Ok, something somewhere is sticking in my craw here. True, that’s not a phrase the Intramuralist uses with any frequency. I’m not certain I even know exactly what a “craw” is. Since Google often makes each of us look a little smarter than we really are, I’ve learned that a “stick in your craw” means something unacceptable — something annoying, typically because we believe it to be wrong. Granted, when I look up the meaning solely of the word “craw” — meaning “the crop of a bird or insect” or “the stomach of an animal” — it still doesn’t make total sense to me; hence, we’ll go with the original “annoying” application. Something seems off.
Last week in a Boston courtroom, former NFL star, Aaron Hernandez, was convicted of murder. He was found guilty of murder in the first degree — killing previous friend/acquaintance, Olin Lloyd — a charge that carries an automatic sentence of life in prison without parole in the state of Massachusetts.
Like I said, something here still sticks in my craw.
Let’s not pile on this previous Patriots Pro-Bowler. A sin is a sin is a sin; each of us make mistakes; some simply seem far more grievous than others. So let’s begin by stating the facts…
In 2007, when only 17, Hernandez refused to pay his bar tab after drinking illegally and then punched a pub employee in the ear, rupturing the man’s eardrum. Although the Gainesville, FL police department recommended charging Hernandez with felony battery, the incident was settled privately, out of court.
In the summer of 2012, a double murder took place in Boston. Two years later — only after the murder of Lloyd — Hernandez was indicted for those killings (for which he will soon also be tried).
In the summer of 2013, a friend filed an assault charge against Hernandez for a previous incident in which the friend alleges Hernandez caused the loss of his right eye.
My conclusion? Herein lies a pattern of foolish behavior.
Yet from 2007 through 2013 — until the murder of Lloyd and the reports that Hernandez was at the scene of the killing — what did we as a public most hear about Hernandez?
Aaron Hernandez… drafted in the 4th round by the New England Patriots…. member of the BCS National Championship team… All-American at the University of Florida… top tight end recruit out of high school… great player… amazing talent… contributed mightily even as a freshman… leading the Gators… recognized as the nation’s top tight end after only his junior year… left college early, because he was so talented…
Goes to New England… becomes the youngest player on any active roster in the NFL… phenomenal player… earns “NFL Rookie of the Week” honors… makes millions… leads the team to the Super Bowl… awarded more millions…
In other words, because Hernandez was gifted on the football field, we heard all about his physical talent. We heard little about his character… even though the foolish pattern was ongoing the entire time.
With who else — within sports, politics, entertainment, etc. — do we focus on something less than character?
… because we are so attracted to their talent? … to their gifting or eloquence?
If we are attracted to something less than character, then perhaps we are the ones who have been fooled.
Respectfully…
AR