My favorite memories of Pat Tillman

[Lomax to Green 84]

I did not know Pat Tillman personally. He was not a friend. He didn't even know my name, but he made a huge impact on me in the few times I met the guy.

#1-July 25, 1998-Pat Tillman's first day at training camp his rookie season. I wait at the end of the walkway as the guys head in after the first practice. Everybody mobs Jake, Sanders, Swann, Rice, Centers etc... I decide I want to meet that crazy looking guy with the number 40 on his back. I cautiously approached this wild man and said "Hey Pat you sure kicked some ass out there today". He shot me this look that went right through me. I wasn't sure if he was going to punch me in the mouth or hug me as he walked directly toward me. He said "Do I know you?" I said no but I really loved his style of play and had followed his career as ASU. He then asked "Did you go to ASU?" I said no that I was actually from Illinois and was just a ridiculously nerdy Cardinals fan who made training camp my vacation destination every year. He looked at me and said "that the coolest f$$%#$ thing I have ever heard". We talked for a while and mostly about me. That is what struck me as so cool about Pat Tillman. Here was a pro athlete asking me the fan the questions about my life instead of the other way around.

#2-December 21, 1998-The Cards have just beaten the New Orleans Saints on a last second field goal to go to 8-7. My brother, sister in law, wife and I wait outside and here come Tillman. He is wearing jeans, flip flops and drinking a 7UP. We stop him and talk for 10-15 minutes and take my alltime favorite picture with him and my brother.

#3-July 26, 2000-I have a wonderful picture of Pat Tillman holding my 4 month old son. When I heard of his death, I ran to my office and dug through my pictures and found it. I cried like a baby seeing him holding my son and thinking that this wonderful man was dead. As I handed my son to him on that July 2000 day, Tillman smiled and said "Damn that is a cute kid". I had my son wearing a dark green fishing cap and Tillman went on and on about how much he loved my son's hat.

#4-July 27, 2001-The last time I met Pat Tillman. He regognized me this time. Came up and asked me how things were going in Illinois. Again the conversation wasn't about him, it was about me. He made me feel like I was somebody special.

Again, I didn't know Pat personally but man I wish I could have.

 

[Jttsaz]

That's awesome...I did get to meet Pat Tillman once. It was at a 99 minicamp in Tucson. I had won a charity bid on a Rob Fredrickson game used helmet which I had several players and coaches sign. My wife and I(both U of A alum's) talked to pat for a few minutes about what it was like being in Az stadium(enemy territory)...We both came away think that Pat and Frank Sanders were 2 of the nicest players we had ever met. I cherish that helmet now...I only wish I had brought a camera to take pictures but I was ditching work to go to both days and forgot.

 

[jf-08]

awesome.


unfortunately, i never had the privilege to speak with him.

 

[WildBB]

#4-July 27, 2001-The last time I met Pat Tillman. He regognized me this time. Came up and asked me how things were going in Illinois. Again the conversation wasn't about him, it was about me. He made me feel like I was somebody special.

Again, I didn't know Pat personally but man I wish I could have


Remarkable! You didn't know Pat as much as he knew you.

I wish I had the pleasure.

 

[SunCityCarl]

Holian, Wild & any of you who had gotten even a few minutes of Pat Tillman's time, I'm so envious!! I wore his # 40 to just about every game in 1999, I loved the way he hit (Except for when he ocassionally would forget to wrap up!) You could sometimes here him yell from the sidelines while the offense was out. I never knew him as a person or a soldier but if he did those the way he played football, I really wish I would have met him!

R.I.P. #40

 

[Cheesebeef]

I met Pat at Maloney's the night before the scrimmage during either the 1999 or 2000 camp - was up there with Fergie's daughter Natalie and she knew everyone - funny thing was everyone there was getting trashed - and I mean everyone - Jake - Dave Brown (and what a huge dork he was - unfortunately Natalie was good friends with him - so we hung out a little too much) and I just remember seeing Tillman standing there with a water in his hand - looking a bit out of sorts in his flannel shirt and jeans - I walked up to him and told him how big of a fan I was of his at ASU and Natalie introduced us - he was one of the most genuine athletes I've ever met - we talked about Alicia Klass - who was up there with Porn Star producer Seymour Butts - and laughed a little bit - he just seemed like a good guy - in a sea if douchebags.

 

[SeattleCard]

You should post the pictures if you can. That would be cool.

Agree - that would be sweet to see the pic.

 

[Captain Matt]

Here's one of the photos

Jim (and all),

I'm never on this page any more..... "Too busy".

Anyhow, way back when I posted a message about the wonderful gift my brother got my bride-to-be and I in December 1998. I was just graduating college and was about to head off to pilot training in the US Navy but, the Sunday before my commissioning (a huge event in my career) my big bro stole us away to catch the Saints game at Sun Devil. I had just enough time to buy some face paint and gussy-up the gang in time for the big game. Our flight from Illinois got us on the ground in time for a couple of hours of rest, then it was Sunday. We did the usual.... KFC in the parking lot, screaming and hollering, pumping up the crowd..... Then sat back and watched our Cardinals take one step closer to the playoffs. A couple of weeks later I was married (Jan 2nd) at the exact same time we won the playoff game in Dallas.

Anyhow, after the Saints game we hung around the back of Sun Devil. People were mobbing the usual suspects - Rob Moore, Jake, Frank Sanders, and Aneas.... but our favorite player stolled all unassuming-like in cut-offs, a sweat shirt and flip-flops out to his jeep. In the five minutes we talked he offered to take OUR PICTURE, asked us about our careers, shook my hand and wished me good luck in flight school, and thanked us for our support and for coming to the game. He was not in a rush. He didn't keep walking like most of the veterans. And you could just tell there was something genuine about the guy. Just look at the photo. My wife is on the left, I'm on the right, and Holian is the one on the far right.

 

[AzCards21]

Umm, no photo is there.

 

[bigredjane]

My favorite memory of Pat-

Was the night of a Cardinals 101 for women night and he and Jake were there along with some other players. I happen to have worn my #40 Tillman jersey and when he and Jake were autographing things I walked up to him and asked him to sign my shirt, he looked at me with a huge grin, I said I loved to watch him play, and he said he liked my shirt and signed it on the shoulder. I wore it to many games and after he left and joined the Army I wore it proudly and now I have been wearing it everywhere. People are asking me where on earth I got it and why it isn't in a glass case etc. A guy the other day said I should sell it for thousands on e-bay and I told him I wouldn't take anything for it. The other time that sticks in my mind is the time he was on camera coming out of the locker room after a big loss and the guy asked him what he thought was wrong and as only Pay would do looked right at the camera and said, " We played like crap"!! I really loved the guy.

 

[Captain Matt]

The photo

Sorry all... I couldn't get the photo to load last night.

Here's attempt #2.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Cool photo. Thanks for posting it.

I never had the pleasure to meet Pat and have been kicking myself for not catching after my one game at SDS and two games in Philly. I loved watching him play and love hearing all these stories. Keep them coming.

 

[azdad1978]

Sorry all... I couldn't get the photo to load last night.

Here's attempt #2.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

By far the hit he put on some un-suspecting Jaguar.

BAM!

The Jags WR's helmet must have been lauched 20 yards away from where the guys body dropped.

Tillmanwas fun to watch hit.

Peace