Tillman and the media
 

Ok.. While I am a grad student (not at UMASS) and no one is dumb enough to give me my own column in a newspaper, I'm gonna vent here :D

Last night, after a very very very long day the girlfriend and I went to a local establishment for a good burger and a cold dos equis.... As I look over her shoulder, what do I see on TV? Pat Tillman's funeral service...

Now this tweaks me not because I am against what Pat sacrificed, politics about the war aside, what he did was brave, and I doubt I have the fortitude to sacrifice the lifestyle he did and head to afganastan (or iraq or wherever).

That being said, this was a guy who snuck into the army in colordao because he wanted to be anonymous; he never asked for any attention or special treatment, and now here it is on ESPN; John McCain, Mrs Arnold, and others speaking about this guy, who is probably rolling in his grave at the attention he has gotten. I suppose this is mostly a dig at the media more than anything, what they choose to make news blows my mind and PO's me... Today show this AM had the wife of a soldier in trouble for this prison scandel in iraq.... the stuff in Iraq is news, I dont want to see some dude's wife on there to talk about what kind of person he is...
I guess I'm just thinking of all the other 700+ guys and gals who also didnt make it home alive and probably the one who wanted to be left alone the most by the media is now the center of attention...

Ok, enough ranting.... Have a good day....
Bryan

I agree. I can't stand the media. I think the media has cost more American lives overseas that any military blunder. Its not about news, its about ratings. Ratings make money, money makes shareholders happy. Its one of the downfalls of capitalism. Unfortunately most Americans love that crap.

Cameras have NO PLACE at a funeral....no matter who you are. Leave the families alone.....

It is amazing if you flip around the tube how many different news channels there are. They must all be getting viewers otherwise they would not last.

While I wholeheartedly agree with most of what you all have been saying, but I think most of the attention really is because Tillman gave up what could possibly(maybe an exaggeration) a multi-million dollar lucrative career and a possible Hall of Fame career just to sacrifice his life for the country.

That is not what you see very often in athletes in major pro sports these days.

-Dan