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O.J. Simpson Dies at 76

Ricochet Editors' Desk
@RicochetEditorsDesk
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The Simpson family has announced the passing of Orenthal James Simpson, the superstar running back whose position as an all-American hero shifted dramatically after being charged with the murder of his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, nearly 30 years ago.

At the University of Southern California, Simpson was a two-time unanimous All-American; establishing the single-season rushing record in 1968, finishing with 1,709 yards. He won the Heisman Trophy that year and would be selected first in the 1969 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills. "Juice" would go on to being named MVP in 1973 after being the first to break the 2,000 rushing-yard threshold, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

On June 12, 1994, Brown and Goldman were stabbed to death outside her condo in Brentwood. Simpson was a person of interest. He was scheduled to turn himself in on June 17th, but instead led officers of the Los Angeles Police Department on a low-speed chase throughout the city. The live coverage of the chase was viewed by an estimated 95 million.

"The Trial of the Century" began early the following year, concluding with Simpson's acquittal. The reaction of the public varied profoundly.

Simpson would face a civil lawsuit from the Goldman family in 1997, being found liable for more than $33 million. He would have a number of run-ins with the law before facing another major prosecution after participating in the robbery of two memorabilia dealers in Las Vegas. He was convicted on 12 counts of armed robbery and kidnapping, sentenced to 33 years in prison. He was released on parole in 2017.

This post was promoted to the Main Feed by an editor.

Discussion (32)

  • Lunchbox Gerald@Jose

    Via Instapundit:

    UPDATE: Found via Joel Engel, the New York Times’ obit for Simpson contains this showstopping moment:

    O.J. Simpson, who ran to fame on the football field, made fortunes as a Black all-American in movies, advertising and television, and was acquitted of killing his former wife and her friend in a 1995 trial in Los Angeles that mesmerized the nation, died on Wednesday. He was 76.

    The cause was cancer, his family announced on social media. The announcement did not say where he died.

    A jury in the murder trial, which held up a cracked mirror to Black and white America, cleared Mr. Simpson, but the case ruined his world.

    Oh. The murder trial ruined his world.

  • Steven Seward@StevenSeward

    I almost never celebrate anyone's death, but I think the world is now much better off with a double-murderer in the grave, especially one who never paid for his crimes nor admitted them. I don't feel guilty about being pleased by this.

  • Steven Seward@StevenSeward
    Ricochet Editors' Desk (View Post):

    He won the Heisman Trophy that year and would be selected first in the 1969 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills.

    This is nearly totally off-topic, but the original home in which John Heisman was born, is about a mile down the street from me. There is a historical marker in front of the tiny house. It is regrettable that one of the Heisman Trophy winners went on to be a heinous criminal.

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