Now for a story of some real sacrifice

The story was easy to miss amid those referencing the "courage" of lugers, "heroism" of figure skaters and "patriotism" of hockey players.

Still, a tiny headline jumped out on the Internet: "Starting Oregon State MLB leaves for the military."

Sorry to distract you from the glory of the Winter Games, but the CBSsports.com piece had me thinking what I tend to think during every Olympics.

The story on Oregon State middle linebacker David Pa'aluhi consisted of five paragraphs and 154 words. That's a mere burp compared to the reams of copy on Bode Miller, Lindsey Vonn and myriad other Olympians.

Ideally, pucks and perspiration would settle all international disputes. Realistically, nations still resort to blood and bombs.

David Pa'aluhi, who was an Oregon State junior-to-be, is the same age as many Olympic athletes. Like many he has a young family - a wife and child.

Pa'aluhi was good enough to perhaps nibble at the NFL some day. Yet the native of Hawaii is leaving school with the reported intention of joining the military.

This is so difficult to understand for those who believe sports are the highest calling.

Like, it's just as stunning as hearing this winter that a top prospect in the Oakland A's farm system quit baseball to become a priest.

Just as it was stunning that Pat Tillman quit the Arizona Cardinals to risk his life - and then lose it - in Afghanistan as an Army Ranger.

Conventional wisdom says the American dream is to become a professional athlete, make millions of dollars and hear millions of cheers.

Apparently Pa'aluhi dreamed differently. He decided to serve his country, not as a snowboarder but possibly as a Navy Seal.

Look, we here don't know much about a football player out in Oregon, about what kind of person he is, what kind of husband and father he is, what kind of student he is.

We certainly don't know precisely what Pa'aluhi's motivation is to quit school and football for the military. One description of him, without further explanation, was that he had "personal issues."

What struck me mostly is that this story received so little national attention compared to, say, downhill skiing.

Olympians sacrifice so much - normal childhoods, for example - for a chance to reach the medal stand.

Now think of what David Pa'aluhi will sacrifice if he actually volunteers for the Armed Forces. Then think of what so many others his age and in his family situation sacrifice by winding up in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We haven't heard as much about them lately as we have about the "courageous," the "heroic" and the "patriotic" competing in the Olympics.

Back here we're sort of numb to the worries of war, like we sort of began taking space shuttles for granted after awhile.

One or two or five of our troops died serving on any given day? What time is today's U.S.-Canada hockey game?

This isn't meant to suggest to forget what athletes are achieving in Vancouver but to remember what American military personnel are enduring in Iraq and Afghanistan.

At least Olympians get to go home after tonight's closing ceremony.

mimrem@dailyherald.com