I used to enjoy Rick Reilly’s column at the end of each issue of Sports Illustrated. It was usually harmless. Maybe a feelgood story about someone you’d never heard of, or tales of his escapades on the golf course, but rarely anything one would find offensive. Sure some of them were stupid, but in an innocent way.

His latest column for ESPN.com is both offensive and stupid, but not in an innocent way.

Reilly’s latest piece takes on the issue of former Army football player Caleb Campbell, who was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 2008 NFL Draft. Campbell was ready to play for the Lions, having been allowed by the Army to delay his military service to play in the NFL. Unfortunately, the Department of Defense does not allow the Army to have such a policy and told Campbell that he needed to serve two years in service immediately after graduation.

I’m not going to argue if this rule is right or wrong, as Reilly does. Reilly makes the argument that this poor kid had his dream of playing on Sundays ripped away from him, and he’s now being forced to stay in the Army.

What Reilly doesn’t touch on, or seem to appreciate, is the commitment that any young man or woman makes when they join the military. It is not a four-year educational institution, and should not be confused with one. Campbell may have “exceptional skills” that would allow him to delay his service in the military, but he also has an obligation to the Army.

I would like to see Campbell play in the NFL as much as Mr. Reilly would, but I understand the commitment he made before he joined the Army. And I’m sure Mr. Campbell does also.

Who is Rick Reilly to tell the Army that they are depriving this poor young man the chance to play in the NFL, which Reilly seems to imply is as noble and important as serving in the military.

Reilly ends his awful column with the following:

“Lt. Campbell is the kind of leader our soldiers deserve,” an Army spokesman said.

The question is: Does the Army deserve 2nd Lt. Campbell?

Seriously? What in the world makes Reilly think that the Army doesn’t deserve Campbell. Is it the war that Campbell’s teammates may soon be fighting in that the Army doesn’t deserve to have Campbell for?

Let’s make this clear. Caleb Campbell’s first priority is serving out his military commitments. The Army’s first priority is defending the United States. Yes, it is unfortunate that Campbell was led to believe that he could play in the NFL and then finish his military service. But when there is a conflict between military service and a chance to play in the NFL, the military will always, and should always win.

What would a man like Pat Tillman think of Reilly’s column saying that this young man should be allowed to bypass his military commitments for the good of the Army because he can do more in an NFL uniform than an Army uniform.

Rick Reilly is an overpaid asshole, and should be ashamed of himself.

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