"Yet that was Pat Tillman, former safety for the Arizona Cardinals, dead in Afghanistan at 27, alive forever in our vision of what is best about America."

" He considered his life of no greater value than the lives of any of the others who have died in the war against terrorism. He believed this with such fervor that he refused all publicity after leaving the Cardinals and a $3.6 million contract offer to join the Army for $18,000 a year in 2001."

Tillman shows athletes meaning of sacrifice
April 25, 2004. BY BILL PLASCHKE.

He said, "My great-grandfather fought in Pearl Harbor, my family has fought in five wars, and I haven't done a damn thing."
Eight months later, he made good on his anger, walking into McGinnis' office and pulling a chair around the desk so the two men were face to face. Tillman was a record-setting tackler. He was a team leader. McGinnis thought he might be accepting their contract offer. Instead, he told his coach he was joining ... the Army? Said McGinnis, "He talked about his sense of honor and duty. I told him about the ramifications. He said he didn't care."