Aaron Hernandez -- Guilty of 1st degree murder

Does the Times really fucking refer to him as Eldrick? That's not only dumb; it's historically inaccurate. Like calling John Wayne by his given name "Marion Morrison."

I always thought papers were supposed to exhort concision and accuracy. Adding "Mr." or referring to people by names that run counter to their prevailing names is extraneous and inaccurate

 

I know AP dropped courtesy titles in obits about 20 years ago, but there are some papers that still use them. Last time I wrote an obit story, I checked with the news on style.

 

I do 5-10 minutes of sports talk each week on a local radio station. As much as I try to keep the conversation local and about my beat, the host always tries to get me to talk about ESPNy things like the NFL draft or other news that I have no real insight on. Today he brought up Hernandez and talked about today as a big tragedy and how he was just acquitted for the double-murder and his poor daughter, etc., etc., then wanted my thoughts. I honestly didn't know where to go with it. I wanted to say, "He was a piece shit, and I have nothing more to add. And, frankly, living here in the Midwest, I could not care less." But I didn't and I reminded the host that Hernandez was guilty of another murder and serving a life sentence and that he was a bad guy who had major problems and that the whole affair was sad and tragic and blah, blah, blah. Then I think the host played some syndicated entertainment news and then spun something by the Grass Roots.

 

You should have said, "He killed a guy," and then demanded an immediate on-air retraction of everything that had just been said.

 

The obligatory suciide prevention PSA is a nice touch.

"If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255."

 

Wonder if he already used his phone time for the day.

 

I'm seeing folks saying he took the "easy way out," but no, not really. He had to allow himself to choke to death, which in no way is an easy way out. The desperation, the hopelessness, the darkness inside that it takes to kill yourself can be overwhelming.

I understand that he didn't serve the full sentence for murder, but, in a way, he did. Wanting him to stay alive to pay and pay and pay for his crime isn't wanting justice, it's wanting vengeance. I'd like to think we're better than that. I'd like to think so.

 

That train came and went long ago for me.

 

I can't help but read this in Morgan Freeman's voice.

 

Dean Blandino weighed in, and said "Incomplete....he didn't get both feet on the ground."

 

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