LAS VEGAS. O.J. Simpson, the former NFL star whose life was marked by triumphs on the football field and overshadowed by allegations of murder, has passed away at the age of 76 after battling cancer, as confirmed by his family.
Simpson, famously known as “The Juice,” rose to fame during his 11-season career in the National Football League. However, his legacy became mired in controversy in the 1990s following the brutal murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.
The tragic incident occurred in 1994 when Brown Simpson, 35, and Goldman, 25, were found stabbed to death outside her Los Angeles home. Simpson’s connection to the murders catapulted him from sports icon to murder suspect.
During the highly publicized trial, which captivated the nation, Simpson was represented by a formidable legal team including Johnnie Cochran, Alan Dershowitz, and Robert Kardashian. Despite being acquitted of the murders in a controversial verdict, Simpson’s reputation remained tarnished.
In subsequent years, Simpson’s life continued to be marked by legal troubles. In 2007, he was involved in an armed robbery attempt of a sports memorabilia dealer in Las Vegas, leading to his conviction and a 33-year prison sentence. He served nine years before being released on parole.
Despite his legal battles, Simpson maintained his innocence and expressed contentment with his life in Las Vegas during a 2019 interview. His story was further explored in various media, including FX’s “The People v. O.J. Simpson” and the Academy Award-winning documentary “O.J.: Made in America.”
Born in San Francisco and raised in public housing, Simpson’s journey from humble beginnings to football stardom and subsequent legal troubles became a symbol of both athletic prowess and personal downfall. He leaves behind a complicated legacy that will forever be intertwined with the mysteries and controversies of his life.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
