O. J. SimpsonO.J. Simpson's mugshot, taken in 1994Orenthal James Simpson (born July 9, 1947 in San Francisco, California), publicly known by the initials O.J., and nicknamed The Juice, was a Hall of Fame former college and professional football player and film actor. Although considered to be one of the greatest running backs of all time, Simpson is now best known for being charged with the murder of his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in 1994. He was acquitted in criminal court in 1995 after a lengthy, highly publicized and controversial trial. He was found liable and responsible for their deaths in civil court in 1997. Football careerWhile attending Galileo High School in San Francisco, Simpson played for the school's football team, the Galileo Lions. After originally playing in Junior College at the City College of San Francisco, his talent landed him at the University of Southern California (USC) and won him the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, the nickname "The Juice", and the distinction of being the first player selected in the 1969 professional football draft after winning the Heisman Trophy. Simpson was selected by the American Football League's Buffalo Bills, who held the first selection in the draft after finishing 1-12-1 in 1968 - the worst record in professional football. In 1973 Simpson ran for a then-record 2,003 yards, becoming the first player ever to eclipse the 2,000 yard mark, and was voted the league's Most Valuable Player. Although his 2,003 yard season has subsequently been eclipsed by four running backs, only Barry Sanders managed to match Simpson by rushing for 2,000 or more yards in 14 games (Weeks 3-16 of the 1997 season; including Weeks 1 & 2, Sanders rushed for 2,053 yards. Eric Dickerson holds the 16-game season and overall records with 2,105 yards rushing in 1984). Simpson's yards per game average was ten yards higher than that of the closest competitor. "The Juice" powered one of the league's top rushing offenses, and ran behind the famed "Electric Company" offensive line. His 1973 performance earned him the Hickok Belt as top professional athlete of the year. Over his career, Simpson ran for an NFL record 6 200-yard games, three of which occurred in 1973. He also had back-to-back 200 yard performances in both 1973 and 1976. Simpson went on to earn All-Pro honors five times and amassed 11,236 rushing yards during his career. After being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1978, Simpson retired from the NFL the following year, and on January 23, 1985 became the first Heisman Trophy winner elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is a member of the Bills' Wall of Fame. Away from football but within sports, he won the 1975 American Superstars competition. Family lifeSimpson has eight siblings named George, Sue, Emily, Abraham, Kyra, Kirsten, Bryant, and Jim. On June 24, 1967 Simpson married Marguerite L. Whitley. Together they had three children: Arnelle L. Simpson (born December 4, 1968), Jason L. Simpson (born April 21, 1970) and Aaren Lashone Simpson (born September 24, 1977). In 1979, Aaren drowned in the family's swimming pool a month before her second birthday. That same year Simpson and Marguerite were divorced. On February 2, 1985 Simpson married Nicole Brown. They had two children, Sydney Brooke Simpson (born October 17, 1985) and Justin Ryan Simpson (born August 6, 1988), and were divorced in 1992. ActingAfter his retirement from football, Simpson went on to a successful film career with parts in films such as the television mini-series Roots, and the motion pictures The Cassandra Crossing, Capricorn One, The Towering Inferno, and The Naked Gun trilogy. Simpson was considered for the lead role in The Terminator, before it was decided audiences might not accept him as a villain. Simpson's amiable persona and natural charisma landed him numerous endorsement deals. He was a spokesman for the Hertz rental-car company (Ford vehicles are usually found in Hertz rental fleets, hence the nickname 'Simpsons' for the cars). He would often be shown running through airports, as if to suggest he was back on the football field. Simpson was spokesman for the pX Corporation, and he appeared in comic book ads for Dingo shoes. Besides his acting career, Simpson had stints as a commentator for Monday Night Football and The NFL on NBC. He also hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live but he was the only host not invited to attend the program's 25th anniversary celebration special in 1999. Murder of his ex-wife and trialSimpson had pleaded no contest to a domestic violence charge and was separated from Nicole. He was paying substantial child support. On June 12, 1994 his former wife Nicole Brown and friend Ronald Goldman were found dead outside Brown's condominium. Simpson was soon charged with their murders. After one of the most widely publicized arrests and trials in American history, Simpson was found not guilty. There have been significant criticisms of the prosecution and some still feel that Simpson should have been found guilty. With the damage done to his public reputation, his acting career was ruined. Civil trialOn