AZZenny
Registered User
PHOENIX -- The term "local hero" is used frequently in the world of sports. But few, if any, athletes can truly live up to the term as much as the late Pat Tillman did in Arizona.
Tillman, a standout at Arizona State University in nearby Tempe and later for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, left the game at the height of his career, shortly after 9/11, to join the Army and fight in the Middle East. He was killed in Afghanistan in April 2004.
Although Tillman's arena was the football field, his impact was profound enough that the Arizona Fall League will mount the first charity fundraising event in its 16-year history to help collect money for the Pat Tillman Foundation. The organization seeks to carry forth his legacy by supporting young people striving to promote positive change in themselves and the world around them.
"Pat Tillman is known nationally, but here in Arizona he is highly, highly regarded and his legacy is second to none," said AFL executive vice president Steve Cobb.
As part of that association, the league will turn to another "local hero" -- Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Eric Byrnes.
On Nov. 2, the AFL and Byrnes will join forces to host Pat Tillman Foundation Benefit Night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium as the Phoenix Desert Dogs host the Scottsdale Scorpions.
While 50 percent of the proceeds from walk-up ticket sales that night will go to the foundation, the big money-raiser will be a remarkable array of valuable sports memorabilia available in a silent auction to the fans on hand.
Items for the auction were still streaming into the AFL offices in the days leading up to the event, but a small sampling includes autographed baseball jerseys from Craig Biggio, Prince Fielder, Todd Helton, Ryan Howard, Albert Pujols, Ichiro Suzuki and Greg Maddux as well, of course, as Byrnes himself. Autographed items from 2007 Hall of Fame inductees Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. also will be up for bidding.
All of the proceeds from the auction will go directly to the Pat Tillman Foundation, and every winning bidder also will receive an autographed baseball from Byrnes, thanking him or her for participating.
BE THERE!!!
Tillman, a standout at Arizona State University in nearby Tempe and later for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, left the game at the height of his career, shortly after 9/11, to join the Army and fight in the Middle East. He was killed in Afghanistan in April 2004.
Although Tillman's arena was the football field, his impact was profound enough that the Arizona Fall League will mount the first charity fundraising event in its 16-year history to help collect money for the Pat Tillman Foundation. The organization seeks to carry forth his legacy by supporting young people striving to promote positive change in themselves and the world around them.
"Pat Tillman is known nationally, but here in Arizona he is highly, highly regarded and his legacy is second to none," said AFL executive vice president Steve Cobb.
As part of that association, the league will turn to another "local hero" -- Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Eric Byrnes.
On Nov. 2, the AFL and Byrnes will join forces to host Pat Tillman Foundation Benefit Night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium as the Phoenix Desert Dogs host the Scottsdale Scorpions.
While 50 percent of the proceeds from walk-up ticket sales that night will go to the foundation, the big money-raiser will be a remarkable array of valuable sports memorabilia available in a silent auction to the fans on hand.
Items for the auction were still streaming into the AFL offices in the days leading up to the event, but a small sampling includes autographed baseball jerseys from Craig Biggio, Prince Fielder, Todd Helton, Ryan Howard, Albert Pujols, Ichiro Suzuki and Greg Maddux as well, of course, as Byrnes himself. Autographed items from 2007 Hall of Fame inductees Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. also will be up for bidding.
All of the proceeds from the auction will go directly to the Pat Tillman Foundation, and every winning bidder also will receive an autographed baseball from Byrnes, thanking him or her for participating.
BE THERE!!!
