Rolling Stones the Gangster in the Huddle - Essay Example

The writer is trying to describe a classic scenario of a promising athlete’s fall from grace. Aaron Hernandez’s image as portrayed to the audience is that of a young man who had the athletic mentorship needed to succeed at the highest level of America’s premier football league, courtesy of his father, elder brother and later on, professional coaches. However, he comes across successive obstacles, which make his path to legendary status a tough one. The writer attempts to attribute the athlete’s failure to reach the peak of the National Football League (NFL) to the Aaron’s indulgence in substance abuse from his teenage years, subsequent death of his father and the absence of a strong maternal figure in his life. The storyline illustrates that these factors led to his dalliance with guns, inability to entangle him from the gang culture and subsequently, violence. In the end, this proves to be the main catalyst in a process whose end is the fall of a young and immensely gifted athlete’s from grace. The overall purpose is to demonstrate that a lifestyle on the fast lane, characterized by debauchery and little regard to consequences of one’s actions, is incompatible with sustained success on the sports field. The overall message to the audience is that the athlete, in this case, is a prisoner of his own past. The choices he makes lead to sad consequences. As the story progresses, the writer employs logos in an apparent attempt at convincing the audience that Aaron bears liability in the murder of Odin Lloyd. The first paragraph describes Aaron, in the company of Odin, as engaging in “five-star debauch” in the days prior to Odin’s demise (Solotaroff and Borges 1). In successive paragraphs, there is the focus on the athlete’s involvement in substance abuse, gang culture and club fights. The third paragraph states that he was using a drug described as “maniacal angel dust” and had already formed an association with a “crew of gangsters” (Solotaroff and Borges 1). The writer also points to eyewitness reports describing assailants fitting Aaron’s character at a crime scene. The audience is gradually prepared for Odin’s execution through the description of the athlete’s lifestyle. The writer creates the impression of a paranoid man living on the edge. The article states that Aaron sucker-punched a waiter leaving him with a damaged eardrum (Solotaroff and Borges 1). This description leaves the audience with an image of a dangerous man capable of taking another’s life without thinking twice. The article notes Aaron as being linked to six shootings in which three people lose their lives (Solotaroff and Borges1). The failure by the police and the judicial system to secure Aaron’s conviction, despite his involvement in various criminal activities, makes the audience question the overall effectiveness of the legal system. The persona takes the form of a young and talented athlete who despite having the pre-requisite physical qualities for success at the top level is unable to achieve his full potential because of substance abuse, machismo and bad company. He is simply a product of the environment he grew up. He is unable to unshackle himself from the distress that succeeds the death of his father. The target audience seems to be the public who are expected to get the message in the age-old adage, a stitch in time saves nine- failure to solve a problem during its initial stages always brings complications later. The article indicates that there have been 47 arrests of NFL players since the previously concluded season (Solotaroff and Borgess 1). Some of the arrests involve bar brawl and spousal abuse (Solotaroff and Borgess 1). This creates the impression of a league plagued with issues of indiscipline. The writer, through Aaron’s story, therefore, attempts at highlighting the personal struggles in the lives of the players. The conclusion is that, the sport stars, far from the larger than life image portrayed on TV and in sports magazines, are just as vulnerable to the harsh realities of life as any human being is. It is vital to note that various rhetorical appeals appear in this piece. The article, appearing on a socially respected publication such as the Rolling Stone, brings extrinsic ethos in as far as the audience is concerned. Given that the audience has exceptionally high expectations concerning the quality of written work appearing in the publication, the author’s opinion will carry a lot of conviction with the readers. The writer takes time to describe the frightening tattoos on Aaron’s body. He writes that the athlete has the words “BLOOD” and “HATE ME NOW” inscribed on his skin (Solotaroff and Borges 1). The article further states that Aaron had a habit of posing for photographs while brandishing guns and this description generates emotions of fear in the audience. At this point images of a hateful and sadistic person appear. The audience no longer views Aaron as the likable and goofy young boy from Bristol, always looking up to his elder brother, but as an easily irritable and vicious man with remarkably little understanding of the sanctity of human life. The writer employs pathos to identify with the emotions of the audience. The juxtaposition of an image of Aaron as a kid “so rich in gifts and honors” against that of Aaron, the physically imposing “murderously angry man” leaves the audience in an emotional state (Solotaroff and Borgess 1). This can be best described as a blend of pity and disbelief; pity for a talented young man on the fast lane to self-destruction and disbelief that such promising talent is about to go to waste courtesy of substance abuse. In describing Odin’s demise, the writer employs the use of logical arguments to create the impression that Aaron and his two friends were behind the murder. The day after Odin’s death, police lifted tire tracks near the body (Solotaroff and Borgess 1). These tracks matched those of the Nissan that was being used by Aaron and company on the fateful night. Upon tracing the car to the rental agency, they would also discover a bullet shell for the gun used in the crime (Solotaroff and Borges 1). The use of logos in this case is an attempt at persuading the audience that Aaron played a role in the death of Odin. The writer makes a claim- in this case, the involvement of Aaron in the murder and then proceeds to offer proof in support of that claim. In describing an altercation involving Aaron’s group in Rhode Island, the writer states that a person fitting the description of a friend of Aaron called Wallace was spotted pulling a gun then later dumping it beneath a car (Solotaroff and Borges 1). Police later traced the gun to a Florida gun shop near Wallace’s parents’ house- a gun shop where a similar gun had been purchased and which was later found near Aaron’s house in the wake of the murder. To the audience, the writer, without directly pointing fingers, creates the impression that Wallace and Aaron were indeed present at the Rhode Island altercation scene and at Odin’s murder scene. Once again, in this case, logical appeal has the effect of portraying Aaron and his friends as murderous, gun-toting criminals. Overall, it is clear that Aaron Hernandez’s trajectory in life took a wrong turn upon the death of his father. Some people may argue that the main reason for the athlete’s inability to discover his full potential is the sudden death of a person that acted as an inspiration. Such kind of reasoning, however, may be shallow. Dennis, his father, had already provided Aaron and his brother with the foundation necessary for success as a professional athlete. DJ, Aaron’s brother actually progresses to have a drama-free career as a coach in Iowa (Solotaroff and Borgess 1). The writer creates the impression of a father who desperately wanted to see his children reach greater heights. He monitored their progress in sports and ensured the two boys woke up early to work out. The article’s primary claim is that the main reason behind Aaron’s failure to live up to the expectations of those around him was not the death of his father, but rather, his uncanny ability to attract the wrong company, inability to steer clear of drugs, guns and violence. The most noteworthy thing that readers of the article ought to reflect on is the consequences of the choices people make. Aaron has the genes, guidance and the opportunity to be an NFL legend; sadly, he was unable to achieve his potential. He now remains locked up on murder charges, uncertain of what the future has in store for him. In short, this article puts forward the truth that we are products of the choices we make. Works cited Solotaroff, Paul and Borges, Ron, “Gangster in the Huddle”. Rolling Stone magazine. Web. 2 April 2014. . Read More