February 4, 1997 a civil jury in Santa Monica, California found Simpson liable for the wrongful death of Ronald Goldman, battery against Ronald Goldman, and battery against Nicole Brown. Attorney for plaintiff Fred Goldman (father of Ronald Goldman) was Daniel Petrocelli. Simpson was ordered to pay $33,500,000 in damages. However, California law protects pensions from being used to satisfy judgments, so Simpson was able to continue much of his lifestyle based on his NFL pension. A 2000 Rolling Stone article reported that Simpson also still makes a significant income by signing autographs. He subsequently moved from California to Miami, Florida. In Florida a person's residence cannot be seized to collect a debt under most circumstances. Simpson has not filed for bankruptcy. It is still speculated among most people that he is guilty. Custody trialWhile Simpson was in prison during the murder trial, Nicole Brown's parents, Louis and Juditha Brown, had custody over Simpson's younger children Sidney and Justin. When Simpson was acquitted, he was given back custody over the children. In late 1998 Simpson won a custody trial filed by the Browns. The ruling was thrown out when an appeals court determined that it was wrong to exclude evidence from the murder trial [1]. In 2000, Simpson won custody of his children in a second trial. After the trialsEven after his two trials Simpson was never far from the news. He seemed to have a knack for appearing in news stories that often had nothing directly to do with him. He was accused of illegally accessing signals from DirecTV. In 1998 at the end of an interview conducted by Ruby Wax for BBC1, Simpson mimed stabbing her with a banana while mimicking the theme music from Psycho. In 2001, he was involved in a road rage case that received some publicity, but he was again found not guilty. There were plans for him to have a reality TV show in the style of The Osbournes in 2003. Also, Simpson considered becoming a news commentator for actor Robert Blake's murder trial. Prior to the 2004 Orange Bowl football game featuring Simpson's USC Trojans, the former football star showed up unannounced at a USC practice. The Southern California coach Pete Carroll allowed Simpson to come onto the field and mingle with the players and pose for pictures. Carroll responded to the criticism by proclaiming "we respect our Heisman Trophy winners." In June 2004, Simpson had planned a long series of news appearances to mark the tenth anniversary of the killings, but ended up being displaced by another story – the death and funeral of former President Reagan. Other related litigationThe civil and criminal trials of Simpson were not the only important legal cases that were spawned by the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman on June 12, 1994.
In popular culture
Filmography
This page about O.J. Simpson includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about O.J. Simpson News stories about O.J. Simpson External links for O.J. Simpson Videos for O.J. Simpson Wikis about O.J. Simpson Discussion Groups about O.J. Simpson Blogs about O.J. Simpson Images of O.J. Simpson |
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The civil and criminal trials of Simpson were not the only important legal cases that were spawned by the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman on June 12, 1994. The mascots for the competition are Goleo VI and Pille. In June 2004, Simpson had planned a long series of news appearances to mark the tenth anniversary of the killings, but ended up being displaced by another story – the death and funeral of former President Reagan. The hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas will sing the official song, which will be written by Brian Eno. Carroll responded to the criticism by proclaiming "we respect our Heisman Trophy winners.". 09 July 2006. The Southern California coach Pete Carroll allowed Simpson to come onto the field and mingle with the players and pose for pictures. 08 July 2006. Prior to the 2004 Orange Bowl football game featuring Simpson's USC Trojans, the former football star showed up unannounced at a USC practice. 05 July 2006. Also, Simpson considered becoming a news commentator for actor Robert Blake's murder trial. 04 July 2006. There were plans for him to have a reality TV show in the style of The Osbournes in 2003. 01 July 2006. In 2001, he was involved in a road rage case that received some publicity, but he was again found not guilty. 30 June 2006. In 1998 at the end of an interview conducted by Ruby Wax for BBC1, Simpson mimed stabbing her with a banana while mimicking the theme music from Psycho. 27 June 2006. He was accused of illegally accessing signals from DirecTV. 26 June 2006. He seemed to have a knack for appearing in news stories that often had nothing directly to do with him. 25 June 2006. Even after his two trials Simpson was never far from the news. 24 June 2006. In 2000, Simpson won custody of his children in a second trial. 23 June 2006. The ruling was thrown out when an appeals court determined that it was wrong to exclude evidence from the murder trial [1]. 19 June 2006. In late 1998 Simpson won a custody trial filed by the Browns. 