I tried Google already.
Whatever happened with the active NFL football player who enlisted in the U.S. armed forces a while back (January?)? IIRC, he said he was enlisting because he wanted to help his country in its war on terror (and not necessarily fight Iraq per se; it might not have been clear when he joined that we were going to war with Irag again). I can’t remember any of the specifics – team, position, age, whether he was a starter, or which branch of the military.
Anyone?
That was Pat Tillman of the Arizona Cardinals. He left to enlist in the Army Rangers. The last I read, he made it through the training and has been deployed to the Middle East.
He was a defensive back I believe.
Thank you!
I didn’t know a person could enlist directly in an elite special force unit like the Rangers… I had the impression you already had to be a soldier or marine or whatever… rather like having to have a college degree prior to pursuing a master’s.
Well, good for him. I hope he kicks some butt and stays healthy.
I’m pretty sure you have to spend quite a bit of time in the regular Army before become a Ranger, which requires additional training.
I could be wrong though.
He did not enlist directly into the Rangers, but kicked serious butt in Basic, in Airborne, and in RIP, the Ranger School. He earned it the hard way, the way every Ranger does. He is with the 75th Ranger Regiment. He may have had some skids greased to get school slots, but I’m confident he didn’t get much in special care IN the schools.
The guy was a pretty bad ass DB (free safety), was smart and is obviously tough, both physically and mentally, plus a more than capable athelete. I’m sure it wasn’t a problem for him.
Delta takes several years under your belt, Rangers take in younger folks who qualify. Then again, I’m Marine, I could be wrong, too.
A good article on Pat Tillmanhere. He is really quite a character – before joining the Rangers, he declined a tremendously lucrative 5-year deal with the Rams out of loyalty to the Cardinals. An outstanding strong safety, he set a Cardinals record for single-season tackles in 2000. Then, after signing a 3-year contract for some real money with the Cardinals, he put football on hold for his 3-year stint with the Rangers.
His agent must be beside himself.
Tillman’s agent may be beside himself now, but if Tillman comes back from this a war hero, he’s set for life because the combo of star athlete/war hero has pretty much not been seen since Rocky Bleier.
Based on that lovely picture in the article linked above I don’t think I’d want to be the Iraqi militaman at home in the bunker when he comes calling.
Quite right, astro. Um, yes, indeed. Chiselled jaw… check. Recessed, beady eyes & prominent brow… check. Barrel chest? Check! Extremely scary overall impression? Continence check!
Heh heh, BobT, I was actually thinking “movie deal!” when I was writing my last post. I’ll put it this way: should this guy’s story ever go Hollywood, I hope his old sports agent gets a piece of the action. Not that Tillman’s agent would know his way around entertainment-industry contracts… 
And who’s Rocky Bleier?
I just felt a clump of hair turn gray and fall out. Where’s my cane?
Oh yes Pat Tillman. Let me tell you his is/was one of the best players in the NFL when it came to character.
He is also a freak when it comes to being in shape and pushing his body as far as it can go. He used to run triathalons in the NFL off season.
He declined a contract with the Cards because he wanted to join the army then become a ranger. He would have been to old for Ranger school had he stayed. So, he enlisted with his brother and is doing what he wants to do instead of sticking around for the money.
I applaud the man.
Damn. Blier was one tough dude. (And I thought Larry Csonka was tough for operating on his own deeply abscessed big toe (about 20-odd years ago) once with his Black & Decker drill. :eek:)
He is with the 2nd Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment at Ft. Lewis, WA. He is ostensibly on the same track as any other enlistee with a Ranger contract that makes it this far.
An update: both Pat Tillman and his brother Kevin are doing well (and staying safe) in Iraq, according to their parents, who recently heard from them in separate phone calls. Understandably enough, they don’t have the latitude to reveal much else of their activities or precise whereabouts…
[And thanks to blogger Andrew Sullivan, whose blog journal is where I found this link.]