23-04-2004 20:20									#1
	Pat Tillman KIA Afghanistan Get a bigger avatar today!

BREAKING NEWS
NBC News and news services
Updated: 11:01 a.m. ET April 23, 2004

WASHINGTON - Pat Tillman, who gave up a lucrative NFL contract with the Arizona Cardinals to join the Army Rangers, was killed in action in Afghanistan, military officials said Friday.

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

Tillman, who went through Special Forces training to become a Ranger, was first deployed to Iraq in March 2003 with the 75th Regiment Ranger Battalion.
In Afghanistan, Tillman's batallion was involved in "Operation Mountain Storm," part of the U.S. campaign against Taliban and al-Qaida groups along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, military officials said.
He was killed during action in the past 24 hours, they said.

Tillman joined the Army with his younger brother Kevin in May 2002, but Pat Tillman denied requests for media coverage of his enlistment, basic training and ultimate deployments.

According to Army officials at the time, Tillman wanted no special treatment, wanted no special attention, but wanted to be considered just one of the soldiers doing his duty for his country.

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	23-04-2004 20:21									#2
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I heard about that first thing this morning

	23-04-2004 20:21									#3
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Sounds like an honorable man. A true loss for football and America.

	23-04-2004 20:21									#4
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RIP, Tillman.

	23-04-2004 20:26									#5
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not many people like him that's for sure... at least he should know what he died for.

	23-04-2004 20:56									#6
	Oh, CRAP! Ex-Football Star Killed in Afghanistan - Official Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

You may not be a sports fan.
You may not know this guy from Adam.
You may say he's no different than any other loss, but it is different.

Ex-Football Star Killed in Afghanistan - Official
26 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. professional football star Pat Tillman (news), who gave up a $3.6 million sports contract to join the military's elite special forces, has been killed in a firefight in Afghanistan (news - web sites), a U.S. official said on Friday.

The official, who asked not to be identified, said Tillman was killed on Thursday. The 27-year-old soldier abruptly quit his National Football League career following the 2002 season and joined the Army a year after the attacks on America.

Enlisting with his brother Kevin in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks on the Pentagon (news - web sites) and World Trade Center, Tillman turned down a $3.6 million contract from the Arizona Cardinals to become an Army Ranger for an annual salary of $18,000.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Tillman played for five seasons with the Cardinals from 1998 to 2002.

He was selected by Arizona with the 226th pick of the 1998 draft -- the league only selects 241 players -- but the Arizona State University star emerged from training camp as the Cardinals' starting strong safety on defense.

	23-04-2004 20:56									#7
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http://apolyton.net/forums/showthre...threadid=113551

	23-04-2004 20:57									#8
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Rangers, lead the way.

Hooah!

	23-04-2004 21:02									#9
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Merged the two threads just to see how that worked...

	23-04-2004 23:52									#11
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It's been said that the poor fight wars for the rich.
Pat Tillman was a man unto himself.
He sacrificed, then he sacrificed some more.

	24-04-2004 00:07									#12
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Why exactly does this one rate any more (or less) attention than any other KIA?

	24-04-2004 00:07									#13
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One of the articles I read said he turned down 9 million to leave the cardinals and stayed loyal to his team. His brother is also in the army and was a minor league ball player as well. Said he refused the press coverage of him going in the army he just wanted to serve his country. A rare breed indeed

	24-04-2004 00:16									#14
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quote: Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat Why exactly does this one rate any more (or less) attention than any other KIA?

duh, he played in the NFL, hence, he's more important...

but I agree with you MtG

	24-04-2004 00:34									#15
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There's a difference in someone who joins the service because that's about their only option.

There's a difference in someone who plays weekend warrior and gets caught with his pants down.

Then there's Tillman who had it made and walked away from it all.
If you don't see that, Michael, then you don't.
You can sit there with a stupid look on your face like Sava does.

	24-04-2004 00:36									#16
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quote: Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat Why exactly does this one rate any more (or less) attention than any other KIA?

