Pack93z
  • Pack93z
  • Select Member Topic Starter
10 years ago
I don't often agree with Whitlock and his over the top takes.. even here it is somewhat mixed. But there is no doubt about it, he probably is the one writer that can put it out there.

Firestorm of backlash to begin in 3... 2...

Hernandez a case whose time has come 


It would be a mistake to dismiss the monstrous allegations facing Aaron Hernandez as an aberration that says nothing about American sports and American society.

Aaron Hernandez, the 23-year-old former Patriots tight end who police claim orchestrated an execution, is, if the allegations are true, a natural byproduct of a culture pervasively diseased by corruption.

He is, in my eyes, a symbol that popular culture has installed Tony Soprano as America’s most celebrated and revered icon above Joe Montana.

Let me explain. For nearly two decades, I’ve been writing columns detailing the impact on the sports world of popular culture’s glamorization of prison/gangster/hip-hop culture.

There was a time when mythologized caricatures of Babe Ruth, Joe Louis, Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Hank Aaron and Johnny Unitas were the most important influencers of American culture. There was nothing cooler and more respected than being a red-white-and-blue sports star. Movie stars and singers wanted to be in the company of America’s best and bravest athletes. Celebrities mimicked celebrity athletes.

Athletic culture trumped Hollywood culture.

This is no longer the case. Jay-Z, a rapper who glorifies his former life as a drug dealer, has far more cultural influence than LeBron James. Jay-Z is this generation’s Joe D, and Beyonce is Marilyn Monroe.

Al Capone is a bigger deal than Babe Ruth.

Aaron Hernandez is a reflection of where we are as a society. Like Allen Iverson and an endless plethora of fatherless and directionless modern athletes since the end of Michael Jordan’s reign, Hernandez saw his athletic gifts as a platform to represent where he was from, not where he hoped to go.


This is what a 40-year drug war, mass incarceration, a steady stream of Mafia movies, three decades of gangster rap and two decades of reality TV have wrought: athletes who covet the rebellious and marketable gangster persona.

Hernandez is the most extreme example. He apparently moonlighted as a professional football player while perfecting his role as Christopher Moltisanti, Tony Soprano’s boneheaded nephew.

But we should not be shocked that a professional athlete possibly crossed the line into sociopathic killer. The unhealthy side effects of drug prohibition and popular culture have made murderous drug dealers respected members of American society. Random, murderous violence and the people who commit those crimes have been normalized in America, thanks in large part to popular culture.

We all loved and respected Tony Soprano. This is why James Gandolfini’s death was such a big story. We did not know Gandolfini. We knew Tony. To some degree, we all wanted to be Big T.

I am not surprised to learn that a 23-year-old professional athlete covered in tattoos is linked to several violent acts, including “accidently” shooting a man in the face. Modern athletes carry guns. They do drugs. They mimic rappers and gangster pop-culture icons.

Athletes want street cred, and they costume themselves in whatever is necessary to get it. Nike, Reebok, Adidas, etc., were the first to recognize the importance of authentic street cred when it came selling product to American youth.

There was a financial incentive for Allen Iverson not to evolve beyond his Tupac Shakur imitation.

It was only a matter of time before some athlete was accused of imitating Tony Soprano. The gangster influence in our society is that strong.

Aaron Hernandez is not Rae Carruth or O.J. Simpson. Carruth and Simpson were accused of committing crimes of passion, emotion and greed. They had motives. Hernandez is being described by police as simply violent, volatile and dangerous. He’s Joe Pesci’s character in the movie “Casino.”

This is not written to suggest that athletes of the previous generation were angels and choir boys. They weren’t. It’s written to argue that athletes of the previous generations belonged to an athletic culture that sat atop American pop culture. There was no incentive for Hank Aaron to acquire street cred. He was the gold standard.

Jay-Z is the new gold standard. The whole sports world played along with Jigga Man’s charade of NBA ownership. Now Kevin Durant and other athletes are flocking to Hova’s sports agency. An unrepentant, flamboyant former drug dealer has the White House, President Obama-stamped seal of approval.

Proving we learn nothing from our history, drug prohibition has legitimized the drug dealer the same way alcohol prohibition legitimized bootleggers (Joseph Kennedy). You let corrupt people make enough money and eventually they’ll use their wealth, power and influence to bait others into participating in and rationalizing their corrupt actions.

Bad is good in today’s society. Walter White and Marlo Stanfield are heroes. Incarcerating people for profit is a legitimate form of business. It’s this cesspool that allowed Aaron Hernandez to hide out in the open.

