Pity poor Pat Tilman,
or those he left behind.
Yielding to one of the 'tees —
loyalty, fidelity, masculinity,
some would say insanity —
he gave up his million-dollar career,
changed uniform and training regimen,
and then he gave up his life,
victim of a cheap shot,
a shot surpassing any
he might have received
on the gridiron,
that most unfriendly friendly fire,
he gave up his life
to a comrade, a comrade
likely less honed and hewed than he,
who proved able none the less,
to bring Pat Tilman down,
bring him down for good —
though some might quibble
with the word.
— R.P. Ericksen (June 1, 2004)
Last updated: May 7, 2005