Patriot Act

Wally Hall, the inimitable "editor" of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's sports page, is given to occasionally overwrought, if not completely maudlin prose under the best conditions. However, it is when he summons his muse in the service of meditations upon subjects other than Razorback athletics or kissing up to Charles Cella that he really loses his bearings. A primo example of Wally at his most incoherent bathetic self is found in this Sunday's sports page wherein he waves the bloody shirt in attempt to honor the service of athletes who have served our country in her foreign wars. Here are today's gems.

Upon the lesson of history: " During World War II, 638 men who had played in the NFL served in the military, and 19 died. All of them were about the same thing as Pat Tillman, patriotism." How does Wally know that each and every one of them "were about the same thing, patriotism?" Also, before invoking their son's name, maybe he should have interviewed Pat Tillman's parents about how happy they are with the way the Army handled the news that their son was tragically killed by "friendly fire."

Upon the impact a two-year hitch Army hitch had on the career of Willie Mays: " Mays finished his career with 660 home runs, but if he had played those two years when he was in his prime and hit his career average of four-baggers, he would have had 720 and been second on the all time list, trailing only Hank Aaron." 720? No more? No less? This is the kind of extrapolating that got the wiseguys at Enron in so much hot water.

Upon making stuff up: " Yes, there were thousands more (athletes who served), and many of the former athletes who served were drafted, but remember, none of them went to Canada." None? Not a single discus thrower or wrestler said, "Screw this. I'm outta here?" Nobody? How the hell does he know? I don't know if any athletes went to Canada to avoid military service or not. And more importantly, neither does Wally. But I do know a rather prominent athlete in the Viet-Nam era who went to prison rather than serve in the military. His name was Cassius Clay who later became the fighter and icon known as Muhammed Ali. History is full of inconvenient facts like this. This is why it should be consulted before putting out blanket statements of "fact" in an attempt to justify a point.

Look, we at TMFW think it is a good thing to always honor those who served and continue to serve our country in harm's way. Two of my best friends just came back from Iraq. I am humbled and honored by their service and I thank God that they have been returned to their homes, families and friends. And the point is well made that the sacrifice that Tillman made was extraordinary in an era when basketball players can't be bothered to play in the Olympics and tennis players blow off Davis Cup.

A coherent and thought-provoking piece along these lines would have been ideal for Memorial Day. It's too bad that nobody that could actually write provided us with one.