A
few days ago, October 3rd, was the 20th
anniversary of OJ Simpson's acquittal in the sensational murder
trial. And there are a couple of OJ stories in my memories.
OJ
was a Buffalo Bill back when I was in college. He was the highest
draft pick, which from my understanding of the draft, meant that he
was the first choice for the team with the poorest record of the year
before. OJ was not thrilled to come to Buffalo (understatement!), but
the fans were excited. He was nicknamed Juice. The offensive
line was called the Electric Company – they blocked the
other team players and opened space for OJ to run with the ball.
Hence, the Electric Company turned on the Juice.
One
night I was with some of my biology friends at an Italian restaurant
on Main Street. OJ Simpson was sitting at one of the tables with his
first wife and Reggie McKenzie, of the Electric Company, and his
wife! They were all dressed up. The wait staff was falling all over
each other taking care of the celebrities, and a couple of my friends
were gushing all over them too. I stole glances at their table from
time to time, trying not to stare, and I thought to myself that they
were four of the prettiest people I had ever seen!
My
senior year of college, which would have been 1974 that first
semester when football season started, OJ was making lots of noise
about wanting to be traded to any team that had a chance of
making it to the Super Bowl. He thought that playing in the Super
Bowl was owed him since he was such a great player. The fans
did not like his attitude at all! Early in the season, the Bills had
a Monday night game at the home stadium, and I happened to be there,
in the end zone, with my college buddy Laura and a couple of other
friends. Well Howard Cosell, famed football broadcaster and equally
famed OJ bootlicker, was in town to do commentary for the game. The
players were announced by name, one at a time, as each ran onto the
field. When Mr. Cosell announced “OJ Simpson!”, the crowd started
booing!
OJ
bounded onto the field, and Howard said to the television audience,
“The fans are chanting Juice! Juice!” But don't you
believe it – the fans were chanting Boo! I know, I was
there!
Eventually
OJ was traded to another team, but he never did make it to the
Super Bowl.
Nine
years ago I filled out a questionnaire while at jury duty. One of the
queries was if I had ever been personally involved in a murder? I
answered yes. The next day, while being interviewed in the
courtroom by one of the lawyers for the defendant, I was asked about
the murder I had been involved in? I responded, “Well, what I meant
was the OJ Simpson case – and no, I had nothing to do with the
murder or the case, but, you know, I'm from Buffalo, and if OJ was
involved in a murder, then I take it personally!”
The
lawyer seemed to get where I was coming from – I mean I was sincere
when I answered yes, it wasn't until after I went home that night
that I realized, no, I've never been involved in a murder! Then the
lawyer asked me if I thought OJ was guilty!
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20151009 Squeezing the Juice
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