FX’s American Sports Story is an engaging sports anthology series that explores various controversial narratives. Season 1, featuring 10 episodes, premiered on September 17, with the first two episodes currently available for viewing on the FX channel and Hulu.
Created by Ryan Murphy, American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez examines the dramatic rise and subsequent fall of Aaron Hernandez, one of the NFL’s most talented young athletes. Convicted in 2017 for the murder of his close friend Odin Lloyd, Hernandez experienced a significant decline in his otherwise promising career.
Hernandez entered the NFL in 2010 and received a lucrative $40 million contract extension with the New England Patriots. However, his bright future came to a sudden halt following his conviction.
American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez thoughtfully investigates the former player’s life, highlighting his struggles with his sexual identity alongside his tumultuous past.
American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez highlights one of sports’ most significant falls from grace
The documentary presents the extraordinary and tragic fall from grace in the realm of sports. Aaron Hernandez began as a tight end at the University of Florida, clinching the college championship title in 2009 before making his NFL debut as a fourth-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.
While playing for the New England Patriots, Hernandez quickly gained recognition as one of the league’s top tight-end prospects. His impressive performances were rewarded with a substantial contract extension. However, things took a turn in 2013 when he was arrested for the murder of Odin Lloyd, who was reportedly in a relationship with his fiancée’s sister.
The ensuing trial concluded in 2017, resulting in a life sentence for murder and related charges. Although he was acquitted of the double homicide involving Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado from 2012, he was found guilty of Lloyd’s murder.
Tragically, Hernandez was later discovered dead in his prison cell at the age of 27, sparking a massive media uproar over the downfall of a once-promising athlete. American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez not only chronicles his rise in the NFL but also examines the troubling aspects of his past, believed to have influenced his criminal behavior.
The first two episodes significantly address Hernandez’s sexuality, revealing that he was secretly bisexual. The documentary features dramatized segments that portray the lengths he went to conceal his identity, as well as the intense pressure he faced in the competitive world of sports, where he encountered homophobia from a young age.
This documentary offers a sobering perspective on his life, striving to connect the dots between his past experiences and his later actions. Notably, the initial episodes shed light on the bullying Hernandez faced throughout his high school years.
Despite American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez having only released two episodes so far, the series promises to unveil previously unseen aspects of Hernandez’s life. The narrative seeks to explain how his experiences with poverty and his struggles with identity contributed to his eventual crimes.
A compelling narrative, the series examines the internal conflicts that plagued the former NFL star and how he led two distinct lives. Created and executive produced by Stuart Zicherman, American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez is now streaming on Hulu.
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