Now on the surface, that's not that big of a deal. I love watching and talking about movies. The problem is... I usually don't watch anything until it's been on DVD or Netflix for at least 6 months. Last year I went to the movie theaters twice and I can't even remember the names of the movies.
So if you want to read a post about last night's winners and losers at the Academy Awards then you've come to the wrong place.
But if you want to talk about a hall of fame running back who moonlighted as an actor and eventually turned into a world famous criminal... then grab a chair, sit back, and relax.
Today's post is about Orenthal James Simpson and his first and only major movie award. This past weekend marked the 20th anniversary of his 1995 Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor in the 1994 film Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult.
Most Razzie Award winners don't attend the actual ceremony... but even if OJ had wanted to... he wouldn't have been able to attend. Back in February 1995, he was smack dab in the middle of his famous criminal trial... also known as The Trial of the Century.
In fact... according to the COA, the autograph pictured above was personally signed by Mr. Simpson in the Los Angeles County Correctional Facility.
Twenty years ago, millions of people were glued to the TV watching his trial. His signature instantly became a hot commodity and commanded three figures. I remember desperately wanting to add his autograph to my collection, but the values quickly soared out of my budget.
These days you can pick up his autograph on eBay for less than $50. Last year, I paid $19.95 for my copy and was finally able to cross it off of my wantlist.
Mr. Simpson's life story has so many levels. He'll be remembered by most people for the famous ride in the white Ford Bronco, the Nicole Simpson/Ronald Goldman murder trial, or his 2007 Las Vegas armed robbery incident.
I'm sure there are plenty of football fans who will also take the time to remember his HOF football career that included a record setting 1973 season where he rushed for 2,003 yards during a 14 game season.
And maybe... just maybe... some people will choose to remember OJ for his role in the Naked Gun films.
How about you...
What's the first thing you think of when you hear the name, Orenthal James Simpson?
Regardless of how you choose to remember OJ... I'm pretty sure his name didn't come up during too many lunch time discussions involving last night's Academy Awards. Or did it?
Happy Monday and sayonara!
12 comments:
That COA may be the most amusing and strangest thing I've seen on cardboard.
When all the OJ trial drama was going on, my kid brain couldn't understand why the nice detective from Naked Gun was in so much trouble. For better or worse, I'm at an age where the Juice's on field accomplishments are a distant afterthought to the media spectacle he became.
I think the white Ford Bronco. But I also have seen some highlights of him and what he did on the field. If only he could have stayed out of trouble.
I saw him play and he was extremely talented but I think of him as a criminal who beat the system for the most part.
He had retired when I was still young and was more interested in Star Wars than football so now I think of the white Bronco chase but before that it was the Naked Gun movies. I remember during the media circus of a trial anything with his likeness sold for stupidly insane prices. I remember helping a friend man a table at a comic book/toy show and some guy had a binder full of OJ Pogs and people were paying like $25 for each Pog.
He is forever tainted by the murder trial. It is the first thing that pops in my head when I think of him.
I think of 1973 and the phrase "The Juice Is Loose".
The one positive to come out of his murder trial was that all the explanations by TV pundits regarding DNA educated people in the general public about DNA testing. After the OJ trial, people on criminal juries became very dubious about convicting people without some sort of DNA evidence. Even today, it's the strongest evidence that DAs have at their disposal in many regards.
The fact that the DNA tests were so strongly against OJ in that case and yet he still was acquitted is down either to a less-than-educated jury, great lawyering by the defensive team, really awful lawyering by the DAs, or a combination of the above.
Of course, I'm a lawyer. So, I go with the "legalities" explanation. :-)
Has to be the White Bronco and the trial. But I did see him play in Foxboro
Great point. I sort of remember that being an issue. Honestly... it's been shows like CSI that have really brought my attention to the whole DNA issue. But I'm more of a crime drama kind of guy... than a Court TV person.
Wow... any comment with Pogs will get my attention. I think paying $25 for an OJ Simpson Pog is worst than my Kershaw purchase last year. Actually... you kind of made me feel a little better about every foolish purchase I've ever made.
Part of reason I purchased this card was the wording on the COA.
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