Hernandez did not hide who he was. He reportedly threatened Wes Welker. Matt Light, a former Patriot, made it clear in a newspaper interview he could easily see Hernandez’s character flaws. A dozen NFL franchises took him off their draft boards based on their investigation of his behavior at Florida.

When he stood in chains before a judge at his arraignment, in a white T-shirt and his arms decorated in ink, Hernandez did not look out of place. Guilty or innocent, he looked like someone who had prepared for this moment. He didn’t look like an athlete. He looked like an ex-con.

Like nearly everything else in this society, athlete culture has been hijacked by mass incarceration and the pervasive gangster culture it has produced. Mindless rebellion is not a part of sports culture. Sports culture is steeped in patriotism and the ideals and values we claim make this the greatest country in the world. It’s not by accident the national anthem is played before every sporting event.

Rappers and musicians are rebels. They look normal in prison tattoos and white Ts.

We can no longer distinguish bad from good. We no longer even aspire to be good; it has considerably less value. That’s what Aaron Hernandez represents, to me. Popular culture has so eroded the symbolic core principles at the root of America’s love affair with sports that many modern athletes believe their allegiance to gangster culture takes precedence over their allegiance to the sports culture that made them rich and famous.

Aaron Hernandez wanted to be Christopher Moltisanti more than he wanted to be Kellen Winslow. Sounds crazy until you look around and see there are 1,000 times more aspiring Kim Kardashians than Hillary Clintons.


"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
texaspackerbacker
10 years ago
Uh No ......... You and/or the article are wrong. This Hernandez thing IS just an ABERRATION. I would take nothing away from the BADNESS of his crimes - assuming the allegations are basically true, but it is not and should not be an indictment of anybody or anything beyond his evil self.

Athletes? Hell No - I would guess there is a MUCH lower crime rate - known and unknown - among them, if not for reasons of morality, at least because they have so much to live for and so much to lose.

Hispanic Athletes? No evidence of any pattern of badness

Hispanics in General? No causation of being Hispanic to his crimes except the gang thing which should be condemned, but certainly is not limited to Hispanics

The American Culture? Come On! You said yourself, this writer is often "over the top"; Well, the crap he spewed is a great example of that. Yeah, all those influences are out there, but to really believe that Americans in any significant numbers are idiotic enough to succumb to emulating whatever bad icon or influence you want to pick is kinda ridiculous.

More than anything else, this Hernandez case is likely just another in a long long line of bad people killing bad people. In general, life, people, America are all pretty safe and secure from THIS kind of thing IF they just have the good sense - as the huge majority do - to avoid bad things like drugs and bad people like gangs - and it ain't that hard. And lest anybody pounce on my saying how safe and secure we are, terrorism is a whole other thing and a whole other discussion, and what I say here shouldn't be applied to that.
Expressing the Good Normal Views of Good Normal Americans.
If Anything I Say Smacks of Extremism, Please Tell Me EXACTLY What.
OlHoss1884
10 years ago
Since the disillusionment with Americans with their institutions that began in the 60's, there has always been and will always be a culture of people embracing the "anti". The difference between someone who is frustrated or disillusioned and someone who becomes a serious thug has a lot to do with how they, the individual are raised and the choices they make as individuals. The are always more productive ways to protest, and other paths to follow where you can be a non-conformist, or to conform to a group that isn't so self-destructive. As culture has changed over the last 50 years, it isn't like there has been no help available, no outreach, no opportunity for an Aaron Hernandez. Hell, the NFL itself has been holding the rookie symposium for the last dozen years specifically to prevent people from following in the footsteps of a Ray Lewis or Pacman Jones.

Author and mythology expert Joseph Campbell once said a big problem in today's world is that the people least equipped to create their own mythology...their own rules and value system, are the ones most often doing it. i.e. young people in the gang culture. While I think all of us have a certain sympathy for someone who falls into a bad crowd folling the death of his father, I don't think society itself is the least to blame when for many years an Aaron Hernandez had a support system and people reaching out to him to offer him a new way of life, and he pissed it all away because he was unwilling to compromise his "values" for the sake of making a better life for himself and those who he values.

Without having to do a 180 on who we are it IS possible to check our egos at the door to an extent and ask ourselves what kind of end we can expect if we follow the path we are on and whether some change is in order. It goes the same for an Aaron Henandez as it does for someone who joins a gang or sells drugs. Maybe you've got the life you want for now but even he great Al Capone's life was effectively over before he hit 40.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits" --Albert Einstein
DakotaT
10 years ago
I agree with Numbnuts, but I also recognize that our great and wonderful USA is a very violent country. Hernandez has only himself to blame and needs to take accountability. Instead of spending all his money on attorneys, he should just plead out and take care of his loved ones with whatever money is left.
UserPostedImage
texaspackerbacker
10 years ago

I agree with Numbnuts, but I also recognize that our great and wonderful USA is a very violent country. Hernandez has only himself to blame and needs to take accountability. Instead of spending all his money on attorneys, he should just plead out and take care of his loved ones with whatever money is left.

