Orange Juice

I am going to write about O.J.

O.J.Simpson.

I like writing about less controversial subjects.

I don't know if people from my generation truly grasp just how big O.J. was. I had an understanding that he was more than a football player but the 30 for 30 documentary gave me a better appreciation for his status in American culture.

My generation knows that O.J. played football, but know him more for his White Ford Bronco and that if the glove didn't fit than that you must acquit. Most know he was sent to jail again later in his life.

Lets get a better understanding of just how big O.J. was.

Simpson was the first running back to have over 2,000 yards in a season and the only one to have done so in a 14 game season. He averaged 143.1 yards per game in one season. He had over 200 yards rushing in six games in his career and was a six time pro bowler. He had over 11,000 yards in his career. He was an obvious hall of famer. In college he won the Heisman and lead the country in rushing in both seasons he played at USC. He also won the Maxwell award and Walter Camp award and won the Heisman Trophy by 1,750 votes, the largest margin of victory ever.

That's not all though. Simpson was more than just a football player. Simpson did a lot of television advertisements and was an actor in numerous movies. He even was a commentator for games.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV8Nx1EOkIo

"How many times have you wanted to pack it in and take off" You will see the irony in this one...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkmsH4VW8Zk

Simpson even hosted Saturday Night Live in 1978.

He worked as a commentator

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK3LmWI0CWc&feature=related

A public service announcement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PQJf47nMzw&feature=related

As an actor Simpson was in the "Naked Gun Series"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YembxTLnuzQ

I can't think of an athlete who is similar to Simpson in today's game. The closest seem to be Peyton Manning, or Lebron James. Imagine either of those two taking the fall of grace that Simpson did. It's unimaginable to us, probably how unimaginable it was to many people when they first heard about O.J.'s problems in 1994.