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Alabama NewsAlabama Politics
Who is the real Hero?
By Martha McInnish
Posted on: January 5, 2007
As I unfolded my morning newspaper [The Huntsville (AL) Times], the lead story was headlined "Back to School for Saban." It seems that after much talk and denial that Nick Saban is the new Alabama football coach.
This story is on the front page of the newspaper and it continues as the lead story in the sports section. It seems that Saban was greeted like a celebrity with shouts, banners and even a kiss as he landed in Tuscaloosa. Saban is all smiles and yet from the photos he seems a little surprised by it all. Needless to say, Saban has a lot to smile about. With an eight-year contract worth $32 million he has become the highest paid coach in college football.
There is also something for the citizens of Alabama to smile about. We do not need to worry about the University of Alabama needing more of our tax dollars. They just dished out $4 million to buy out former coach Mike Shula, and they had enough left over to pay Saban $4 million a year for the next eight years.
Now to the second story. This story appeared on page B4 about middle of the page. The headline of this story was "Tennessee soldier dies a day before son born." Sgt. John Michael Sullivan, age 22, was killed Saturday by an explosive device while on patrol in Baghdad.
Sgt. Sullivan had planned to return home on 10 January to see his son, who was born on Sunday. But, there is more to this story. Sgt. Sullivan was on his second tour of duty in Iraq. He had been injured on his first tour of duty. He also declined to return home to receive his Purple Heart. To do so would have kept him from returning home on time to see his newborn son. And yet, still an even more amazing thing, he had told his mother he was going to re-enlist so he could have a third tour in Iraq.
Soon a real hero will fly in an airplane and land in Tennessee. His coffin will be draped with an American flag and an honor guard will give him full attention and the utmost respect. A family will stand by with heads bowed and solemn faces. A young wife and new mother will shed tears for herself and her newborn child. And a real American hero will be laid to rest somewhere in Tennessee.
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