The world I grew up in is dead. The standards with which we carry ourselves have shattered, and the concept of societal norms are considered restrictive, bogus even. The deadbeats won, and the new orthodoxy is to defend, uplift, and conform to the weird world or parish.
Pat Tillman via Arizona Cardinals YouTube, screenshot
I remember when NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, who would frequently simply take a knee to pray to God, was quickly drawn and quartered in the court of public opinion, mocked endlessly by sports commentators and Christ-haters, by people who wanted to break him personally if they couldn’t end him professionally.
All the homeschool kid did was pray rather than give in to the mob, and that was enough for the evangelical right to consider him a hero. There was a point in time where we would have just considered him “normal.” What is even normal by today’s standard of athletes? Who does the media put on a golden pedestal?
These People Suck
Former 49er’s QB Colin Kaepernick continues to live this media narrative of being some “once and future” football sensation. He films commercials for Nike pushing the notion that he’s one phone call away from getting back into a league he equated to white slavers, in between writing books with anti-American communists. When he kneeled, he did so to make our country out to be some reprehensible, apartheid hellscape.
Colin Kaepernick via BlackTree TV YouTube
Ultra-feminist Megan Rapinoe is said to be incredibly “patriotic” by the standards of ESPN. When she kneeled during the anthem in solidarity with Kaepernick, you’d think she was describing us as mullah-controlled Iran, instead of the country in which a homosexual woman can grow up to captain the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team and became a multi-millionaire.
Newly crowned UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley considers himself a “King Kong” big enough to go around sleeping with loose women while his wife is at home taking care of their child. Former UFC contender Paige VanZant boasts about making more money stripping on OnlyFans than she ever did competing as a fighter.
Let’s not even get started with whatever the hell is going on with Antonio Brown.
The US Women’s National Team Victory Tour 2019 at Allianz Field in St Paul, Minnesota on 9/3/19; the US beat Portugal 3-0. Photo Credit: Lorie Shaull, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
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Our sports entertainment-anointed demi-gods regularly remind us how great those are who kneel against our country and stand on the shoulders of… well, themselves. When we do get our traditionalist, non-degenerate “heroes,” its more for what they aren’t and less so for what they’ve done.
Sorry conservatives, but Tim Tebow and Brock Purdy, however awesome, are no Pat Tillman.
Pat Tillman via Arizona Cardinals YouTube, screenshot
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Arizona’s Favorite Son
Pat Tillman was not just an exemplary NFL player, but also a symbol of unwavering patriotism and selflessness. Born on November 6, 1976, in Fremont, California, Tillman showcased early signs of determination and athleticism. He attended Arizona State University, where he played as a linebacker, earning praise for his prowess on the field. His college years showcased his dual excellence in sports and academics, a combination that hinted at his renaissance man personality.
In 1998, Tillman was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL. Rather than losing motivation by being a seventh-round pick, he used it as motivation to prove himself. Transitioning to the safety position, Tillman quickly became a standout player for the Cardinals. His intense dedication, hard-hitting style, and relentless work ethic made him an overnight fan favorite.
However, it was after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, that Tillman’s true character shone brightest. Like thousands of brave Americans, he made the extraordinary decision to leave behind his lucrative NFL career to serve his country. In 2002, he enlisted in the U.S. Army alongside his brother Kevin, and both eventually became Rangers in the 2nd Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment.
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Tillman’s commitment to his country was tragically cut short. On April 22, 2004, he was killed in action in Afghanistan. Initial reports suggested he died by enemy fire, but later investigations revealed that he was killed by friendly fire in a tragic incident.
Pat Tillman’s legacy goes beyond football. He embodies the spirit of self-sacrifice and dedication to a greater cause. Tillman remains an enduring inspiration to many. We don’t remember him because of how he died, but because of how he lived.
Every parent wants a strong son. Every wife wants a strong husband. Every friend wants a strong friend.
Strength in terms of one’s emotions, mentality, and yes, even physique.
Pat Tillman was someone you could leave your wife with, and according to those who knew him, was even someone you could fight alongside with on the football field or battlefield.
No Country For Old Men
What will it take to find an athlete who can unite “red” and “blue” America? Who is someone who can show they’re as good as an athlete as they are a husband or father?
They used to put up statues of heroes before we turned into a society which tore them down and replaced them with ones of criminal crackheads. Tillman without a doubt earned his, which was erected at Sun Devil Stadium in 2017.
Maybe it’s not that simply the athletes young children look up to as role models changed, but the character of our nation itself. Maybe there is no country for future-Pat Tillmans. How tragic that’d be, if true.
Follow Remso at @HeyRemso on X