Originally Posted by: DakotaT 



I will make the huge leap to assuming by "numbnuts" you mean me hahahaha. That means we agreed on something twice in the same day. WOW, the earth must have jumped out of its orbit or something.

Just the same, I congratulate you for not automatically indicting America and good normal Americans.


Expressing the Good Normal Views of Good Normal Americans.
If Anything I Say Smacks of Extremism, Please Tell Me EXACTLY What.
DakotaT
10 years ago

I will make the huge leap to assuming by "numbnuts" you mean me hahahaha. That means we agreed on something twice in the same day. WOW, the earth must have jumped out of its orbit or something.

Just the same, I congratulate you for not automatically indicting America and good normal Americans.

Originally Posted by: texaspackerbacker 



I'd agree with you more if you weren't such a social caveman.

I never said people in America aren't accountable for their actions. My beef is the incredible uneven playing field we play on.
UserPostedImage
dfosterf
10 years ago
Just wake up in the morning and do the right thing that day,

It's not that hard, and you will feel good the next morning you wake up.

Not much interested in modern societal norms, as they are flawed, and getting worse by the day. I rag on the Christians sometimes, but I habla that which they seek amongst themselves (laymen, attendees) and our fellow man... they bring an anchor of decency to the table.
TheKanataThrilla
10 years ago
I may not totally agree with the article but I do find that the statement "Hernandez saw his athletic gifts as a platform to represent where he was from, not where he hoped to go." has had a very significant truth in my opinion when it comes to many of these athletes.


texaspackerbacker
10 years ago

I may not totally agree with the article but I do find that the statement "Hernandez saw his athletic gifts as a platform to represent where he was from, not where he hoped to go." has had a very significant truth in my opinion when it comes to many of these athletes.

Originally Posted by: TheKanataThrilla 



That may well be true with regard to Hernandez, but it says nothing about a pattern of such thought and behavior by athletes.


Expressing the Good Normal Views of Good Normal Americans.
If Anything I Say Smacks of Extremism, Please Tell Me EXACTLY What.
texaspackerbacker
10 years ago

Just wake up in the morning and do the right thing that day,

It's not that hard, and you will feel good the next morning you wake up.

Not much interested in modern societal norms, as they are flawed, and getting worse by the day. I rag on the Christians sometimes, but I habla that which they seek amongst themselves (laymen, attendees) and our fellow man... they bring an anchor of decency to the table.

Originally Posted by: dfosterf 



Sorry, Gunny, but I have to take what amounts to a devil's advocate position here. Actually, I see your post as a little bit contradictory. You come out in favor of "getting up in the morning and doing the right thing" and Christian morals being that "anchor of decency", yet you are dismissive of "modern societal norms" which basically are the same thing.

