A world record for a National hero
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Indianapolis Indians catcher Paul Chiaffredo remembers a true National hero every time he steps on the baseball field. That's because the 30-year-old wears a red, white and blue wristband in memory of his lifelong friend Pat Tillman.
Chiaffredo and Tillman grew up together in San Jose, Calif. The duo played baseball and football together in high school and remained close friends when they were apart in college.
Chiaffredo was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth round of the 1997 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft, while Tillman was taken by the Arizona Cardinals in the seventh round of the 1998 National Football League (NFL) draft.
Tillman was Arizona's starting safety from 1998 until 2002, when he passed on a multi-million dollar contract to serve his country.
Tillman was assigned to the second battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment in Fort Lewis, Wash. He served tours in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, and in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2004.
On April 22, 2004, Tillman's unit was ambushed as it traveled through the rugged, canyon terrain of Eastern Afghanistan. His heroic efforts to provide cover for fellow soldiers as they escaped from the canyon led to his tragic death via fratricide.
"Pat didn't just talk about doing something, he went out and did it," Chiaffredo says. "He was someone who would go out, do something and then tell you about it versus someone who would tell you what he was going to do. Pat wanted to make sure he did everything he talked about."
To commemorate his life and what he stood for, Tillman's family created the Pat Tillman Foundation. Its "Leadership Through Action" program offers opportunities for college students to effect social change not only in their own communities, but all over the world.
Chiaffredo's uncle, David Gerulski, was also close to Tillman. He was inspired by Tillman's words following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
"At times like this you stop and think about just how good we have it, what kind of system we live in, and the freedoms we are allowed," the former NFL player said at the time. "A lot of my family has gone and fought in wars, and I really haven't done a damn thing."
Although an inexperienced rider, Gerulski always wanted to break the Trans Americas Motorcycle World Record - a ride from the northern tip of Alaska to the southern tip of South America. He had researched the idea extensively, but could never find the right time to make the trip.
Then, the day came when Gerulski stopped thinking about the trip and decided to do it. The Tribe backstop's uncle named his trip "34 for 40" with 34 days being the previous world record and 40 the jersey number Tillman wore in the NFL.
"As adults, we find so many excuses why we shouldn't do something," Gerulski says. "I finally quit making excuses about why I shouldn't do it, and just did it."
On Sept. 1, 2006, at 4:28 a.m. local time, Gerulski set off on his BMW motorcycle from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, in pursuit of the record. He knew the ride would be physically and mentally grueling, but was determined to complete the ride and raise $1 million for the Pat Tillman Foundation.
Gerulski faced many challenges along the way. The partners who were supposed to accompany him on the journey quit the trip in Phoenix, Ariz., he didn't speak any Spanish or Portuguese, and the motorcycle had numerous mechanical difficulties.
After getting behind schedule, Gerulski realized he had to ride through the night to make up time. He would often sleep on the ground next to his motorcycle until he shivered himself awake due to the cold.
One night while riding through Colombia, Gerulski's tire started going flat. He was in the middle of nowhere and hadn't seen a light in a long time.
Rather than panic, Gerulski remained calm and continued to ride. Suddenly, he saw a light in the distance and it turned out to be a 24-hour tire repair shop. The owner, who was sleeping on a mattress in the tiny garage, agreed to fix the tire and refused any payment for the service.
"Whenever something bad would happen, something good would immediately follow," Gerulski adds. "The best part of the trip was all of the people I met. They all went out of their way to help me."
Despite facing so many obstacles, Gerulski pulled into Ushuaia, Argentina, on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006, at 5:20 p.m. local time. He completed the journey in 27 days, seven hours and 52 minutes, shattering the previous world record by approximately one week.
Chiaffredo has been moved by the drive and determination of both Tillman and his uncle.
"Both Pat and Dave have done a lot of things that people said they couldn't do," Chiaffredo says. "No one thought Pat could play in the NFL, and no one thought Dave could complete this ride."
Gerulski ended up covering over 15,000 miles, crossing 16 borders and traversing 13 countries. The 43-year-old businessman from Atlanta is certainly an inspiration to anyone who hears his story.
For more from David Gerulski's Trans Americas Motorcycle World Record Journey, visit www.34for40.org. For more about the Pat Tillman Foundation, visit www.PatTillmanFoundation.org.