O.J. Simpson -- dead

I was in Iowa City making a mix tape of mix tapes with bits and pieces of the chase from as many news channels as possible.

I wish I had that.

And this is great.



I do think Fred Goldman masterminded the Las Vegas debacle.

 

I was working on a national news desk for Virginia Tech. Watching the way we covered that was the first time I realized that journalism as I knew it was dead.

 

I was in study hall. Ninth grade. Some Walkman-wearing kid — I don’t remember who — walks down the aisle of this giant room, apparently hears the news and says, “Holy shit! Someone shot Reagan.”

 

Followed this intensely for the first week or so when he was suspected. Never had a doubt he was guilty.

I still remember seeing his original suicide note that was littered with typos a third-grader wouldn't make. He misspelled "black" for goodness sake.

I also remember sitting in a newsroom waiting for him to turn himself in and saying out loud, "He's not showing up."
A short while later, the white Bronco chase interrupted every TV channel.

After the trial started and especially when they questioned if it was OJ's blood, I stopped. I knew he'd get away with murder.

 

OJ deserved worse than cancer. Sorry, not sorry.

 

Fred Goldman popped open a bottle of champagne today.

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/no-great-loss-father-of-ron-goldman-reacts-to-death-of-o-j-simpson/

 

I remember Challenger much more than Columbia, partially because I was just down the coast from the launching pad but also because the launches were much more scheduled. Cold morning, at the mall between classes, watching on a TV in an electronics store.

 

I was at UNC when the verdict was read, standing in the student union around a big TV in a crowd of people when it it happened.

I was completely stunned. Completely. How in the world? Saw black students run and jump for joy out of the building. Never once understood it. Ever. How?

Then I watched the 30-for-30, and every single bit of it made sense. I get it now. And I'm grateful for it. Completely opened my eyes.

 

When I lived in Miami, I became friends with some of the friends of my co-workers. One of the guys was trying to be a cop, but didn’t have the scores to get hired by a major department. So he was told to start in a smaller department and work his way up and ends up working in a small area south of Miami. One of his jobs was to do traffic duty at a big private school where OJ’s kids went. He said that by far OJ was the nicest parent and was always bringing the cops bagels and coffee

 

Too bad he missed the Masters - I know he was a big golf guy.

Even if you thought he was innocent of the murders - even if he wasn't involved whatsoever - he still wasn't a good guy. Beat his wife, convicted armed robber - and one of the most inconsequential African-American celebrities in history (particularly given his fame) in supporting his community.

I don't blame OJ for the Kardashians - odds are even if Ron and Nicole were still breathing - if Bruce Jenner's stepdaughter has a sex video out with a singer/rapper and brother of Brandy - and she doesn't sue or seek criminal action - she was destined to become a thing. She wanted the fame. Cultivated it.