It doesn't. I believe before his death Tillman said this himself-that his fame did not place him before these others.

Of course to think this is silly- of course his fame means his death will get more attention. And of course, as has already being done, people will point to the fact that his patriotism is somehow superior given he surrendered fame and fortune when he did not have to. Perhaps they are correct, perhaps not.

	24-04-2004 00:36									#17
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Sloww: hey, that look takes hard work!

	24-04-2004 00:58									#18
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quote: Of course to think this is silly- of course his fame means his death will get more attention. And of course, as has already being done, people will point to the fact that his patriotism is somehow superior given he surrendered fame and fortune when he did not have to. Perhaps they are correct, perhaps not.

Good point. Yet, he not only paid the ultimate price, but $9MM, a life of certain comfort, and fame (though the Cradinals?)... I think what he showed was the supreme of duty and patriotism, not above those he fought a long side with, but above those he played along side.

For some soldiering is job, to others a way of life. And for Tillman is was neither, it was only a duty which he performed without question and with option.

	24-04-2004 01:00									#19
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I've read a lot about Tillman. IMO, his service was more about wanting to be some badass supersoldier instead of patriotism. He was interviewed in Maxim where he commented "I just wanted to test myself". But nevertheless, he has made the ultimate sacrifice. It's a shame that good people have to die in combat rather than the *******s who start these wars.

	24-04-2004 01:35									#20
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was he really a "star" football player

	24-04-2004 01:38									#21
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He was offered $3.6 million over three years to play in the NFL. I suppose it depends on your definition of "star" but to me, anyone who makes it to the highest level of play in their sport and is offered money like that is pretty damned good.

-Arrian

	24-04-2004 02:07									#22
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Hell, he was offered $9 million to play with another team and actually said, "no, I like it here in Arizona."

So goes the story is currently making the rounds, that is.

However, it is a fact that searching for Pat Tillman on Ebay will open a lot of eyes.

Bastards: Notice how many of the items are "1 Day Sales"?

	24-04-2004 02:10									#23
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quote: Originally posted by SlowwHand There's a difference in someone who plays weekend warrior and gets caught with his pants down.

**** you. These people, reservists who have been sent abroad, are dying for their country as much as this football player.

You have some nerve. **** you

	24-04-2004 02:13									#24
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Better Tillman than Jessica Lynch

	24-04-2004 02:14									#25
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quote: Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat Why exactly does this one rate any more (or less) attention than any other KIA?

Why did Ted Williams or Elvis get more attention than any other sericeman?

	24-04-2004 02:23									#26
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quote: Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat Why exactly does this one rate any more (or less) attention than any other KIA?

Doesn't it tie in with the current debate about how rich whitey doesn't elist, ergo we need the draft? In a sense, Tillman was topical even before he died... it just took his death to make people take notice (again!) that some of the things politicians are currently trying to sell us just ain't so. Again.

	24-04-2004 02:30									#27
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quote: Originally posted by JohnT Doesn't it tie in with the current debate about how rich whitey doesn't elist, ergo we need the draft? In a sense, Tillman was topical even before he died... it just took his death to make people take notice (again!) that some of the things politicians are currently trying to sell us just ain't so. Again.

one rich whitey out of the hundreds of thousands ain't exactly a number I'd be bragging about if I were you...

You seem to be upset with reality, JohnT. It appears to me that you are more upset at "the lefT" for pointing out that the military (in Vietnam and now) was comprised of more poor and minorities than the general population. Why are you upset at "the left" for pointing out the facts?

Be upset at the class warfare and inequality... not the people who point it out.

	24-04-2004 02:32									#28
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quote: In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Tillman decided to turn down a three-year, $3.6 million contract with the Cardinals to enlist in the Army.

What an idiot

	24-04-2004 02:33									#29
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* GePap put on his flame retardant suite after seeing whaleboy's post

	24-04-2004 02:34									#30
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He'd have to put a little more effort into his stupidity in order to get more than a light tan. Mainly because it's such an obvious troll.