14 June 2006. When Simpson was acquitted, he was given back custody over the children. 23 June 2006. While Simpson was in prison during the murder trial, Nicole Brown's parents, Louis and Juditha Brown, had custody over Simpson's younger children Sidney and Justin. 19 June 2006. It is still speculated among most people that he is guilty. 18 June 2006. Simpson has not filed for bankruptcy. 13 June 2006. In Florida a person's residence cannot be seized to collect a debt under most circumstances. He subsequently moved from California to Miami, Florida. Attorney for plaintiff Fred Goldman (father of Ronald Goldman) was Daniel Petrocelli. 17 June 2006. On February 4, 1997 a civil jury in Santa Monica, California found Simpson liable for the wrongful death of Ronald Goldman, battery against Ronald Goldman, and battery against Nicole Brown. 12 June 2006. With the damage done to his public reputation, his acting career was ruined. 21 June 2006. There have been significant criticisms of the prosecution and some still feel that Simpson should have been found guilty. 17 June 2006. After one of the most widely publicized arrests and trials in American history, Simpson was found not guilty. Simpson had pleaded no contest to a domestic violence charge and was separated from Nicole. 11 June 2006. He also hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live but he was the only host not invited to attend the program's 25th anniversary celebration special in 1999. 10 June 2006. Besides his acting career, Simpson had stints as a commentator for Monday Night Football and The NFL on NBC. 20 June 2006. Simpson was spokesman for the pX Corporation, and he appeared in comic book ads for Dingo shoes. 15 June 2006. He would often be shown running through airports, as if to suggest he was back on the football field. 10 June 2006. He was a spokesman for the Hertz rental-car company (Ford vehicles are usually found in Hertz rental fleets, hence the nickname 'Simpsons' for the cars). 20 June 2006. Simpson's amiable persona and natural charisma landed him numerous endorsement deals. 15 June 2006. Simpson was considered for the lead role in The Terminator, before it was decided audiences might not accept him as a villain. 14 June 2006. After his retirement from football, Simpson went on to a successful film career with parts in films such as the television mini-series Roots, and the motion pictures The Cassandra Crossing, Capricorn One, The Towering Inferno, and The Naked Gun trilogy. In 1979, Aaren drowned in the family's swimming pool a month before her second birthday. A special pot contained Serbia and Montenegro, and the three non-European seeded teams: this was done to ensure that no group contained 3 European teams. Simpson (born April 21, 1970) and Aaren Lashone Simpson (born September 24, 1977). Pot D contained sides from Asia and the CONCACAF region. Simpson (born December 4, 1968), Jason L. Pot B contained the five African entries, as well as Ecuador, Paraguay, and Australia; Pot C contained 8 of the 9 remaining European sides, excluding Serbia and Montenegro. Together they had three children: Arnelle L. The unseeded teams were divided into Pots B-D, according to geography, as follows:. Whitley. By prior agreement, Germany was seeded into Pot A, the group of seeded teams (determined by World rankings and previous performances in the two most recent World Cups). On June 24, 1967 Simpson married Marguerite L. The seeded teams for the 2006 cup were announced on December 5, 2005. Simpson has eight siblings named George, Sue, Emily, Abraham, Kyra, Kirsten, Bryant, and Jim. Only the host nation qualifies automatically. Away from football but within sports, he won the 1975 American Superstars competition. Starting from Germany 2006, the winner of the past World Cup must qualify for the Finals. He is a member of the Bills' Wall of Fame. The number in brackets is the country's FIFA World Rankings as of December 2005, at the end of all qualification tournaments:. After being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1978, Simpson retired from the NFL the following year, and on January 23, 1985 became the first Heisman Trophy winner elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The following teams, shown by region, have qualified. Simpson went on to earn All-Pro honors five times and amassed 11,236 rushing yards during his career. The field for the 2006 World Cup has been finalized. He also had back-to-back 200 yard performances in both 1973 and 1976. Twelve hosting stadia, all but one (Leipzig) were in what was West Germany. Over his career, Simpson ran for an NFL record 6 200-yard games, three of which occurred in 1973. These new names are reflected in the table. His 1973 performance earned him the Hickok Belt as top professional athlete of the year. For example, Allianz Arena will be known during the competition as "FIFA World Cup Stadium, Munich" (or in German: "FIFA WM-Stadion München"). "The Juice" powered one of the league's top rushing offenses, and ran behind the famed "Electric Company" offensive line. 1During the World Cup, many of the stadiums will be officially known by different names, as FIFA prohibits