Deep waters. (The Goodness of America).(from to football to the army)(Brief Article)

As a linebacker at Arizona State University, Pat Tillman developed a reputation for fierce play, characterized by bonecrunching tackles. In 1998, the National Football League's Arizona Cardinals drafted him in the seventh round. In 2000, as a starting safety, he set a team record of 224 tackles.

Last year, out of loyalty to the Cardinals, the 25-year-old star athlete turned down a $9 million contract offered by the St. Louis Rams. And this year, after four season with the Cardinals, he opted to forego a three-year, $3.6 million contract to seek new employment that pays about $18,000 annually. On July 8th, basic training for enlistees in the Army Ranger program began at Fort Benning, Georgia, with Tillman and a younger brother among those hoping to qualify for the elite light infantry unit.

There is no assurance that they will do so, however, since only 35 percent of candidates, on average, pass muster after nearly a year of push-ups, parachuting, and mortar fire. But physical fitness and mental toughness are crucial, and Pat Tillman seems superbly qualified in both areas. Prior to the 2000 NFL season, for instance, he ran a marathon, and while preparing for last year's training camp he competed in 70.2-mile triathlon. At Arizona State, he used to meditate atop a ...