It's More Than Just Money to Some

Football needs a little bit of Pat Tillman right now? Not only that but the entire world could use a little bit of P Tillman right now! What a good role model!

One of my favorite stories is about Pat Tillman in college. His football coach at Arizona State told him that he had good news, that he had secured Tillman a redshirt so that he would be able 2 play another year of college football. Tillman took a second and thought about it and responded, No coach, I cant do that, I’ve got things to do with my life. Those arent his exact words but he was referring to serving his country as one of the things he felt he had to do with his life. I
love that story and Pat Tillmans dedication to his values above everything else. Such a great person, a real hero if there ever was one, and an unfortunate and tragic end. Pat Tillman, I will never forget.

And had been thinking a lot about it today, so thanks for linking to it on CSR. The story is sort of a reality check – puts things into perspective. Pro sports (and the population in general) could certainly use a few more Pat Tillmans.

well done sir

As a 22 year Army veteran, I can tell you that Pat Tillman is a once in a lifetime kind of guy. It takes something special for a man to forgo that kind of money to serve his country. Not only did he sign up for the US Army, he signed up as an enlisted member, and then joined one of the most elite combat units in the world, the US Army Rangers. There was no doubt about the dangers he would face in Afghanistan. Rangers don’t sit on the sidelines and offer support. They are the ones being supported. They are the ones that seek out the enemy and destroy them. The circumstances surrounding Tillman’s death, although presumed to be an accident, will always be a black mark on the Rangers and the Army, but his legacy will live on. He was a man of courage and conviction, and he was one of a kind.

One can hardly blame the NFL players for trying to get their slice of the pie before they become irrelevant, but in the pursuit of money, most players forget what it’s all about. It’s about playing a highly competitive game that accepts only the biggest, fastest, and brightest athletes in the country. The rewards can be tremendous, the money, the fame, the notariety all work to make playing in the NFL a great accomplishment. It’s a shame that greed has reduced the sport we all love to the current state of affairs.

I suppose I’m more on the side of the owners only in that I cannot agree that the players should be considerd as partners. They are contracted employees of the team for which they work. Why should they be able to dictate how much the NFL owners get to keep from the revenues? As long as the contracts they signed are being paid, what exactly is the problem?

If I was the king of the NFL for a day, I would make every contract in the NFL based on production and incentives. There would be no guaranteed money contracts and I would give all Head Coaches the authority to fine players for insubordination and laziness (obvious taking plays off). I would pay the players handsomely for their services, and I would consider the veterans’ past contributions when awarding contracts. All money received from fines would go into the NFL retirement fund.

Talk about a pipe dream…

If the players were based on their production and the success they brought to the team. I wish that was the general way of thinking for all of the major sports but sadly it isnt. Everything has to be a business, have a value and be about the almighty dollar. Quite frankly, I think that the Arizona Cardinals should rename that stadium after Pat Tillman and keep it that way for the next 42 years.