I have no problem with people sympathizing over Sean Taylor's death, but good lord, I never expected to see such an out pouring of sympathy from the entire nation. I don't remember Pat Tillman getting this much attention and media time. Sure, he got quite a bit, but let's face it, his story was quite a bit different than Taylor's.
Tillman: Gave up a lifestyle that most can only dream of to go and risk his safety for the sake of our freedom.
Taylor: Gave up the lifestyle of a criminal so that he could take care of his kid.
Yet Taylor gets more media time and national sympathy than Tillman? Give me a break. All these players around the NFL are wearing #21 stickers on their helmets in memory of Taylor. Yet when Jake Plummer tried to do the same thing for Tillman, he was told he would be fined. Maybe that's the difference in Tagliabue and Goodell, I don't know.
But that's not even the worst of it. The worst of it is that three other players died in the past year as well. Broncos CB Darrent Williams, Broncos FB Damien Nash and New England Patriots' DE Marquise Hill.
WHERE ARE THE HELMET STICKERS FOR THESE GUYS? Are their lives any less important than Taylor's was just because they weren't pro bowl players? Why aren't they constantly talked about on ESPN and other national news channels? Why didn't the Broncos start their next game with only 10 guys on defense? Or the Patriots?
I hope I haven't ranted on too long, just really irritates me that this guy who had a reputation for being a thug is causing hundreds of thousands of hearts to bleed all over the country while guys like Pat Tillman, Darrent Williams, Damien Nash and Marquise Hill have pretty much been forgotten about.
Just a small thing I will point out is that Darrent Williams died after the season ended, I believe whereas Taylor's death was in mid-season. And Tillman got more attention.
JasonSeahorn wrote:and at the beginning of the season the patriots players were wearing stickers for marquise hill
Yeah, the Patriots' players did, but what about the rest of the league? Nope.
I would think that some of this has to do with his roots at Miami and having many friends in the league that extend back to college. He has more league renown than marquise hill, so people honor him more.
ADMIN edit: please note that the overall sig limit is 12k - thanks! (Thanks Leber) AIM is like multiplayer notepad
not sure I agree with the premise on the face of it, but I doubt we will see a major SI expose on every little detail of Taylor's death, like they did with Tillman.
Of course, and I am saying this not to be insulting, but Tillamn's death was very sad, but he did choose to go into the armed forces, where of course the major elephant in the room is that you will be going to places where others want to kill you. Taylor on the other hand was in his own home and senselessly shot. I see a difference between the two.
The opening scene of the movie "Saving Private Ryan" is loosely based on games of dodgeball Brian Dawkins played in second grade.
Taylor also had alot of hype coming out of college because he was the 4th overall pick in 2004. Tillman was the 227th pick in 98. None of the other players, may they rest in peace had as much hype as him. Alot was expected of him.
Pat Tillman knew he was taking the risk of being killed. He was killed by an enemy that he swore to seek and destroy, not an @$$hole kid breaking into his house and shooting him in th middle of the night. Both were heroes, just in different context. And yes, Taylor was the bigger name/better player, this has something to do with it. Do you really think Joe Shmoe second stringer is going to get more publicity than a Manning or Tomlinson in similar circumstances?
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by bagobonez » Thu Dec 13, 2007 12:56 pm 
