Key Takeaways
- FX’s American Sports Story dramatizes Aaron Hernandez’s life, from his NFL days to criminal activities.
- Hernandez’s football career was promising before life took a dark turn, ending in a murder conviction.
- A CTE diagnosis in Hernandez and a conversation around NFL players potentially link the disorder to crimes.
As I delve into the intriguing and heart-wrenching tale of Aaron Hernandez, a former star athlete whose life took an unfortunate turn, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of sadness and wonderment. Here was a man who, at the pinnacle of his career, was earning millions and living the American dream – only for it all to crumble before our very eyes.
FX Presents: A gripping true crime drama series titled “American Sports Saga,” which is simultaneously aired on Hulu, Disney+, and FX. This compelling narrative focuses on the life of Aaron Hernandez, a former NFL player who served time for murder. The show is inspired by the Wondery podcast, “Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc.” Its first two episodes premiered on September 17, 2024, with the remaining eight episodes airing weekly until the series finale on November 12.
In a fresh take, the series titled “American Sports Tale” is derived from Ryan Murphy’s popular American Horror Story lineage, with him serving as an executive producer alongside showrunner Stuart Zicherman. The show features Josh Rivera portraying Aaron Hernandez, delving into the tumultuous background of his home life and the sequence of events culminating in his criminal acts. Meanwhile, Ryan Murphy’s latest true-crime series, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story“, premiered on Netflix on September 19.
American Sports Story Is A Dramatization Of The Life And Crimes Of Aaron Hernandez
| American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez | |
|---|---|
| Starring | Josh Rivera, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Ean Castellanos, Lindsay Mendez, Tammy Blanchard and Thomas Sadoski |
| Executive Producers | Ryan Murphy, Stuart Zicherman, Brad Falchuk and Nina Jacobson |
| Created by | Stuart Zicherman |
Confirmed Episode Titles
- Episode 1: If It’s To Be
- Episode 2: Consequences, with Extreme Prejudices
- Episode 3: Pray The Gay Away
- Episode 4: Birthday Money
- Episode 5: The Man
- Episode 9: What’s Left Behind?
- Episode 10: Who Killed Aaron Hernandez?
Aaron Hernandez Was A Promising NFL Player Before He Committed A Series Of Brutal Murders
Born on November 6, 1989, in Bristol, Connecticut, Aaron Hernandez faced childhood abuse but found comfort in American football. He excelled as a college football player for the Florida Gators, yet his off-field struggles with drugs and alcohol hindered his advancement. Eventually, he joined the New England Patriots and played alongside Tom Brady during the 2012 Super Bowl, even though they lost to the New York Giants. Hernandez showcased a strong performance and was rewarded with a five-year, $40 million contract extension. However, his future took an unexpected turn when he was arrested and charged for the murder of Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional player, in 2013. The New England Patriots cut ties with him immediately following his arrest. Hernandez was eventually found guilty of first-degree murder in 2015 and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
During Aaron Hernandez’s trial for the murder of Odin Lloyd, additional charges were brought against him for the double murder of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado that occurred in 2012. Remarkably, he was acquitted of those charges in 2017 despite controversy. Shortly after his acquittal, Hernandez was found dead in his prison cell; his death was determined to be a suicide. Due to the unusual circumstances, Hernandez’s murder conviction was initially voided because he passed away during the appeals process. However, it was reinstated in 2019 following an appeal by prosecutors and strong objections from the Lloyd family.
Aaron Hernandez’s murder conviction was reinstated following an appeal in 2019.
In the aftermath of his death, Aaron Hernandez was determined to have had Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a condition linked to repeated brain trauma. This revelation sparked discussions in the football community, as many pondered whether this condition might have influenced Hernandez’s violent actions, leading to him committing murder. The CTE discussion is not exclusive to Hernandez’s case; six other NFL players are known to have committed murder, and there are suspicions that they too suffered from CTE. Since the condition can only be confirmed posthumously, it becomes challenging to definitively connect crimes with CTE. The Netflix documentary series, Killer Inside: The Mind Of Aaron Hernandez, delved into both his trial and the discovery of this former NFL player’s condition.
NFL Players Who Have Committed Murder
- O. J. Simpson – Brutally killed his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ron Goldman on June 12, 1994. Simpson died in April 2024, but his family refused to have his brain tested for CTE.
- Robert Rozier – A defensive end for the St Louis Cardinals. He was charged with the murder of at least four people in 1986.
- Tommy Kane – Played for the Seattle Seahawks. After he retired, he brutally beat and stabbed his estranged wife, Tammara Shaikh, to death. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and was sentenced to only 18 years in prison for the shocking crime after claiming he suffered from depression and didn’t remember the attack. (Loss of memory is a key component of CTE, but as Kane is still alive, it can’t be confirmed if he suffers from the disorder)
- Leonard Little – Played with the St Louis Rams for 12 years and won a Super Bowl in 2000. The same year he was drafted, he killed a woman called Susan Gutweiler in a car crash.
- Henry Ruggs – Played for the Las Vegas Raiders, but his career ended in his second season after he crashed into a car, killing a woman called Tina Tintor.
- Randall Woodfield – Joined the Green Bay Packers in 1974, but he was released before playing a game due to several arrests for indecent exposure. He was convicted of murder and handed a life sentence. Police think he could’ve committed as many as 44 murders.
Watch American Sports Story On FX, Hulu And Disney+ Now
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2024-09-21 17:03