politics I see on this board...I'm not the one who needs to grow up.  I'm not sure where you get that from.

[Wingspan]

The person who wrote this article deserves a slow, painful death at the hands of Army Rangers.

Oh, no agenda there.

It's hard to say I have any sympathy for his death because I don't feel like his "service" was necessary. He wasn't defending me, nor was he defending the Afghani people.

one would think that if someone decided one day to blow up the building that she was just going about her mundane daily routine and entering. this attention whore would think a little differently. oh, and this building would happen to be on the east coast (another thing she mentions somewhere in that trash).

if it was your father, your son or brother that had taken the bullet, how much differently would this person feel?

total crap.

[Diomedes]

"y'all?"  Just one, no?

You're right.  Just one.  I was a bit overzealous there.

And, for the record, I'm a firm advocate of the lost art of balanced reporting.  I don't want to see an agenda anywhere...

There is no such thing.  Not even the New York Times could boast as much.

...you're making some assumptions about me...I'm not sure where you get that from.

As I said, I went overboard, G.  I'm guilty of addressing the prevailing opinion (and those who preach it), rather than addressing what was actually said.  I apologize.  That's not fair discussion.
Still, I think calling for a writer to be killed for publishing an opionion piece is pretty lousy, so I stand by the "grow up" comment.  

[QB Eagles]

An IndyMedia site had the headline "Dumb Jock Killed in Afghanistan", though I think they've since thrown that story down the memory hole due to attention from the "real" media.

[Butchers Bill]

An IndyMedia site had the headline "Dumb Jock Killed in Afghanistan", though I think they've since thrown that story down the memory hole due to attention from the "real" media.

Things like that article and the one mentioned above are why Bush will probably win in November.  Both parties have been taken over by their extreme wings and there is no middle anymore.  As of today, the right is more popular with mainstream America than the left is.