American Sports Story Episodes 1 and 2 True Story: What the Show Changes

Warning: Spoilers ahead for American Sports Story episodes 1 and 2.The new Hulu/FX limited series American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez Re-examine one of the most chilling off-the-field true stories in the history of the National Football League. American Sports Story is the first dramatized series to tackle the true-crime story of Aaron Hernandez and the murder of Odin Lloyd after Netflix’s intense docuseries Killer Inn. Created by Stuart Zicherman (The Americans) and executive produced by Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story), American Sports Story will span 10 episodes with new weekly episodes released every Tuesday From September 17 to November 12, 2024.

Josh Andrés Rivera leads the cast of American Sports Story Like Aaron Hernandez. Episode 1 “If It’s To Be” chronicles Hernandez’s strict upbringing in Bristol, Connecticut, while Episode 2 “Consequences, With Extreme Prejudice” dives into his collegiate career at the University of Florida. Although the series is based on a true story, and features dozens of actor portraits of real-life players, coaches, friends and family members who knew Aaron Hernandez, The series takes certain creative liberties for the sake of dramatization. With that being said, there are some real-life events depicted in American Sports Story which are based on actual accounts, eyewitness accounts and headline news reports.

American Sports Story presents Hernandez’s attempted assassination of Alexander Bradley as fact

The opening scene of American Sports Story Depicts Aaron Hernandez shooting a gun point blank into Alexander “Shrod” Bradley’s head while he was sleeping in his car. Sherrod is a man from South Florida who knew Aaron when he was playing for the New England Patriots in the NFL. The scene as it plays out in American Sports Story Agree with Sherrod’s testimony during a 2017 trial for a double homicide case in Boston. Sherad received immunity for appearing as a witness and testifying against Aaron. Otherwise, he would have been sitting right next to him on the side of the defense.

As seen in Netflix Killer Inn docuseries, celebrity attorney Jose Baez, who was defending Hernandez at the time, presented a text message Sherrod sent to his attorney. The text revealed that Schradd did not truthfully remember who shot him in Florida and was focused on whether he would be found guilty of perjury if he revealed the truth after the fact. The evidence proved to the jury that Hernandez did not actually try to kill Sherrod and appeared to be trying to get revenge on Hernandez, which led to him being found not guilty of the double murder.

Tim Tebow tried to break up Hernadez’s fight with the bartender and offered to pay the bill

As shown in American Sports StoryAaron Hernandez was involved in a fight with a bartender/bar manager at a local restaurant in Gainesville, Florida called The Swamp. Almost everything about the scene is actually based on multiple news reports and even police records, except for A few key details and superstar quarterback Tim Tebow’s role in the ordeal. Hernandez refused to pay the $12 bill, thinking the drinks had already been paid for, and a clock struck the bartender on the left side of the head. According to the Ocala Starbanner“Tebow told police he tried to break up the argument, identifying himself and Hernandez as UF players. Tebow said he asked Hernandez to go and offered to foot the bill.”

in American Sports StoryTebow is much less involved, only sticking around to thank the Florida Gators’ unofficial attorney/fixer Huntley Johnson before exiting the frame. Police records showed that Hernandez and Tebow called Urban Meyer for help after running and hiding around the side of the bar. This is how Huntley Johnson arrived on the scene. There is also no record of Hernandez fighting with a security guard Or, as Hernandez was shown punching a bouncer in the bar too. In both reality and American Sports Story, Hernandez was never arrested or charged with battery even though the bartender claimed his eardrum had burst.

American Sports Story Ramen Cam Newton as a scapegoat who took the heaviest punishment after several players, including Hernandez, were arrested or implicated for various crimes. In fact, Newton was suspended from the Gators after receiving felony charges for stealing a laptop but made the decision to transfer on his own accord. According to ESPNCam Newton was arrested on charges of burglary, larceny, and obstruction of justice in 2008 and ultimately transferred to another college just three days before the Gators’ National Championship victory. In an unlikely turn of events, Newton would go on to win the Heisman Trophy and lead the Auburn Tigers to a National Championship Victory only two years later.

DJ Hernandez was not demoted from UConn’s starting quarterback role because Aaron went to Florida

American Sports Story Implied that DJ Hernandez, Aaron’s older brother, who started for the UConn Huskies in 2006, was at risk of being punished by head coach Randy Edsall when Aaron chose to go to Florida after committing to UConn. In the series, the coach gives DJ an ultimatumWhich indicates that it would be challenging to keep him as the starting QB, unless Aaron is a Husky. According to UConn’s websiteDJ Hernandez”Selflessly volunteered to move from quarterback to wide receiver during the spring” of the 2007 season and would go on to become one of their most productive wide receivers.

Urban Mayor claims he never encouraged Aaron Hernandez to graduate from high school early

American Sports Story Depicts Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer meeting with Terri Hernandez and the Bristol Central High School principal at the Hernandez home. In that scene, Meyer makes it clear that he believes Aaron would benefit greatly from graduating high school early to get down to Gainesville and be adjusted to the playbook and program.

According to The Boston Globe“Meyer said he didn’t recall meeting with Hernandez’s high school principal and “never pushed someone” to graduate high school early, though he sees it as a positive jump-start to college for many recruits..” Additionally, the Boston Globe reported that Mayor “minimized his role in bringing Hernandez to Florida, saying it was mostly the work of his assistant coach, Addazio, and that he got involved “in the back half of the recruiting..”

There is no record of Tanya Singleton confronting Terry Hernandez in Aaron’s high school basketball game

There is no record of Aaron’s cousin Tanya Singleton confronting Terry Hernandez about sleeping with her husband Jeff Cummings at one of Aaron’s high school basketball games. While The incident happened and caused Aaron to spend more time at Tania’s houseWhere he meets Ernest ‘Bo’ Wallace and Carlos Ortiz, the specific scene that interrupts Aaron’s high school basketball game is dramatized in American Sports Story.

There is no evidence that Aaron Hernandez used dating websites to meet and hook up with other people

Aaron Hernandez is depicted using websites to meet other people in American Sports Story During his time in Gainesville, Florida. Hernandez never stated that he had been hooking up with other men in private while he was a member of the Florida Gators football team, and no one in the area has made those claims.

This scene appears to have been added to include the theme of Aaron’s closeted homosexuality and how it contributed to his identity and anger issues. These topics are first introduced in American Sports Story Episode 1 with his high school teammate Dennis Sansoucie, who in real life has confirmed that he and Aaron are intimate several times.

Source: Killer Inside, Ocala StarBanner, ESPN, UConn, The Boston Globe