This boggles my mind ...

[pownal55]

A sociopath doesn't "go mad" they are that way to begin with.

 

[Mike McLellan]

Clearly a victim of an unjust society. Maybe we should pass the hat, and get him a nice card or something.

 

[Iggy]

Maybe they will give him a work release to play during the season.. Winning is all important don'tcha know.....

 

[bamabiker]

Takes the saying "a strong back and a weak mind" to a whole new level.

 

[calmex]

Has anyone been following the Aaron Hernandez story this week? The guy is 23, has a fiance and infant daughter, signed a $40 million contract with the NE Patriots, was a premier player ... and is now charged with murder (and being investigated for two other murders) for allegedly shooting (or orchestrating the shooting of) a friend who supposedly disrespected him by talking to people he didn't like at a club. Has the world gone mad? This guy is either the dumbest man on the planet, or has an evil streak running through him that no one knew about. Even the judge who denied bail asserted that the circumstantial nature of the case is so strong that risk of flight is possible.

With every bit of additional information, I'm left shaking my head.

I guess a $40 million dollar contract is something he considers a contract to kill for.

 

[finesse_r]

Our pathetic worship of pro and college athletes, and our willingness to tolerate their faults as long as they win for us, are what sets the stage for this behavior. There are lots of them who do this or things almost as bad, and we are ok with it as long as our favorite team wins. Bill S

While I share your distain for the behavior you describe in your post("pathetic worship of pro and college athletes, and our willingness to tolerate their faults as long as they win for us, are what sets the stage for this behavior"), I think this sounds a lot more like gang influenced behavior. This whole idea of killing someone who disrespects the person in the slightest possible manner is pure street gang behavior.

 

[redlevel]

Today, they announced that on July 6&7, anyone who owns a Hernandez jersey can come in and trade it in.

The catch there is that you have to trade it for a Tebow jersey.

 

[DeathGrip]

Just a bet.

If I had a Hernandes jersey I could put it on E bay and get a lot more than trade in.

All the bangers be want'n one now.

Show your colors.

 

[rwsmith]

Gang mentality

One sure way to get 'respect' is to kill somebody.

 

[pineappleshooter]

To quote my favorite comedian, Ron White, "You can't fix stupid!"

 

[35Rem]

Not a big surprise from people more familiar with him.

Urban Meyer thug. Have fun with that guy, OSU

 

[the ringo kid]

One sure way to get 'respect' is to kill somebody.

One sure way to get respect is to: "Earn it".

 

[zonker5]

Even if he is acquitted, I don't think any team will ever pick him up.

The Cowboys will take him, Jerry Jones has no ethical standards.

 

[GaryS]

The Cowboys will take him, Jerry Jones has no ethical standards.

Maybe the Ravens will pick him up.

Seriously though, I don't know if it will be an option.

The state's case just keeps getting stronger.

He's fortunate he didn't do this in Texas or another death penalty state. He'd likely be the first NFL star to be executed.

 

[S&WIowegan]

If Al Davis was still running the Raiders Hernandez would fit right in.

The DA's case summary implies strongly that the friend was executed so he couldn't discuss the previous homicides. In Mass he'll get time off for good behavior and be back on the Pats soon. Or maybe plea bargain to involuntary manslaughter. I'm not kidding!

 

[GaryS]

No, he'll go away for life. There won't be any plea bargain, not for this. Well, there might be, but it will be one of his accomplices.

If Al Davis was still running the Raiders Hernandez would fit right in.

The DA's case summary implies strongly that the friend was executed so he couldn't discuss the previous homicides. In Mass he'll get time off for good behavior and be back on the Pats soon. Or maybe plea bargain to involuntary manslaughter. I'm not kidding!

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

If "disrespect" were the standard, we attorneys (as well as politicians and used car salesmen) would be allowed to kill anybody and everybody.

I'm down with that
Regarding numbnuts. He was a known problem before the draft which is why he went in the 4th round. New England took a flyer on him and it paid off. His lack of character was well known around the league prior to him being drafted.
As they say, you can take the playa out of the hood but you can't take the hood out of the playa.

 

[SW_shooter]

Well all I know is he ain't playing on my fantasy football team this year! We don't tolerate no thugs or people who do mean things.

 

[rwsmith]

Why earn respect?

One sure way to get respect is to: "Earn it".

The gang mentality is why earn respect when you can get it just by kiling somebody?

 

[Beemerguy53]

Why would "disrespect" be grounds for murder?

If the accusations are true, we should all "disrespect" the murderer.

If "disrespect" were the standard, we attorneys (as well as politicians and used car salesmen) would be allowed to kill anybody and everybody.

In urban thug culture, the worst social offense one can commit is to "disrespect" someone. People can be, and are, killed for such transgressions...