Online publication “The Athletic” is stirring up controversy with its 100 best to every play in the NFL list by selecting O.J. Simpson at 41st best ever.
There is no arguing, the now 74-year-old, Simpson had an amazing playing career as a running back for the Buffalo Bills, but it’s his life after retirement that causes the issue for many.
Back in 1994, Simpson was arrested and put on trial for the killing of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. Dubbed the “Trail of the Century”, it lasted for eight months and for many began with the infamous car case in California to him being found not guilty for the murders.
While many believe Simpson dodged jail time then, he was once again arrested in 2007 and was found guilty for robbing a sports memorabilia dealer in Las Vegas after he claimed the dealer has acquired his memorability illegally. Simpson was sentenced to 9 to 33 years in jail and was granted parole in 2017 after serving 9 years.
In The Athletic piece published on Friday, authored by Tim Graham, Simpson calls the murder trial, "The L.A. Thing."
“The L.A. thing, unfortunately, some people wrongfully believe something, but I moved on. I still think I’m a good guy. I didn’t let it change me. It did for a while. I was angry for a while, but I treat everybody the way I want to be treated,” Simpson says in the article.
Those that are still loyal to Simpson and those that have left him are quoted in the article that examines his complicated life on and off the field.
While the piece does talk about his playing days to an extent, it mainly focuses on the legacy he has created since his playing days ended.
When asked about if the murder of his ex-wife and Goldman will ever be solved Simpson says, “I figured eventually somebody would confess to something, you know?
“I had one suspect I told my lawyers to look at. I still think he might be involved, but I can’t talk about it.”
Simpson also says that he believes the legal system in the United States is a fair one but gets angry with those that still judge him.
“I did my time better than anybody can do time,” Simpson says. “I got out, and you’ll never hear me dog the jury because I believe in the system.
“How can you tell me you believe in the g*ddamn system, but you got problems with me living my life now? Because your attitude was different than the jury, who heard all the evidence and didn’t have the media influence? Then you try to present yourself as a good American. Bull**it, you’re not. You don’t believe in the American system.”
One thing that is made clear in the article, is that people still come up to him for photos and autographs when he is in public.
“Fame is a weird thing. Doesn’t matter if you’re a good person or a bad person in this day and age. If you’re famous, you’ve got an edge in America. Fame supersedes whether you’re good or bad, and everybody is after the fame,” said Simpson.
With everything that Simpson has been through, he says when he contracted COVID last year, that was the first time he contemplated death.
“I felt vulnerable and for the first time thought I might be near the end. Since that day, I have wondered. Do I want to be buried? Do I want to be cremated? Years ago, I would have left it up to Nicole because I know she would have done the right thing,” said Simpson.
While the article doesn’t shy away from Simpson’s past, there are those that are having a hard time with him making the list.
But Graham says he was simply given an assignment and did the best job he could.
You can read the entire piece here.