A Day To Remember...

Being November 11th, Remembrance Day in Canada, Veterans Day in the States, it's a time to remember everyone who has given their time, their spirit and in far too many cases, their lives, for our freedom.

It's a day to remember people like Pat Tillman.

For those who are unaware, Tillman was a starting safety with the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL.

He had dedicated his life to football and the Cardinals, even turning down a multi-year contract offer from the St. Louis Rams so he could remain loyal to the Cards.

But more than anything, Tillman was loyal to his country.

In May 2002, eight months after the September 11 terrorist attacks, Tillman gave up his football career to serve his country in the Army.

After going through all the usual levels of training and participation in the field, Tillman was eventually redeployed to Afghanistan.

On April 2004, nearly two years after Tillman left football behind for a life as a soldier, Pat Tillman was killed.

Initially the Army told his family that Tillman had been killed by enemy fire...and subsquently he was awarded a Silver Star for his selfless actions in trying to protect his fellow soldiers.

But it wasn't a simple open and shut case...far from it.

As the details emerged, it turned out that no hostile forces were involved in the firefight. It was reported that the two Allied Forces groups fired upon each other in confusion, after a explosive device detonated nearby.

There were more accusations that Tillman may have been killed by shots fired at short range...perhaps by his fellow soldiers. The coroner even refused to sign the autopsy because he said the gunshot wounds were not consistent with the Army's original story.

But what DID really happen?

Finally July 14, 2008 the investigation committee stated that its "investigation was frustrated by a near universal lack of recall" among "senior officials at the White House" and the military. It concluded:

"The pervasive lack of recollection and absence of specific information makes it impossible for the Committee to assign responsibility for the misinformation in Corporal Tillman’s and Private Lynch’s (another soldier) cases. It is clear, however, that the Defense Department did not meet its most basic obligations in sharing accurate information with the families and with the American public."

To date, the REAL truth about what happened to Pat Tillman has not been determined. A very sad and tragic ending to Pat Tillman's time on this planet.

Can you think of another pro athlete that would give up EVERYTHING to join the military? Without knowing any of them personally, I highly doubt that there is anyone who would make the choice and sacrifice that Pat Tillman did.

Please take time today to remember EVERYONE who has, and continues, to serve our (or your) country and fight for the freedom that we currently enjoy.

For more check out the 60 Minutes piece from May 4, 2008:





BrockTalk

Simply The Worst

For years, the Vancouver Canucks "Flying V" uniform has been universally mocked as the ugliest uniform of all time.

But after what we saw on the turf at Qwest Field this past Sunday, Harold Snepts and Richard Brodeur can wear those old unis with pride.

The Seattle Seahawks debuted what is now, in my opinion, the ugliest uniform in the history of sports.

As witnessed by the picture at the top of this posting, I give you the Hawks new..."I ate a ton of lime sorbet, drank a case of Mountain Dews, went on the Tilt-A-Whirle then threw up" jerseys!

And if you think they looked bad in pictures, seeing them in action is even worse:



What in the hell are these all about? Lime green vest...with dark sleeves, pants and helmet.

These are a joke right?

Oh they're not? Then where are the matching neon green legwarmers and hot pink headbands? And who knew that Lillian Vander Zalm went into uniform design!

For the sake of Hawks fans, I hope that these duds are shelved as quickly as their team's season has gone in the toilet.

But as a Canuck fan who has suffered through, not just one bad uniform, but seemingly dozens, I hope the Seahawks continue to wear these and look as ridiculous as they did on Sunday.

Talk about Color Me Badd (what a fluke, the Hawks jerseys match CMB's shirts!)

Rotten Crabtree

Michael Crabtree, if you do not sign a contract with the San Francisco 49'ers and get into the NFL this year, then you are a FOOL.

Crabtree, a pass-catching vaccuum from Texas Tech, was taken 10th overall in the NFL draft by the 49'ers, but as of today, he has not yet signed with the team.

The 31 other first round picks? They've all signed.

But not Mr. Crabtree.

Crabtree played on a high profile team at Texas Tech and scored a dramatic touchdown to beat Texas (CLICK HERE to see the td) so there was a lot of hype behind him when he entered the draft.

But in the NFL, you don't get paid on hype. Draftees are paid based on where they were drafted. A first overall pick gets first overall money, a 32nd overall pick gets 32nd overall money. So that means that Crabtree should get 10th overall money...right?

Apparently not in Crabtree's world.

He and his agent (who happens to be his cousin...great decision BTW) believe that he should get more money than 7th overall pick Darius Heyward-Bey because...wait for it...they feel that Crabtree SHOULD have been picked before Heyward-Bey.

Excuse me? What kind of ass-backward logic is that?

If I arrive 5th at a restaurant, and because of that I'm going to be seated 5th, I wait my turn. In Crabtree World, he would just burst to the front of the line and grab his own table.

Heyward-Bey's contract with the Oakland Raiders will gaurantee him $23.5 million bucks...and Crabtree wants MORE than that.

If he signed for 10th overall money, he'd probably have to suffer with making around $20 million. (Dripping with sarcasm) Now how on earth would a man be able to survive on a measly $20 mill???

And the capper is, that if he doesn't get the money he wants, he'll go back into the 2010 draft so he can be drafted by another organization next year.

Mmmhmmm...and tell me Mike, exactly which team would want to take you?

You would be the guy that:
-offended pretty much every professional football player, coach, scout and water boy with your selfishness.
-gave the middle finger to the NFL because you want things your way.
-obviously has made money the most important thing in your life.

Hardly what you would call a team player.

Crabtree, just sign your contract, and join the Niners. If you even come close to living up to your hype, your BIG payday (like this one isn't big enough) will come eventually. End this foolishness and start playing the game you love, in the biggest professional sports leauge on the planet, and live off that paltry $20 million you'll likely get.

If you don't, enjoy your time in "bizarro" world!



BrockTalk