By Mark Emmons
San Jose Mercury News
(MCT)
GLENDALE, Ariz. - People stood quietly, waiting for their chance to approach the statue of Pat Tillman. When their turn came, some would lightly touch the sculpture. Others posed for pictures, taking off hats or placing hands over their hearts.
Everywhere else outside the University of Phoenix Stadium was boisterous as loud music blared from the tailgate area in the hours before Sunday's game between the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys. But here in this corner of the pedestrian walkway, people were respectful - almost as if in a church.
"They really captured him," said Paula Vosovic, of Phoenix, who with her husband, Nick, wore Tillman jerseys. "They can't do enough for him as far as I'm concerned. But at least this is special, and it will always be here."
The 8-foot-tall white bronze statue is the centerpiece of the Cardinals' new memorial to Tillman, the San Jose native and former NFL player who was killed in Afghanistan in 2004 while serving with the U.S. Army Rangers. It was opened to the public Sunday as part of the Cardinals' tribute to a man who has become a national icon.
Modeled after one of the better-known photos of Tillman, the statue features him in mid-stride, long hair flowing, helmet in one hand and mouthpiece in the other, and with his mouth open as if he's roaring. The sculpture's backdrop is a curved wall of black concrete that gives the memorial both an understated and reverential quality.
"I'm really pleased they decided to portray him that way," said Jim Kaskie, a Mesa man who also wore Tillman's No. 40 jersey. "That's the way I'll always remember Pat."
Across the walkway, the Cardinals also unveiled a 60-foot circular reflecting pond made of black concrete and stainless steel. And Tillman was enshrined in the team's ring of honor during a ceremony at halftime of Arizona's 27-10 loss.
Tillman walked away from a $3.6 million contract in 2002 and joined the Army. He died in a "friendly fire" incident that has led to a series of military investigations. The results of the latest report will be released next month.
There was no formal dedication of the memorial. More than 50 friends and family members - including Tillman's wife, Marie, his parents and two brothers - gathered privately early Sunday morning.
"In so many ways, the statue is Pat because it really does capture his spirit," said Alex Garwood, his brother-in-law who also heads the Pat Tillman Foundation. `It is wonderful. But it's still a piece of metal, and he's still not here."
Zack Walz, who was a Cardinals linebacker and roomed with Tillman, described feeling a mixture of emotions.
"I was happy I could be there with his family, but there was sadness, too," Walz said. "Obviously, like everybody else, I just miss the hell out of the guy."
Family members placed roses in the wall and in the statue's helmet. They also scattered rose petals at the sculpture's base. Although it wasn't the intent, it served as a reminder of how Tillman also helped lead Arizona State to the Rose Bowl in 1997.
Marie Tillman spoke to the crowd in the video tribute at halftime.
"People think the reason Pat is in the ring of honor is because he died," she said. "But really it's because he lived."
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