O.J. Simpson passed away on Wednesday. The day it happened was always going to be complicated.
Typically, when a Pro Football Hall of Famer dies, there is a flood of statements and tributes from his team, teammates, famous fans and others. But Simpson was clearly more than just a Hall of Famer.
After a successful NFL career and a successful acting career, Simpson was tried and acquitted of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman, but the public Despite believing that was strong evidence of his guilt. Although Simpson avoided prison at the time, he spent the rest of his life in a unique kind of public purgatory, eventually ending up in prison on unrelated charges.
So what should I say if someone dies after that? that?
If you were the Buffalo Bills or San Francisco 49ers, the two teams Simpson played for during his NFL career, you'd say nothing. As of Thursday night, neither team had released any statements acknowledging Simpson or posted anything on their websites.
The same is true for Simpson's alma mater, the University of Southern California, where Simpson's Heisman Trophy still has its strange history.
The most official organizations to honor Simpson were Heisman Trophy organizers and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Heisman Trust released a short statement about the X, saying it mourned Mr. Simpson's death and extended its condolences to his family. They also posted a short article on their website solely about his soccer accomplishments.
The response to that tweet is…not what you would call heartbreaking.
The Hall of Fame, which often plays a role in ratifying the deaths of its members, issued a longer statement in a similar manner about Simpson's death, again focusing solely on his accomplishments in football. The only acknowledgment of something beyond football may be the only quote in which the president simply stated that he would not remove Simpson's legacy from the Hall.
“O.J. Simpson was the first player to surpass 2,000 yards, a rushing mark that many thought could not be achieved in a 14-game season,” said Pro Football Hall of Fame President Jim Porter. Ta. “His contributions on the field will be preserved in the Hall's archives in Canton, Ohio.”
You can compare this to other recent Hall of Fame obituaries that delve more deeply into the subject's life, along with a few quotes remembering the subject's greatness.
The College Football Hall of Fame, which also enshrines Simpson, has not issued a statement.
But there hasn't been complete silence in the NFL regarding Simpson. Several current and former players tweeted with varying levels of respect.
Rest in peace to the legendary OJ Simpson, your favorite RB, your favorite RB. Thank you, Uncle O/Juice, who will be missed and thank you for being on It Is What It Is this past year!! Heisman, No. 1 pick, NFL MVP, and first ever 2000-yarder. A rusher, let alone accomplishing that in 14 games, the list goes on!🙏🏾🕊️
— Todd Gurley II (@TG3II) April 11, 2024
But reaction from Simpson's old teammates seemed to be lacking. Among the responses collected by The Associated Press, only a few people took part.
“We didn't really get along at first. But eventually we became roommates and everything ended. So we had a great relationship. We hung out together a lot. We went through a lot during his productive years in Buffalo.'' — Booker Edgarson, Simpson's teammate in Buffalo, on a call to The Associated Press hand.
“I'm sad because when a person dies, I think, 'Oh, what a terrible thing.' But what happened to him, maybe he himself caused it, but he… was a national symbol. And he meant a lot to the people doing those commercials. He did a lot for the black race, even if they didn't know it. He wasn't Muhammad Ali or anything, but he was doing things for athletes, not just black athletes, but he led us to some really big things. That's what I think about him: He was a groundbreaker,'' — Hall of Fame offensive lineman Joe Delamielle, Simpson's teammate in Buffalo, told The Associated Press by phone.
Throughout all of this, we see a separation between Simpson the player and Simpson the alleged murderer. While most in soccer circles don't want to reveal the enormous legacy his trial had on America or the history of domestic violence against Brown, those focused on the trial understandably I'm not really interested in how he ran for 2,000 yards in a season.
The latter will always be more influential, especially for those who have a personal connection to a woman who turns 65 today and a man who turns 56 today.
“One thing I have to say is this is yet another reminder that Ron has been missing for years,” Fred Goldman, Ron Goldman's father, said in a telephone interview. ” he said. “This isn't a great loss to the world. It's just another reminder that Ron is gone.”
