Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was found dead in his jail cell this morning after hanging himself.
His suicide comes four days after being acquitted in a 2012 double homicide which occurred in Boston's South End. When I heard of Hernandez's death I asked myself why he would take his own life after his courtroom triumph. But upon further thought the answer is obvious. His victory was a pyrrhic one. Hernandez's reward was to return to his jail cell where he would spend the rest of his life. What does a man of 27 have to look forward to under those circumstances? If one does not wish to live like that as a 27 year old one certainly won't wish to live like that as a 77-year old. So Hernandez decided to call one last audible.
Don't get me wrong. Hernandez was a bad dude who brought misery everywhere he went. He took one human life and very probably took others lives (even if it couldn't be proven in a court of law). Our sympathy should be reserved for the families of victims, particularly the family of Odin Lloyd. I shed no tears at his passing.
But Hernandez had better opportunities than most and he threw them away just as he would eventually throw his life away. That is worthy of lament.
It is worthy of lament. Hopefully others in the NFL will share where his life went wrong to prevent others from going down that path. I'm wondering if it will be mentioned when the Patriots visit the White House today (??)
ReplyDeleteAn excellent point. But somehow I doubt this will be mentioned at the WH. The Patriots washed their hands of Hernandez & don't think the parade will be rained upon.
ReplyDelete