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Posted By	Discussion Topic: Pat Tillman gives up the NFL to join the army with his brother
Cluster F	posted on 05-23-2002 @ 11:23 PM
O&A Board Regular Registered: Oct. 00	Gotta respect the man's determination and integrity to his brother and to the army. Just another thing that has gone wrong for the pathetic Cardinals, losing one of their best players. Some may think it is stupid to reject millions of dollars to join the army (and i do too, to an extent). But, ya gotta respect his decision to do this. Safety to give up NFL life for the Army By MEL REISNER AP Sports Writer May 23, 2002 PHOENIX (AP) -- Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman is giving up the NFL for the Army. Tillman said Thursday he is enlisting in the Army for three years. Cardinals coach Dave McGinnis said Tillman, a two-year starter at free safety, wants to go through boot camp and join the elite Rangers program with his younger brother, Kevin, an infielder who spent last year with the Cleveland Indians' organization. ``This is very serious with Pat,'' McGinnis said. ``It's very personal, and I honor that. I honor the integrity of that. It was not a snap decision he woke up and made yesterday. This has been an ongoing process, and he feels very strongly about it.'' Tillman, a California native who was married two weeks ago and returned from a honeymoon in Bora Bora on Monday, talked to Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill, McGinnis and defensive coordinator Larry Marmie in separate interviews Wednesday. He could not be reached for comment. His agent, Frank Bauer, called the decision consistent with his client's contemplative, nonmaterialistic nature. Tillman, an unrestricted free agent, spurned a $9 million, five-year offer sheet from the St. Louis Rams in 2001 and allowed a multiyear deal with the Cardinals to sit on the table this spring despite Bauer's urging to sign. ``This is very consistent with how he conducts his life,'' Bauer said. ``Patty is the type of guy who is very smart and very loyal. I remember when the Rams made their offer, he said, 'No, I want to stay with the Cardinals. If I have to play for the minimum, I don't care.' He axed the offer sheet and played another year. But he's always had a blueprint for what he wants to do. Now everything else is on the back burner.'' Tillman, 25, never tired of football, but felt his hand was forced by the military's age restriction on entry in special forces units, Bauer said. The agent said Tillman hopes to resume his NFL career when his enlistment is up. Newlywed Marie Tillman supports her husband's decision to leave one rugged profession for a more dangerous one, Bauer said. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Tillman has always been distinguished by his appetite for rugged play and intelligence. As an undersized linebacker at Arizona State, he was the Pac-10's defensive player of the year in 1997. He warmed up for last year's training camp by competing in a 70.2-mile triathlon in June, and he finished his fourth NFL year with 478 career tackles and three interceptions. As a scholar, Tillman carried a 3.84 grade point average through college and graduated summa cum laude in 3 1/2 academic years with a degree in marketing. ``The guy has got something to him, and that's why I wanted him on the team all these years,'' McGinnis said. Thanks to Austin for the pic 2002 Crack Committee Objectives: 1. 94 Wins and NL East Title by the Mets this year 2. Hate the Braves with a passion 3. All 5 Starters have winning records this year 4. Mets win World Series 5. Root for and support Mike Piazza, regardless of his sexual preference Crack Committee Members: Cluster F, Rageparty, Bloody Anus, DiamondDust, JayMohrMassage, HammerSavage, PeterDragon, and 1888RustyTrombone...the force is growing. This message was edited by Cluster F on 5-23-02 @ 11:29 PM
Tenbatsuzen I deserve a status because I'm an interesting and funny guy.	posted on 05-26-2002 @ 3:04 PM
Psychopath Registered: Jan. 01	You have got to give him a lot of credit, to give up that money to serve his country.
Cluster F	posted on 05-26-2002 @ 3:14 PM
O&A Board Regular Registered: Oct. 00	Wow, someone finally replied to this thread. And here i thought that it was meaningless to post this story, and a waste of time for the other 18 people who read it. Thanks to Austin for the pic 2002 Crack Committee Objectives: 1. 94 Wins and NL East Title by the Mets this year 2. Hate the Braves with a passion 3. All 5 Starters have winning records this year 4. Mets win World Series 5. Root for and support Mike Piazza, regardless of his sexual preference Crack Committee Members: Cluster F, Rageparty, Bloody Anus, DiamondDust, JayMohrMassage, HammerSavage, PeterDragon, and 1888RustyTrombone...the force is growing.
arseface	posted on 06-03-2002 @ 9:17 PM
Hanger-On Registered: May. 02	yea, i agree. anytime a person wants to give up millions of dollars, and fight for his country, you have to give him respect. i'm not so sure i would do that.
arseface	posted on 06-03-2002 @ 9:17 PM
Hanger-On Registered: May. 02	yea, i agree. anytime a person wants to give up millions of dollars, and fight for his country, you have to give him respect. i'm not so sure i would do that.
BigStupid I got a new status because Alkey figured out how to do it.	posted on 06-04-2002 @ 2:48 AM
Psychopath Registered: May. 02	I just read about Tillman in USA Today. Admirable man. Admirable decision.

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