Former Arizona Cardinals linebacker Pat Tillman to be inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame
He played hard, he worked hard and was a consummate professional football player for the Arizona Cardinals. Now Pat Tillman is going to be one of the newest inductees into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame.
The induction is well deserved and overdue. The former linebacker for the Cardinals, who also played the same position with the Arizona State Sun Devils, left the team to join the Army in 2002.
He was deeply impacted by the events of September 11, 2001 and wanted to serve his country. He did so along with his brother.
Tillman was one of the more popular players locally during his playing days. His determination and hard work on and off the field is what drove people to him.
Although overdue, still this is a great honor for the man who lost his life in friendly fire in 2004 over in Afghanistan. To this day people still wear number 42 on their backs to both Cardinals and Sun Devils games.
Many were surprised when he decided to join the Army instead of remaining with the Cardinals. He was just starting to blossom in his brief NFL career when 9/11 took place. To give up what he did so that he could help continue protect our freedom’s was truly courageous.
This was the right move to put Tillman in the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. Although he won’t ever be enshrined in Canton, Ohio at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he wouldn’t have wanted the attention anyway.
That is who Tillman was. He was humble but hard working and never took no for an answer.
He will go into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame along with former Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Mark Grace, University of Arizona softball coach Mike Candrea, Brophy College Prep swimmer Gary Hall Jr., Xavier College Prep Golf coach Lynn Winsor, and Chaparral softball coach Jeff Oscarson. Definitely a class to be very proud of.