Is Pat Tillman a Hall of Famer?

by FSBlueApocalypse on Jan 6, 2009 11:04 PM EST in Off-Topic Comment 14 comments

Once again, I found myself deciding to click on an article for my nominee of 2008's First to Worst in Sportswriting award, Peter King. Normally I just shake my head at the state of both his column, as well as Stewart Mandel's. However, this time I think it's worth a rebuttal. In his Tuesday Morning Quarterback, he was asked if Pat Tillman was hall of fame worthy.

Cris said the same thing last year on our HBO show, and I respect his opinion. But I disagree. The Pro Football Hall of Fame mandates that players be judged on what they do between the white lines and nothing else. Tillman was a good NFL player, not a great one. What if, for example, Jon Kitna enters politics after his NFL career, becomes a great American statesman, ascends to Secretary of State and brokers a truce between the Israelis and Hamas? Should we then elect Kitna to the Hall of Fame?

Sorry Peter, we have a term for that, and it's called a Straw man. We're not talking about politics or running for office. What Pat Tillman did was so far gone from the example you just gave, it's absurd.

Pat Tillman dropped a multi-million dollar offer from the Arizona Cardinals to join the US military to fight what he believed in. In an era where we may honestly see players like Terrell Owens end up in the Hall of Fame, I say THAT sends the wrong kind of message.

As someone who belongs to a family who has had a member fight in every war this country has been involved in since the Mexican War I can't help but feel you are doing a disservice to the soldiers on the battlefield.

In an era where players make more money in a season than the average fan in the stands makes in 15 years, Tillman's actions were the definition of courage, patriotism, and humility.

My signature, "I smoke, if that bothers you, take a look around the world we live in and shut up" by Bill Hicks, explains alot on my philosophy on life. I'm not sure about you guys, but I find the fact that this country spends more time discussing pointless issues rather than solving real problems or finding truly valid things to hold dear, upsets me.

While I respect every ounce of sweat every player has given to dedicating their bodies to play at the NFL level, Pat Tillman gave something much more. He gave his life for this country. He showed the kind of resolve, dedication, and committment we often only give lip-service too.

Pat Tillman deserves a bust in Canton, Ohio. In fact, he deserves to be the first one on display.

Poll

Do you believe Pat Tillman belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Yes

74 votes

No

108 votes

182 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 14 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Why should he be in the hall of fame again?

I get that he gave his life for his country, but the only reason you cite for his acceptance was that he "passed on a multi-million dollar contract… There weren’t even any stats in the article. Maybe if you had made the case that he had some great years and was destined for Canton, until his life was cut tragically short. But without stats, it’s just a feel good nomination. He is a HERO… not a hall of fame player. The mantle of HERO is one that is much more honorable than sharing space with the likes of Michael Irvin.

Just my opinion though, maybe I’m in the minority. Very Unique take on the topic.
-Collin

by silencecs on Jan 6, 2009 11:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

His stats prior to joining the military

Starts: 60 out of a possible 64
344 tackles, 245 solo
3 forced fumbles and 3 INTs

For a run supporting Strong Safety, good numbers

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by FSBlueApocalypse on Jan 6, 2009 11:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I have the utmost respect for Tillman

However I’m going to have to agree with Peter King. The hall of fame is a place where the best of the best and the most revolutionary people in the game of football are honored. Actually I went to the hall of fame a couple years ago and there is a section in the hall that honored Pat Tillman for his heroic actions, and I was definitely happy to see that he was honored. When it comes to the busts, he didn’t have the stats to back up getting into the hall and taking a spot from another player.

by SoCalStites on Jan 6, 2009 11:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

My argument

for him making the Hall of Fame is that when he left for the military, unlike Peter King’s example, he was still a football player. He still had the option, as unlikely as it were, to come back and continue playing after his service. In that sense it’s like other players like LT who’s been reocognized for his achievements on AND OFF the field (many people said that they took into consideration his off the field stuff when considering him for the NFL Offensive player of the year in 06.) In the offseason, is a player not considered a player anymore? So why is a hiatus so someone can serve in the military so different? Many players of the past were working men first and players second. Many players of the past don’t have the stats that wouldn’t mean diddly today. Gale Sayers only played 68 total games, only 4 more than Tillman, and he’s in the hall of fame. Pete Rozelle was never a player, but he’s in the Hall of Fame. Tillman wasn’t under contract in the NFL when serving, but he still represented the NFL. In doing so he gave his life. IMO, that derserves more than just a bust in his memory. It’s not more than the NFL is capable of doing. It’s the least it should do.

by Ewdtrey on Jan 7, 2009 12:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Pat Tillman belongs in the Hall of Fame of Life

But not the Hall for pro football.

And you can’t compare the stats of yesteryear with today’s game. It was a different game back then. Also, commissioners are eligible for the Hall because of what they did for the game of pro football.

Pat Tillman served his country, and that means more than being good at football, but at the end of the day he didn’t have a Hall-of-Fame-worthy football career.

by MoveThoseChains on Jan 7, 2009 2:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Very well said

by SoCalStites on Jan 7, 2009 2:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed - well said

by OGN on Jan 7, 2009 8:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I hate to be in a position where I'm agreeing with Peter King

But I agree with some of the posters here, I really feel that the Hall of Fame should be reserved for the highest of on-field excellence – that’s really what its about. As far as Pat Tilman, I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to a display honoring him at the actual HoF or something like that. But in terms of elevating his on-field performance to the level of some of the games all-time greats because of something that occured off the field, I don’t think that really fits in with the goal of the Hall of Fame.

Where I think you run into trouble there is determining what off-field elements would result in your induction. What if an above average player left the league for 2 years to serve in Iraq, returned, played a few more average years after that. Would this player receive the same honor? And then you would have to ask the question of whether solely military service warranted a Hall of Fame induction. If Mike Peterson took 2 years off from football to, say, fight AIDS across the globe and then returned for a few years – does that count or is it only military service?

by amwayfaithful on Jan 7, 2009 7:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Also, who cares about the Hall of Fame? The Hall of Fame concept was a good idea when it was created for baseball and then football many years ago. But, now the concept has been completely over done, there is a Fishing Hall of Fame, Bowling Hall of Fame, Dancing Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Country Hall of Fame, etc….. Really does anyone care?

Tillman was an exceptional person and a great patriot. We should not be discussing Hall of Fame ramifications, we should be discussing which stadium should be named after him. Tillman Field sounds much more like the greatest traditions and values that the NFL likes to promote than Gillete Field or Lucas Oil or Jacksonville Memorial Stadium (or whatever the hell the name of the stadium is)

by Kingfysh on Jan 7, 2009 10:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Pat Tillman and the other former player like him....

deserve their own wing in the Hall of Fame!

Tillman, Rocky Bleir and others left football to serve our country. Bleir came back from Viet Nam and continued his career. I believe that these men stand above the others and are deserving of their own wing.

Just my humble opinion…

by FL_Native on Jan 7, 2009 1:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs