The poignant third chapter of "American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez," entitled "Pray the Gay Away," delves deeply into the intricate web of the renowned athlete's life, shedding light on the dual demons he grappled with—his sexuality and substance abuse. As the tale unwinds, it paints a vivid portrait of a young man trapped in the unyielding crucible of his own vices and the ruthless arena of college football.
The episode ignites with the Florida Gators' triumphant 2009 BCS National Championship victory over Oklahoma, an event that catapulted Aaron to the pinnacle of campus fame. However, this triumph, like a double-edged sword, also drew a piercing spotlight, intensifying scrutiny and the weight of expectation. Amidst this, Aaron plunges deeper into perilous behaviors, smoking marijuana before every practice and ingeniously bypassing drug tests with a "whizzinator"—a surreptitious tool that conjures up clean urine samples.
Coach Urban Meyer's exasperation with Aaron and other wayward players simmers beneath the surface, his health fraying under the relentless strain of managing his team's antics and the relentless grind of long hours. Parallel to this, Aaron's relationships with women, particularly his girlfriend at the University of Florida, are strained, as she remains oblivious to his secret life and marijuana addiction, fueling Aaron's paranoia into a raging inferno.
The episode delves into Aaron's paranoiac mindset and combustible aggression, particularly when whispers of a gay teammate swirl among his peers. This tension forms a stark juxtaposition to the beacon of guidance offered by Tim Tebow, who recognizes Aaron's potential and endeavors to steer him towards a path illuminated by righteousness. Tebow's devout church services and subsequent counsel, urging Aaron to embrace Jesus Christ as a sanctuary from doubt and sin, hint at a potential turning point for the troubled athlete, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the storm.
In a poignant montage that captures Aaron's fleeting metamorphosis, we witness him striving to shed his "demons"—flushing his stash of weed down the toilet's abyss and purging his computer of salacious gay porn, symbols of dual vices that, despite their disparate impacts on his personal terrain, are portrayed as equally menacing to his athletic aspirations.
As the stakes soar with the Gators gearing up for the SEC championship showdown against Alabama, Coach Meyer lauds Aaron's progress, yet a homeward journey to Bristol unravels a relapse. Aaron's simmering resentment towards Jeff, Tanya's ex-husband, ignites a chain reaction, casting him back into the familiar embrace of old vices. The allure of a weed-induced respite from emotional turmoil proves irresistible.
Back on campus, beneath the chapel's solemnity, Aaron's heart-to-heart with Tebow exposes a tempest within. He ponders if he's condemned to a life of sin, betraying a restless discontent with himself and an inability to fully assimilate Tebow's teachings of faith and discipline. This internal struggle crescendos into a faltering performance at the SEC championship, shattering Tebow's dreams of a national championship triumph in his final year.
The defeat's aftermath leaves a profound mark on Meyer, precipitating a panic attack disguised as a heart attack. Recognizing the need for a clean slate, Meyer makes a fateful decision: Aaron's place on the team is no longer secure for the upcoming season. This severance, portrayed as a mutually beneficial arrangement, offers a path forward: Meyer can reforge his team, while Aaron embarks on an NFL draft journey, potentially soaring to uncharted heights.
This episode delves deeply into the multifaceted persona of Meyer, portraying him as a character of profound intricacy. While his nobility and empathy shine through, he is also depicted as an accomplice to the misconduct of his players, casting a shadow over his leadership. His disciplinary methods are scrutinized as superficial, fostering a culture of silence around indiscretions rather than fostering genuine transformation.
As Aaron triumphantly receives the John Mackey Award, Meyer's ominous closing remark lingers, foreshadowing the heartbreaking narrative arc that awaits Aaron's life. The show's examination of the intricate mechanics of college football captivates, yet at times, it risks oversimplifying Aaron's challenges by reducing them to mere aspects of his sexuality and marijuana use, evoking a sense reminiscent of an after-school program.
Nonetheless, the episode remains steadfast in acknowledging Aaron's CTE, with director Paris Barclay masterfully weaving disorienting camera angles from Aaron's perspective post-tackle, offering a visceral glimpse into his condition. However, it appears that the series, at this juncture, subtly underplays the profound impact CTE has on Aaron's story.
"Pray the Gay Away" embarks on a compelling exploration of Aaron Hernandez's life, intricately weaving the tapestry of pressures, temptations, and the relentless pursuit of redemption amidst personal demons. It provokes thought-provoking questions about the intricate interplay between sports culture, individual identity, and the quest for redemption in the face of insurmountable challenges.
