Sometimes post game interviews with football players can be pretty intense and emotional. Many players allude to the "war" they fought on the field with phrases like "it was a battle out there" or "we played like warriors" or maybe the most dubious of all, former Miami Hurricane tight end Kellen Winslow's rant of "war" and being a "soldier". 

Now I'm not advocating that football or any other physical sport isn't an emotional game, nor am I scolding the players for showing emotion. What I am trying to do is distinguish between game and war and what one pro football player gave up to join a real war.

Pat Tillman was devastated after September 11, 2001.  Tillman was in his fourth year as safety for NFL's Arizona Cardinals and was riding a wave of momentum, being known as a fearless hitter and tremendous competitor. 

After the attacks though, Tillman knew what he really wanted to do. In May 2002, he turned down an offer of $3.6 million over three years from the Cardinals to enlist in the U.S. Army. 

Tillman, along with his brother Kevin, were assigned to the second battalion of the 75^th Ranger Regiment.  Tillman said goodbye to his wife and was deployed to Iraq where he was part of the first wave of troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Tillman then went on to serve two tours in Afghanistan.  Tragically, his second re-deployment ended early.

On April 22, 2004, Tillman was killed in a friendly fire incident when his unit was ambushed while on patrol in the village of Sperah, about 25 miles near the Pakistani border.  Further reports showed that the fire outbreaks could have accidently been between allied forces.  Tillman's death has been full of controversy and the Pentagon released its report March 26, 2007 saying that the investigation concluded that the cause of "CPL Tillman's death wasn't anything other than accidental". 

Pat Tillman was awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart, and a posthumous promotion. 

With Veterans Day here, we as a nation salute our veterans who have come back from the battlefields and those who have not.  Some soldiers come from farms, others urban housing and some, like Tillman, come from very fortunate, wealthy backgrounds.

While Tillman's decision to enlist seemed like a radical one, he didn't want any fanfare surrounding his decision.  He just was doing what he thought was right. 

So as we celebrate this Veterans Day, take a moment to remember all who have sacrificed so much for us to continue to watch or play a sport or just live a lifestyle we are lucky enough to enjoy today.

Courtesy Photo

By Dave Burke