Pat Tillman, the NFL player that left the Cardinals and enlisted in the army was KIA

[Jamie M]

I'm sick to my stomach right now...

Pat Tillman graduated from Arizona State A SEMESTER EARLY, while earning a 3.8 GPA in marketing, and winning the award for PAC-10 player of the year.

He turned down a $3.6 million contract from the Cardinals to join the Army, where he made $18,000 his first year. Not wanting to be seen as doing it for a publicity stunt, he refused all requests for interviews about his decision. He served in the same platoon as his younger brother.

In today's era, most athletes are cocky, spoiled, enabled from birth, too dumb to scratch their name in the dirt with a stick, and immeasurably self-centered. What an incredible example of humility, service, and sacrifice this kid is.

We have truly suffered a deep loss, and I just hope that through his example, we all try to practice a FRACTION of the sense of duty, and doing the right thing, that he personified.

He was the last athlete that I really respected. His face should be on Mt Rushmore as far as I'm concerned. After September 11, he chose to walk away from a pampered life of fame, fortune, and celebrity to be a private in the army. Unbelievable.