There are not very many people in this country that would turn down a $3.6 million contract to play in the NFL, and instead fight for their country. Well, there was a young 25-year-old who did do that. Patrick Tillman was killed today in a firefight in Afghanistan at the age of 27.
What catalyzed him to walk away from millions of dollars when in today’s sports worlds athletes are complaining about not making enough money? September 11th, when the country was in peril, he put her first and walked away from a huge amount of self-serving cash.
This is the definition of sacrifice, to walk away from a comfortable life to fight in a war zone for your country. Yes, hundreds of soldiers have died and they all have sacrificed, but to walk away from a luxurious life to put your life in danger is a different circumstance. He also didn’t want any publicity when he left the NFL to fight in Afghanistan, and he declined interviews. This was not self-serving -- something unheard of in the current day of the sports world.
He should now be looked upon as a hero in the sports world. The sports world should now understand that money isn’t everything, endorsements aren’t everything, and publicity isn’t everything. I hope this will open the eyes of some of those selfish athletes to see that sacrifice, courage and bravery are not all about what you can do on the basketball court, on the baseball diamond or the football field. This was an example of great sacrifice, and I have nothing but respect and honor for Patrick Tillman.
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