RIP Pat Tillman

[Mitch]

11 years ago today. Still miss you like crazy, REAL BALLER. We will never forget...

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[Jersey Girl]

This is the first year I will not be able to toast him with a Guinness. Looking forward to honoring his memory at Pat's Run this weekend.

 

[okcardzona]

Tears at my heart

 

[WisconsinCard]

My nephew who works at the stadium quite often on their security systems just sent me a text saying that they have video of some people hanging on Pat's statue. He said that the statue is leaning over to one side now. I hope they find those donkeys and punish them to the fullest extent of the law.

 

[WisconsinCard]

Nephew just told me they got faces on cameras and Glendale PD just got there. I hope they catch these pukes.

 

[WildBB]

Amen.

Sucked that it was us and it was covered up, even worse.

Doesn't take anything away from him.

 

[StreetTruckinTitan]

Hard to believe its been 11 years today. I had a grave feeling when Pat signed up for the military. I didnt want it to be true. When I heard the news on the radio the day Pat died reality set in and I felt like someone kicked me in the stomach. Def a tragic loss.

 

[Chaz]

Gone but not forgotten.

RIP PT.

 

[WisconsinCard]

Nice gesture with the avatar...Mitch. That is awesome, Pat was truly a man among men.

 

[DemsMyBoys]

Thanks for reminding us, Mitch.

It's hard to believe it's been that many years without him.

 

[az jam]

Seems like it just happened. Boy what a tragedy.

 

[Cardiac]

Good on you Mitch. Great video as well.

If I were ever to get a Cards Jersey with a name it will be Tillman.

 

[Buckybird]

Amen. I luv visiting his statue each time I go to the desert. Thank the Lord above, that I'm able to visit him again at the MNF game against the Ravens

 

[Shaggy]

This is the first year I will not be able to toast him with a Guinness. Looking forward to honoring his memory at Pat's Run this weekend.

I'll be there to.

 

[mmvikes]

Enormous respect for Mr. Tillman. It was disheartening when I heard about him going down.

 

[CardLogic]

PT - a cut above. . .

Audio tribute: http://www.azcardinals.com/videos-p...-Tribute/f5520f76-9fd7-4d29-9d75-8f872ef1dc87

 

[dylanbw]

bump

Definitely not forgotten. It's always an easy choice on which Jersey to put on when I go to Cards games. Rest in peace.

 

[Covert Rain]

Damn can't believe 11 years has gone by already. RIP Pat.

 

[Catfish]

Thanks for the reminder Mitch--------his is the ONLY jersey I will ever own--my tribute to him for his ultimate sacrifice for us all------God bless him and may he RIP

 

[ajcardfan]

I haven't posted on this in a long time... Still have never watched one of the Tillman documentaries, as I know it will make me sick.

Anyhow, I actually got the meet and know Pat Tillman on a mild friendship level. When he was at ASU, and his first two seasons with the Cardinals, I worked a second job, part time, at a coffee shop on Mill Avenue. Pat would come in, riding an old Schwinn bicycle, and order green tea. Then, he would read outside. I struck up conversations with him, and he learned my name and even recognized me and talked to me briefly away from the shop once. I learned quickly that if you wanted to chat with him, it wouldn't be about football. He didn't care to talk about it with fans. However, if I discussed the book he had in his hand, or some political or philosophical topic, he would graciously give several minutes. When he was with the Cards, he would come in on double dates with Marie and Zach Walz and his girlfriend. (BTW, his rookie season, he would still ride up to the shop on that old Schwinn.)

Anyhow, the day I heard the news, I was at my high school teaching. It was lunch, and a bunch of AP Biology students were strolling in for a lunch time exam review. My friend (who I still split Cards tickets with) called me and told me the terrible news. I felt sick to my stomach. I was going to tell the kids to leave, but I knew that Pat would not approve. So, I managed to do the review and the rest of day like nothing was wrong. To honor him.

To this day, my prized Cardinals shirt is the memorial one someone on the board came up with and a bunch of us bought either black or white ones.

I'll never forget. And, it is so hard to grasp that it's more than a decade now since that terrible day and the terrible news stories that followed it for months.

 

[Mitch]

I haven't posted on this in a long time... Still have never watched one of the Tillman documentaries, as I know it will make me sick.

Anyhow, I actually got the meet and know Pat Tillman on a mild friendship level. When he was at ASU, and his first two seasons with the Cardinals, I worked a second job, part time, at a coffee shop on Mill Avenue. Pat would come in, riding an old Schwinn bicycle, and order green tea. Then, he would read outside. I struck up conversations with him, and he learned my name and even recognized me and talked to me briefly away from the shop once. I learned quickly that if you wanted to chat with him, it wouldn't be about football. He didn't care to talk about it with fans. However, if I discussed the book he had in his hand, or some political or philosophical topic, he would graciously give several minutes. When he was with the Cards, he would come in on double dates with Marie and Zach Walz and his girlfriend. (BTW, his rookie season, he would still ride up to the shop on that old Schwinn.)

