Should Pat Tillman go into the Hall of Fame?

[cookinbrak]

Being killed by friendly fire and then having it covered up still does not belittle what he did. I think you'll find most people know how he died.

And I think if you did some research into how he died, you might be surprised.

Given preferential treatment and rank because he was an ex NFL player, and being killed by "friendly fire" in an area that there were no enemies in lead to a lot of questions that have never been answered.

[GRWatcher]

There are many, many young men and women that died in Iraq and Afghanistan. They all are heroes in my book. Put his name on a monument with the rest of them. Special mention in the Hall of Fame, maybe. Voted in? No.

[Davidson Deac II]

He got a Medal of Honor. He deserved that. Nothing else.

If you do some research into how he died, you might be surprised.

I don't think he got a medal of honor. Irt how he died, the details are still unclear. But he almost definitely died under friendly fire.

[VA Panther Fan]

There have been some pretty good players over the years that have devoted their time and money to the communities in which they played that did not and should not make it into the hall of fame. Let's keep in mind that the place is called the "Pro Football Hall of Fame", not the Honorable Players Hall of Fame.

To celebrate Pat Tillman and the sacrifice he made above other military personnel really kind of cheapens the ultimate sacrifice that all of the other men and women of the military have paid. He was a soldier who also happened to be a football player once upon a time. He should be celebrated as such - no more, no less.

[shinner]

What all of those people have in common is their role in the advancement and furthering of the NFL game/product, which Pat Tillman, quite frankly, had no hand in. He furthered a sense of patiotism, sure, but not the NFL product.

winner....

[Mr. Scot]

What all of those people have in common is their role in the advancement and furthering of the NFL game/product, which Pat Tillman, quite frankly, had no hand in. He furthered a sense of patiotism, sure, but not the NFL product.

I see where you're going, but that's not really true. Tillman's leaving to join the military brought plenty of positive attention to the NFL.

It wouldn't be entirely out of the realm of imagination for Tillman to get voted in. Plenty of guys that are in the Hall of Fame got there based as much on their being great people as being great players.

With all that said, would I vote to give him a bust? Probably not.

Those who have never visited may or may not know that the Hall of Fame has plenty of exhibits commemorating achievements related to football, many including players that were not Hall of Famers. Even former Panther Dameyune Craig has a display commemorating his 611 yard passing day.

I dare say that if you can make a bit of space for something honoring Dameyune Craig, you can make a large, showy exhibit in honor of Pat Tillman. That, I would say, is the most appropriate thing to do.

But on the other hand, would I grumble if the induction committee did decide to go ahead and induct him? Definitely not.

[DevilCat]

Fiz : you are a complete a$$hole... Imincus (sp) :hijinx??? would etheir of you have the courage to wear the uniform....I think not. Thank God there are men like Tillman to serve our country. It does not matter that Pat was killed by friendly fire when a SPECTRE rolled in on his team by mistake or that he was killed by the taliban, the fact remains that he is a hero and patriot. The HOF is neither here nor there, Pat Tillman is something greater than an odd looking building in Canton Ohio could ever be.

[Epistaxis]

http://www.indy.com/posts/nfl-has-long-history-with-u-s-military

I think this article provides the answer, as it mentions the special section in Canton for those that have served, and it gives some really cool details and where to find out more about some of them.

I didn't know about Landry's service.

Tillman's on-field work does not warrant enshrinement.

His sacrifice will likely be added to the section already mentioned.

/thread

[Mr. Scot]

http://www.indy.com/posts/nfl-has-long-history-with-u-s-military

I think this article provides the answer, as it mentions the special section in Canton for those that have served, and it gives some really cool details and where to find out more about some of them.

I didn't know about Landry's service.

Tillman's on-field work does not warrant enshrinement.

His sacrifice will likely be added to the section already mentioned.

/thread

Didn't know about Landry either, but I remember Rocky Bleier.

Nice to know the NFL was a step ahead on this one.

[shinner]

I coulda swore when we were at the FHoF a couple years ago they had a special Tillman display up.

[Jangler]

Fiz : you are a complete a$$hole... Imincus (sp) :hijinx??? would etheir of you have the courage to wear the uniform....I think not. Thank God there are men like Tillman to serve our country. It does not matter that Pat was killed by friendly fire when a SPECTRE rolled in on his team by mistake or that he was killed by the taliban, the fact remains that he is a hero and patriot. The HOF is neither here nor there, Pat Tillman is something greater than an odd looking building in Canton Ohio could ever be.

I don't think anybody has questioned his patriotism or his sacrifice.

[KillerKat]

No, he didn't do poo.

[dimbee]

I see where you're going, but that's not really true. Tillman's leaving to join the military brought plenty of positive attention to the NFL.

Please qualify this statement. How has 1 dude leaving millions of dollars to join the military bring "plenty" of positive attention to the NFL and the hundreds of other millionaires who did not do the same as Pat?

[frash.exe]

Gridiron/Military are two completely different things.

Tillman served his country but he didn't play the game. It's not like the military doesn't have award systems and recognition for men who have died in service, and there are other ways of offering memorial and tribute to a guy like Tillman that the NFL can do. HOF should be for outstanding/successful players in football only.

Would I get "employee of the year" if I left my job to join the military? Probably not.