Nutmeg
24 Apr 2004, 11:45 AM
Very little in professional sports today compels me. The spectrum of my participation in the major pro sports of America has gone from a young kid who cried himself to sleep when the Portland Trailblazers lost, to a teenager who aspired to be the next Walter Payton, to a man who developed an apathy, then disregard and even disdain for most professional athletes. The me-first attitudes, the showboating, the disregard for teammates, fans, the community, or any authoritative figure, and the lack of accountability for unethical and at times criminal behavior one by one turned me off. Teams that I once loved I have not watched at all in at least a couple of years.
Which is why I was surprised this morning when a tear fell from my face while watching of all programs, SportsCenter. ESPN did a piece on Pat Tillman, the young man who turned down a career as a well-paid professional football player to join the Army Rangers. The same young man who was killed in Afghanistan. It was a moving piece, a well done and appropriate eulogy of a hero.
I’ve checked in on the opinions regarding Tillman’s death on the news, on message boards, and with friends. He is almost universally regarded as a hero. Some question whether or not he is more of a hero than his fellow soldiers. I think the discussion is irrelevant, even worthless. Maybe someday there will be a worldwide draft of heroes, in which I think Tillman has 1st-round potential. Until then, I think it is much more interesting to discuss the specific attributes that were heroic about this man. Here are a couple that inspire me:
Humility: Tillman turned down countless interviews, documentaries, and probably financial offers to write his story. He never saw himself as more of a man than those around him.
Selflessness: I think everyone would like to believe that they would give anything to a cause that they believe in. He did. In doing so, he never asked for more than his peers.
Loyalty: Tillman joined the Rangers in part because of loyalty to his brother, who joined with him. He turned down millions of dollars to play for a better football team because of loyalty to the team he was on.
Courage: Whether it was on the football field or battle field, Tillman was fearless. He was determined and at times even ruthless in executing his duties, but you never could question his heart.
Those are a few. I could go on. But by now I am sure many of you are wondering what this has to do with soccer. Admittedly, not very much. But I thought about Pat Tillman’s love for his country as I was also thinking about this coming Wednesday’s game between the United States and Mexico.
I thought about what it must mean to put on the United States jersey, and what it means to represent your country. I’ve written about this before, but part of the reason I am such a passionate fan of the US team is because in many respects, international soccer represents everything that I loved about sports as a kid. The athletes who represent their country, and this is true particularly in the US, do so more for the pure love of the game and for their country than for individual recognition or accolades.
This Wednesday in Dallas, when Bruce Arena’s squad puts on their jerseys, I hope they take a second to pause and reflect on Pat Tillman. I hope they think of Tillman’s peers who have namelessly given up everything for the love of their country. I hope when the national anthem plays, they think of some of the attributes listed above, and try to apply them on the soccer field. I hope when they start the game, they remember this:
Those of us who cheer for the US Soccer Team do so not because of the name on the back of the jersey, but because of the badge on the front.
What the US Soccer team does on the soccer field against Mexico – or any opponent in any competition, win or lose – will pale in comparison to Tillman’s sacrifice. Most of us never will have or take that opportunity. The US Soccer team, however, has a special opportunity of its own to represent the rest of us. If they conduct themselves in the manner that Tillman did in the context of a soccer game, maybe they can inspire the same type of behavior in those fans that follow and look up to them. In a smaller way, perhaps they, too, can be heroic.
My prayers are with the Tillman family. Thank you for your son.
Which is why I was surprised this morning when a tear fell from my face while watching of all programs, SportsCenter. ESPN did a piece on Pat Tillman, the young man who turned down a career as a well-paid professional football player to join the Army Rangers. The same young man who was killed in Afghanistan. It was a moving piece, a well done and appropriate eulogy of a hero.
I’ve checked in on the opinions regarding Tillman’s death on the news, on message boards, and with friends. He is almost universally regarded as a hero. Some question whether or not he is more of a hero than his fellow soldiers. I think the discussion is irrelevant, even worthless. Maybe someday there will be a worldwide draft of heroes, in which I think Tillman has 1st-round potential. Until then, I think it is much more interesting to discuss the specific attributes that were heroic about this man. Here are a couple that inspire me:
Humility: Tillman turned down countless interviews, documentaries, and probably financial offers to write his story. He never saw himself as more of a man than those around him.
Selflessness: I think everyone would like to believe that they would give anything to a cause that they believe in. He did. In doing so, he never asked for more than his peers.
Loyalty: Tillman joined the Rangers in part because of loyalty to his brother, who joined with him. He turned down millions of dollars to play for a better football team because of loyalty to the team he was on.
Courage: Whether it was on the football field or battle field, Tillman was fearless. He was determined and at times even ruthless in executing his duties, but you never could question his heart.
Those are a few. I could go on. But by now I am sure many of you are wondering what this has to do with soccer. Admittedly, not very much. But I thought about Pat Tillman’s love for his country as I was also thinking about this coming Wednesday’s game between the United States and Mexico.
I thought about what it must mean to put on the United States jersey, and what it means to represent your country. I’ve written about this before, but part of the reason I am such a passionate fan of the US team is because in many respects, international soccer represents everything that I loved about sports as a kid. The athletes who represent their country, and this is true particularly in the US, do so more for the pure love of the game and for their country than for individual recognition or accolades.
This Wednesday in Dallas, when Bruce Arena’s squad puts on their jerseys, I hope they take a second to pause and reflect on Pat Tillman. I hope they think of Tillman’s peers who have namelessly given up everything for the love of their country. I hope when the national anthem plays, they think of some of the attributes listed above, and try to apply them on the soccer field. I hope when they start the game, they remember this:
Those of us who cheer for the US Soccer Team do so not because of the name on the back of the jersey, but because of the badge on the front.
What the US Soccer team does on the soccer field against Mexico – or any opponent in any competition, win or lose – will pale in comparison to Tillman’s sacrifice. Most of us never will have or take that opportunity. The US Soccer team, however, has a special opportunity of its own to represent the rest of us. If they conduct themselves in the manner that Tillman did in the context of a soccer game, maybe they can inspire the same type of behavior in those fans that follow and look up to them. In a smaller way, perhaps they, too, can be heroic.
My prayers are with the Tillman family. Thank you for your son.