The Omnivore's Dilemma post is updated - fyi

Photo of us at John and Sally's

Remember His Name

When Pat Tillman quit the NFL after 9/11 to join the Army, the machine worked hard to turn it into clichéd propaganda. When Tillman was killed in Afghanistan, the gears turned again. When it was revealed that Pat was actually cut down by friendly fire and the story was suppressed, a whole new propaganda angle opened up on the other side. All this baggage makes it difficult to write anything about Pat Tillman without sounding like a hack (I'm struggling with that right now and this is just a summary) which is what makes this piece even more amazing.

Amazing but not surprising. Gary Smith is a master of the profile. Call him a sportswriter and you just end up embarrassing everyone. He's a madman really; legend is that the guy doesn't even start writing until he's spoken to at least 200 people. Seriously. So in his hands this story of a football player who joined the army transcends sports and war and all kinds of baboonery, and becomes a portrait of a complex man and an insightful look at our country today, and this mess we're in. This isn't just the best sports piece I've read this year. Not just the best magazine piece. It might be the best piece of writing I've read this year. Period.
It's not short, but it's worth the investment.
You can read it free online here.

-Jeff