American Sports Story Episode 4 True Story: What The Show Changes

American Sports Story episode 4 “Birthday Money” changes several key aspects of Aaron Hernandez’s true story. Josh Rivera leads the American Sports Story cast as Aaron Hernandez, the former collegiate and NFL superstar tight end who was convicted of murdering semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd in 2015. The first two episodes of American Sports Story capture a basic understanding of Aaron Hernandez’s complicated upbringing, tumultuous family life, and accelerated path to becoming a Florida Gator before joining the NFL’s New England Patriots in 2010. American Sports Story portrays several NFL players and coaches including Hernandez.

American Sports Story episode 3 chronicles Hernandez’s celebrity status at the University of Florida before he ultimately declared for the 2010 NFL Draft. Episode 4 chronicles more of the details of Hernandez’s transition from being the 2010 John Mackey Award winner to having his draft stock plummet ahead of the NFL Draft due to off-the-field concerns. Even though Hernandez was talented enough to become a first-round draft pick, he was ultimately selected in the fourth round by the New England Patriots, who had one of the most tried and tested disciplinary structures in the entire NFL. Episode 4 also introduces Hernandez’s longtime agent, Brian Murphy.

Aaron Hernandez’s Uncle Robert Valentine Was Never Linked To His Sexual Abuse

Aaron’s Uncle Bobby had a clean criminal record

American Sports Story episode 4 begins with a startling scene that suggests that Hernandez was molested or sexually abused as a young child. While this claim has been upheld by Aaron’s brother D.J. Hernandez as well as one of his attorneys, there is no record that Aaron Hernandez’s uncle Robert Valentine was ever linked to his sexual abuse. According to ESPN, “Jonathan Hernandez told [The Boston] Globe that Aaron Hernandez disclosed later in his adult life that he had been molested as a young boy. One of Aaron’s lawyers in his criminal case also said Aaron spoke to him of sexual abuse as a child. Neither was willing to identify the perpetrator to the Globe.”

Additionally, Aaron’s uncle Robert Valentine, who was the biological brother of Aaron’s mother Terri Hernandez, had a clean criminal record. This indicates that he wasn’t arrested and did not serve jail time for exposing himself on a school bus as American Sports Story claims. Valentine was one of two of Hernandez’s relatives who died in two separate motor vehicle crashes during the summer of 2013 (via ESPN). Valentine was killed on August 4, 2013, in a moped crash. While D.J. Hernandez has confirmed that his brother was sexually molested as a child, which sparked a heated confrontation in American Sports Story episode 4, Aaron’s abuser has never been disclosed to the public.

Aaron Hernandez Sent A Letter To The Patriots Before The 2010 NFL Draft Offering Extra Drug Tests

Hernandez said the Patriots have “nothing to worry about” regarding his drug use

One of the biggest true story omissions in American Sports Story episode 4 is the fact that Aaron Hernandez wrote a letter to the New England Patriots confirming that he would allow himself to be subject to additional drug tests if drafted by the team. While this point was stressed by the fictional version of Hernandez in the FX series during various NFL team interviews, it was not conveyed in its true written form between Hernandez and the Patriots. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, portrayed by Norbert Leo Butz, and owner Robert Kraft, portrayed by Jerry Levine, also make no mention of Aaron’s letter when choosing to draft him for the series.

Hernandez addressed the letter to the Patriots’ director of player personnel Nick Caserio in April 2010. The final paragraph of Hernandez’s letter reads, “I ask you to trust me when I say you have absolutely nothing to worry about when it comes to me and the use of recreational drugs. I have set very high goals for myself in the NFL, and am focused 100% on achieving those goals. So, test me all you want during my rookie year … all of the results will be negative while I am having an overwhelmingly positive impact on the field” (via NFL.com).

There’s No Record Of Aaron Hernandez Having An Affair With An Athlete’s First Staff Member

Hernandez’s back injury did prevent him from participating in the NFL Combine

American Sports Story seems to invent the character Chris, a trainer and physical therapist working at Brian Murphy’s Athletes First training facility in Laguna Hill, California. While Murphy and Athlete’s First are very real, with the renowned firm representing dozens of elite athletes such as Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott, the fictional character Chris was created entirely for the show to advance the narrative of Aaron’s closeted gayness. Several other relevant details in American Sports Story episode 4 are factual, such as Hernandez’s muscle strain which kept him from participating in the 2010 NFL Combine, but the affair with his Athletes First staff member is not.

Source: ESPN, NFL.com