Anyhow, the day I heard the news, I was at my high school teaching. It was lunch, and a bunch of AP Biology students were strolling in for a lunch time exam review. My friend (who I still split Cards tickets with) called me and told me the terrible news. I felt sick to my stomach. I was going to tell the kids to leave, but I knew that Pat would not approve. So, I managed to do the review and the rest of day like nothing was wrong. To honor him.

To this day, my prized Cardinals shirt is the memorial one someone on the board came up with and a bunch of us bought either black or white ones.

I'll never forget. And, it is so hard to grasp that it's more than a decade now since that terrible day and the terrible news stories that followed it for months.

Thank you for sharing this Pat Tillman story, AJ. It is so wonderful that you got to meet and talk philosophy with him! As you described so well, Pat was like a modern day Henry David Thoreau---he certainly danced to the beat of a different drum.

Do you now share Pat's story with your students? I am amazed that my students have never heard of Pat Tillman---so I feel compelled to tell the the whole story. One of my students was so moved that he made a poster of Pat in design shop---it is now on the wall of my room---next to a big photo of Walden Pond. I think Pat would like the Walden Pond part!

 

[Passepartout]

Classy guy! As really we need to always follow a leader like him.

 

[ajcardfan]

Thank you for sharing this Pat Tillman story, AJ. It is so wonderful that you got to meet and talk philosophy with him! As you described so well, Pat was like a modern day Henry David Thoreau---he certainly danced to the beat of a different drum.

Do you now share Pat's story with your students? I am amazed that my students have never heard of Pat Tillman---so I feel compelled to tell the the whole story. One of my students was so moved that he made a poster of Pat in design shop---it is now on the wall of my room---next to a big photo of Walden Pond. I think Pat would like the Walden Pond part!

Yeah,I will talk about it every once in a while. Locally, students tend to know who Pat Tillman was because you still see people wearing both Cards and ASU jerseys with his name pretty routinely. And, there is the 5K run for his charities that is very well publicized.

Yeah, its too bad that kids all over the country don't know about him. He was a great college player and made the big time in the NFL. Yet, from what I saw, he never changed. He was polite, humble and didn't want to be noticed as some kind of big shot. I always make sure I tell kids about the bike. He easily could've bought some fancy bike for 5k when he made the Cardinals, yet he just kept using that old one. Then, when he did get a car it was used. A Toyota IIRC.

 

[speedy]

Yeah,I will talk about it every once in a while. Locally, students tend to know who Pat Tillman was because you still see people wearing both Cards and ASU jerseys with his name pretty routinely. And, there is the 5K run for his charities that is very well publicized.

Yeah, its too bad that kids all over the country don't know about him. He was a great college player and made the big time in the NFL. Yet, from what I saw, he never changed. He was polite, humble and didn't want to be noticed as some kind of big shot. I always make sure I tell kids about the bike. He easily could've bought some fancy bike for 5k when he made the Cardinals, yet he just kept using that old one. Then, when he did get a car it was used. A Toyota IIRC.

No Bro, it was a Jeep Cherokee. The in-line 6 banger.

I ran into him at the Circle K at Hardy (I think) and University right after a Dallas game in 2001 (I think we won 6-3). We both bumped into each other and it was a mutual "Whoa, sorry Man..." I made eye contact with him and he could tell I knew who he was. I just said, "Good game Pat." He smiled broadly and said "thanks Man."

I got out to my truck where my pregnant (now ex) wife sat (she is a policewoman). She told me, "Some mother (you know what) just got out of that truck (which was right next to ours), took a big swig of that beer (which was now sitting on the ground between our 2 trucks), and winked at me as he sat it down. I almost pulled out my badge and busted his A$$!" It was Pats truck, it was a sort of metallic blue jeep cherokee, and I am pretty sure I remember that a used car lot owner gave it to him after learning he just rode a bike.

I think I even said to her, "Its Pat (effin) Tillman, and no you won't bust him..."

Sorry if my story taints anyones view of him. He was there with several other friends, and Marie was one of them. He struck me as just a down to earth guy. He is greatly missed in this world.

 

[ajcardfan]

No Bro, it was a Jeep Cherokee. The in-line 6 banger.

I ran into him at the Circle K at Hardy (I think) and University right after a Dallas game in 2001 (I think we won 6-3). We both bumped into each other and it was a mutual "Whoa, sorry Man..." I made eye contact with him and he could tell I knew who he was. I just said, "Good game Pat." He smiled broadly and said "thanks Man."

I got out to my truck where my pregnant (now ex) wife sat (she is a policewoman). She told me, "Some mother (you know what) just got out of that truck (which was right next to ours), took a big swig of that beer (which was now sitting on the ground between our 2 trucks), and winked at me as he sat it down. I almost pulled out my badge and busted his A$$!" It was Pats truck, it was a sort of metallic blue jeep cherokee, and I am pretty sure I remember that a used car lot owner gave it to him after learning he just rode a bike.

I think I even said to her, "Its Pat (effin) Tillman, and no you won't bust him..."

Sorry if my story taints anyones view of him. He was there with several other friends, and Marie was one of them. He struck me as just a down to earth guy. He is greatly missed in this world.

Hey, that's a great story! Thanks for sharing it.