I looked at the cover of my National Enquirer this week and guess who was on the cover – O.J. Simpson. In case you’ve forgotten, it has been over ten years since O.J. was first accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole. Twelve long years and yet he is still making the cover of tabloids.
What is our fascination with O.J. Simpson? I can understand perhaps being fascinated with the O.J. of old. I remember the football hero who was so popular even after retiring from football. He was the Heisman Trophy winner in 1968 for USC, held numerous NFL records when he retired in 1979, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
Even before his football career ended, he had started appearing in films. He was in 1974’s Towering Inferno and the 1977 miniseries “Roots.” During the late 80s and early 90s, he became famous for starring in the Naked Gun movie series. And, most of you probably remember the famous O.J. Hertz commercial where he was running through the airport. It seemed anything he did charmed a loving country.
Then things turned ugly. In June 1994, his ex-wife Nicole and friend Ron Goldman were found murdered at her house in Brentwood. A suspect, O.J. fled in the now infamous white Ford Bronco. Who can forget seeing Al Cowlings drive O.J. on the Los Angeles freeways? Finally apprehended, the O.J. trial became known as the trial of the century. Finally, despite what some felt as overwhelming evidence of guilt, O.J. was acquitted. He was found liable in 1997 for the wrongful death of Ron Goldman as well as battery against both Ron and Nicole and O.J. was ordered to pay $33.5 million dollars. So far, neither family has seen a penny from O.J.
Since then, O.J. makes the news for his reported drug use and stories of abuse of girlfriend Christie Prody, who oddly enough resembles Nicole. This new National Enquirer cover says he overdosed on cocaine. Frankly, I cannot arouse any interest in anything he does anymore. When I see a picture of him, I no longer see the person I once saw as talented and funny, but a disgusting and wretched human who may have gotten away with a heinous crime, but still leads a sad, pathetic life.
-O.J. in his 1994 Mug Shot