Pat Tillman

So let's get him in right away.

His name is Sean Bonzoff, and he is executive director of the Pat Tillman Veterans Center at Arizona State University.

Sean, how are you doing today?

Elvin, it's good to see you, brother.

How did the idea come about? Tell us more about the services you provide.

Sure, absolutely.

So the Pat Tillman Veterans Center was founded in 2011 here at Arizona State University.

Veterans services prior to the center was really just kind of handled through the registrar's office.

He stepped down as CEO of Team Rubicon, raised 15 million in venture funding, and founded Groundswell, a corporate philanthropy platform turning charitable giving into an employee benefit.

Before all of that, he played offensive line for the Wisconsin Badgers under Barry Alvarez, then enlisted in the Marines, served two combat tours as a sniper in Iraq and Afghanistan, and won the Pat Tillman Award for service at the ESPYs.

Jake Wood, welcome to Business MVP.

Hey, thank you, Sammy.

So maybe I was just lucky.

Yeah, no, it's true.

So you've said that Pat Tillman story is what made you enlist.

So I'm curious, you know, like, what was that decision like? And then years later, you won the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPYs, which is, you know, outstanding.

But first, a lot to get into today.

And I want to remember a great veteran, a person who wasn't a bad guy, a person who was a good guy, the great Pat Tillman.

His birthday was Friday.

And Pat Tillman, number 40 for the Arizona Cardinals, who left a career in the NFL to go join the Army Rangers and serve his country after 9-11, would have been 50.

He was a true patriot.

He's a great role model.

My kids know about Pat Tillman's story.

My little guy was on the Cardinals this year on flag football, and he had a number 40 jersey.

And there are many guys I love there.

Adrian Wilson, Pat Tillman.

I mean, Lassiter I loved.

There's so many good guys back there that I've really loved over the years.

Dr. Zachary Smith, I lost the space.

Happy birthday to Pat Tillman, NFL football player who died, of course, in the military after the attacks on 9-11, a hero, a true hero.

We got a great show lined up for you.

Of course, NDB is going to tell us what's trending.

Dr. Zachary Smith, I lost the space.

Happy birthday to Pat Tillman, NFL football player who died, of course, in the military after the attacks on 9-11, a hero, a true hero.

We got a great show lined up for you.

Of course, NDB is going to tell us what's trending.

Playoffs can be pretty interesting in college football for sure.

So Arizona State had, I kind of like the little badge helmet, you know, the tribute to Pat Tillman.

You said badge, okay.

Yeah, there's a badge on the side of their helmet.

And the fact that he risked it all when he didn't have to, again, is that service before self.

I mean, maybe you see it in Pat Tillman, but that's about it.

So it's a legendary story about a true American hero, and I'm glad it's being told to a new generation.

You know, you can't help but wonder, as I was watching this thing, would A-list stars today walk away from their careers to serve in the military and maybe fight in a war overseas?