Aaron Hernandez Gang Affiliation and Other Pro Athletes With Alleged Gang Ties [PHOTO SLIDESHOW]
Aaron Hernandez's alleged gang affiliation has been a topic of much discussion, in light of his arraignment for the murder of Odin Lloyd, but he is hardly the first athlete to be linked to a street gang.
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Many professional athletes hail from poverty-stricken neighborhoods across America, areas where young, mostly black and Latino, men are drawn to sports, hip-hop music and crime as a way to escape poverty. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that some professional athletes who hail from these environments have been rumored to be affiliated with gangs or convicted criminals from their hometowns.
Most recently, Hernandez has been linked to the Bristol Bloods, a gang in his hometown of Connecticut. The former New England Patriots player allegedly got involved with the street crew as a teenager, according to TMZ. The Bloods are one of America's most prevalent street gangs, with large networks across the country, especially in Los Angeles.
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In 2008, the NFL hired experts to study game footage to determine whether players were displaying street-gang hand signals as part of their on-field celebrations, according to ESPN.
Check out the slideshow to see a list of professional athletes who have alleged gang ties.