sponsorship of stadium names. Simpson's yards per game average was ten yards higher than that of the closest competitor. Many of the stadiums have higher capacities for German domestic football matches as some of the seats are replaced with terraces. Eric Dickerson holds the 16-game season and overall records with 2,105 yards rushing in 1984). The stadium capacities shown are all seated capacities. Although his 2,003 yard season has subsequently been eclipsed by four running backs, only Barry Sanders managed to match Simpson by rushing for 2,000 or more yards in 14 games (Weeks 3-16 of the 1997 season; including Weeks 1 & 2, Sanders rushed for 2,053 yards. A total of 12 German cities have been selected to host the World Cup final tournament. In 1973 Simpson ran for a then-record 2,003 yards, becoming the first player ever to eclipse the 2,000 yard mark, and was voted the league's Most Valuable Player. . Simpson was selected by the American Football League's Buffalo Bills, who held the first selection in the draft after finishing 1-12-1 in 1968 - the worst record in professional football. Qualification for the tournament is now complete, with all 32 competing teams confirmed. After originally playing in Junior College at the City College of San Francisco, his talent landed him at the University of Southern California (USC) and won him the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, the nickname "The Juice", and the distinction of being the first player selected in the 1969 professional football draft after winning the Heisman Trophy. The 2006 FIFA World Cup™ (officially titled 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™, sometimes referred to as the Football World Cup) finals are scheduled to take place in Germany between 9 June and 9 July 2006. While attending Galileo High School in San Francisco, Simpson played for the school's football team, the Galileo Lions. in the world series, in which Germany, traditional opponents (and the usual nemesis) of England in World Cup fixtures, find themselves drawn in the same group as Brazil, Argentina and France whereas England's group is comprised of Lapland, Outer Mongolia and Vatican City. . it would probably be the best .. He was found liable and responsible for their deaths in civil court in 1997. The draw was parodied by an online advertisement for Carlsberg lager as part of their long-running If Carlsberg made ... He was acquitted in criminal court in 1995 after a lengthy, highly publicized and controversial trial. Although considered to be one of the greatest running backs of all time, Simpson is now best known for being charged with the murder of his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in 1994. Orenthal James Simpson (born July 9, 1947 in San Francisco, California), publicly known by the initials O.J., and nicknamed The Juice, was a Hall of Fame former college and professional football player and film actor. The Naked Gun 33⅓:The Final Insult (1994). The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991). The Naked Gun - From the Files of Police Squad! (1988). Capricorn One (1978). The Cassandra Crossing (1976). The Towering Inferno (1974). The Klansman (1974). was a former football player, was in a police chase, and was in a controversial murder trial within the scope of the three PS2 GTA games. B.J. Simpson. Smith is a parody of O.J. In the popular Grand Theft Auto series of videogames, the character B.J. Simpson's search for his wife's killer was parodied in the Doonesbury comic strip. was referenced prior to the murder case in an episode of Seinfeld, "The Masseuse", in which Elaine suggests her then-boyfriend, Joel Rifkin, change his name to O.J. O.J. Simpson has since abandoned his trademarks. Ritchie convinced the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that he had standing to challenge Simpson's trademarks under the Lanham Act. Ritchie argued that because of the whole sequence of events from 1994 through 1997, Simpson's very name had become immoral and scandalous and thus could not be protected as a trademark. Ritchie, challenged the validity of Simpson's trademarks under a federal statute that bars immoral, deceptive, or scandalous subject matter. A New Hampshire intellectual property attorney, William B. Kaelin settled his lawsuit for an undisclosed amount. The district court granted summary judgment to the defendant, but on appeal, Kaelin convinced the Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit that he had a valid claim for defamation. Simpson's houseguest on the night of the murders, Brian "Kato" Kaelin, sued Globe Communications for $15 million after it ran a headline in one of its tabloid newspapers insinuating that Kaelin was the real murderer. Their subsequent legal battle with the IRS culminated in the rule that they could not apply the drop in their house's value as a casualty loss deduction on their income tax return, because it was only temporary. The media circus and hordes of curious tourists tormented them (and the rest of Simpson's neighbors) for the next four years. Gerald Chamales and his wife, Kathleen, bought a house next to Simpson's just ten days before the murders of which he was accused. |