Analysis. History. Perspective.

Sports Then and Now



Remembering Pat Tillman: A True American Hero 26

Posted on November 06, 2011 by Dean Hybl

Pat Tillman would have turned 35 on November 6th.

As we prepare for Veterans Day later this week, we remember an American hero and former NFL star who would have turned 35-years-old today, Pat Tillman.

Too often in the world of sports we want to label someone as a hero or glowingly talk about the personal sacrifices they have made for their team or sport.

There are not enough glowing words to accurately describe the personal and professional sacrifice that Pat Tillman made for his country and for all of us who enjoy the wonderful freedoms associated with living in this great land.

Though only 5-foot-11 and slightly over 200 pounds, Tillman earned a college football scholarship to play at Arizona State University. As a junior, he was part of a Sun Devils squad that went undefeated in the regular season before losing 20-17 to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. The next season, Tillman was the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year as Arizona State went 9-3 and won the Sun Bowl.

Despite his college credentials, Tillman wasn’t chosen in the 1998 NFL draft until the final round (seventh round) when the Arizona Cardinals made him the 226th pick in the draft.

After playing linebacker in college, Tillman was moved to defensive back in the NFL and started 10 games as a rookie while helping the Cardinals reach the second round of the NFC Playoffs.

Over the next three seasons, Tillman established himself as a defensive standout for the Cardinals, including ranking second on the team in tackles with 145 during the 2000 season. Read the rest of this entry →

9/11 Not Forgotten 2

Posted on September 11, 2009 by Joe Gill
Joe Andruzzi's brothers were the true heroes.

Joe Andruzzi's brothers were the true heroes.

It’s been a quick eight years since that dreadful day in New York, PA, and DC. It seems like yesterday that the USA realized that we were not untouchable. It’s a day we will always remember where we were and what we were doing. It was this generation’s, Pearl Harbor.

I was working for Comcast at the time. I remember my co-worker saying a small plane hit the World Trade Center. Everyone thought it was a joke or a hoax, but it was a horror soon realized. We congregated in the café to watch CNN.  We saw the second plane hit the Twin Towers. I was in awe and I began to well up.

Read the rest of this entry →

  • Vintage Athlete of the Month

    • Mickey Lolich: 1968 World Series Hero
      October 2, 2024 | 3:00 pm
      Mickey Lolich

      The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month is one of the most celebrated pitchers in Detroit Tigers history and will forever be remembered for his heroic performance in the 1968 World Series.

      Mickey Lolich is remembered for his durability, resilience, and ability to deliver in clutch situations. Known for his powerful left arm and an almost superhuman capacity to pitch complete games, Lolich etched his name in baseball history with his stellar performance in the 1968 World Series, leading the Tigers to a championship. His career, spanning from 1963 to 1979, was defined by consistency, longevity, and an unyielding competitive spirit. Lolich may not have the same level of fame as some of his contemporaries, but his achievements on the mound have earned him a lasting legacy in the annals of Major League Baseball.

      Read more »

    • RSSArchive for Vintage Athlete of the Month »
  • Follow Us Online

  • Current Poll

    Will the Los Angeles Lakers win the 2025 NBA Title?

    View Results

    Loading ... Loading ...
  • Post Categories



↑ Top