Some of my early arguments were with my mother - she always was telling me to do "the right thing", and I used to say "who decides what's 'the right thing'?". When I get up in the morning, I'm already thinking of ways to beat the system. Dakota hates the rich, but he doesn't do anything but whine and rant. I PROUDLY do all I can to cheat the cheaters - government, big business, insurance, finance and credit companies - the assholes and assholic institutions which MAKE the playing field unlevel for good normal Joe Sixpack-type Americans. Sorry if my attitude is offensive or disappointing to anybody, but I just have never been able to get over having an US v. THEM/ Defy Authority kind of mentality. To me, THAT is "right".
Expressing the Good Normal Views of Good Normal Americans.
If Anything I Say Smacks of Extremism, Please Tell Me EXACTLY What.
Fan Shout
dfosterf (16h) : Maybe
Mucky Tundra (16h) : Yes
Zero2Cool (18h) : No.
Mucky Tundra (20h) : End of a Degu-era
dhazer (20h) : Steelers sign Patterson because of new kickoff rule interesting
Zero2Cool (23h) : Former #Packers TE Josiah Deguara is signing a 1-year deal with the Jaguars, per source.
Zero2Cool (28-Mar) : They do not do it for "content sake".
dfosterf (28-Mar) : For the record, I enjoy Beast and Mucky drafts
Zero2Cool (27-Mar) : Haha
Mucky Tundra (27-Mar) : No time for talking! Back to work beast!
beast (27-Mar) : You saw only 4,201 of my mocks? 🥺 I think that means you missed more than half of them 😢
dfosterf (27-Mar) : Does anyone know what Lambeau field improvements got put on hold? My guess would be for the 2025 draft
Zero2Cool (27-Mar) : It's like listen, you made 4,201 mocks, no shit.
Zero2Cool (27-Mar) : Cuz during the draft "I had them mocked there!" as if it's amazing.
Zero2Cool (27-Mar) : They're fun to do once in awhile. It's people who think they are "content" that annoy me.
dfosterf (27-Mar) : Against tbd
dfosterf (27-Mar) : Answer to your question is yes, it's a Thursday, will be the Chiefs aga
dfosterf (27-Mar) : Luckily for all concerned, I don't post them. I did one, but that was like 25 mocks ago
Zero2Cool (27-Mar) : NFL 2024 gonna start Sept 5th isn't it???
Zero2Cool (27-Mar) : Ugh... kids these days!
dfosterf (27-Mar) : I'm gonna go do some more mock draft hell instead 🤪
Zero2Cool (27-Mar) : Did we do one of those prediction threads yet for 2024 season?
dfosterf (27-Mar) : In my city, they are playing the nimby game, in order to keep some railroad tracks vs. 2 professional sports teams and a concert venue.
dfosterf (27-Mar) : And/Or a city council, of which I haven't seen a good one in a very long time
dfosterf (27-Mar) : That sounds like a Mayor, not a city.
buckeyepackfan (26-Mar) : Packers halt scheduled 80mil upgrade of stadium until lease agreement talks are restarted
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : City of Green Bay puts Packers' Lambeau Field lease talks on hold
buckeyepackfan (26-Mar) : Packers 1 of 3 teams to vote no on new kickoff rule.
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : Packers sign another Kicker
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Lengthy explanation at PFF if you click the link
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Kickoff rules officially changed.ngthy explan
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : lol
Cheesey (26-Mar) : 2009? No thanks! One open heart surgery is enough!
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Good for you!
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : Yes. That's the one.
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Is that "Lady Dugan" per chance?
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Crystal?
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Please refresh my memory
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : Alan posts. Crystal back in my life. It's 2009 all over again! Lol
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : BAH GAWD! THAT'S CHEESEYS MUSIC!
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : Gutekunst said early stages of Jordan Love contract being discussed.
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : Shouldn't be penalized cuz official screwed up
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : Yeah, challenge until you are incorrect twice.
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : Fining them is the goal, per the people who made the rule anyway.
dfosterf (25-Mar) : Still waiting on the kickoff rule changes. Did hear yesterday that the touchback proposal will now be the 30 yard line, not the 35
dfosterf (25-Mar) : Probably speed of game issues with your proposal
dfosterf (25-Mar) : Hopefully the refs don't get in the habit of throwing flags on this
beast (25-Mar) : I think when it comes to Challenges should get two strikes, so unlimited challenges as long as they keep winning them, but 2 wrong then done
dfosterf (25-Mar) : Still subject to the fines etc
dfosterf (25-Mar) : Yes, I should have been more specific. Also, they are now saying it would be a 15 yard penalty. That makes more sense .
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2023 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 10 @ 3:25 PM
Bears
Sunday, Sep 17 @ 12:00 PM
Falcons
Sunday, Sep 24 @ 12:00 PM
SAINTS
Thursday, Sep 28 @ 7:15 PM
LIONS
Monday, Oct 9 @ 7:15 PM
Raiders
Sunday, Oct 22 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Sunday, Oct 29 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Sunday, Nov 5 @ 12:00 PM
RAMS
Sunday, Nov 12 @ 12:00 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 19 @ 12:00 PM
CHARGERS
Thursday, Nov 23 @ 11:30 AM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 3 @ 7:20 PM
CHIEFS
Monday, Dec 11 @ 7:15 PM
Giants
Sunday, Dec 17 @ 12:00 PM
BUCCANEERS
Sunday, Dec 24 @ 12:00 PM
Panthers
Sunday, Dec 31 @ 7:20 PM
Vikings
Sunday, Jan 7 @ 3:25 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Jan 14 @ 3:30 PM
Cowboys
Saturday, Jan 20 @ 7:15 PM
49ers
Recent Topics
1h / Around The NFL / Zero2Cool

16h / Green Bay Packers Talk / buckeyepackfan

28-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

28-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

27-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

27-Mar / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

27-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

26-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

26-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

26-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

25-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

25-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

24-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

24-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

22-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2024 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.