Twenty-three years and 38 days after a double-murder that ended the lives of Nicole Brown-Simpson and Ronald Goldman, OJ Simpson was on ESPN2. Not in a Bills uniform, but in denim prison garb, pleading with the Nevada Board of Parole to free him of the crime he was convicted of nine years prior.
The oddsmakers at Bovada gave -300 odds that The Juice would be freed come October after Thursday’s deliberation, meaning a betting man would need $300 to win a third of that if he bet on Simpson walking.
But as soon as Simpson started explaining what happened in that Las Vegas hotel room, many felt the odds started going the other way.
With every word, those odds seemed to plummet like milliseconds on a shotclock. Somewhere, former LA county prosecutor, Marcia Clark, must have wished OJ’s infamous “Dream Team” had allowed him to speak from the blue chair on the stand in Judge Lance Ito’s courtroom, not unlike the one he sat in on Thursday, rambling and rationalizing, even lying, saying he’s lived “basically a conflict-free life.”
By law he was telling the truth. And by the end of the hearing, the law was all that mattered.
If there was remorse shown, it was for himself, as Simpson tried re-trying the case like an appeal instead of a parole hearing; offering excuses for what happened, as well as what he didn’t do despite recommendations by the board in his previous hearing, where his freedom was once denied.
Yet, despite that, the parole board looked at the facts, and Simpson’s track record at Lovelock Correctional Facility and granted OJ his freedom.
Well, from jail, that is.
He still owes $33 million to the Goldman family.
He’s still persona non grata in football circles.
His name is still the eyesore on the Wall at New Era Field, and one has to wonder if the Bills will emblazon 32 OJ SIMPSON at the new stadium, or if he’ll live to see a decision rendered by Terry and Kim Pegula.
And in today’s world, one much smaller than even the one he was exiled from in 2007, he’ll be stalked and heckled by anyone with a phone.
Sure, he’ll resume his life in public, once again a walking punchline, and his October release will be televised. Deals will be handed to OJ’s people. You know. Sycophants. Those looking to cash-in, much like the memorabilia dealers who ironically and awkwardly did what Gil Garcetti’s cast could not–land Juice in jail.
Oddly enough, the FX series “The People vs OJ Simpson,” and the Oscar-winning 30 for 30 documentary, “OJ Simpson: Made in America,” along with his conviction and parole have given him new life, despite the gruesome facts.
Fascinating. ‘Merica, right?
He’s 70 (not 90) years-old, looks to be in incredible shape, and didn’t seem to show the signs of CTE that have plagued NFL brethren his age–a disease relatively unknown when he was a free man.
Oh yeah. That. A lot has happened since OJ went to prison. And it sounds from a statement read by his lawyer that Juice has paid attention to life in the outside world, and is ready to pick-up where he left-off: as OJ Simpson, living in Florida, embracing celebrity.
Maybe he’ll be confronted by the Kardashians. On camera, of course.
Maybe he’ll do a podcast. Or porn.
Maybe he’ll do side commentary on the two features that premiered last year.
Maybe he’ll write another book, give interviews, or do everything and anything he can to cash-in on his latest victory. Figuratively, literally and oddly enough, this conviction and parole, as well as Hollywood have given him new life.
Autographs? Why not? People may have already made their minds up on OJ, but we can’t seem to take our eyes off a figure who once transcended race through the prism of both sports and then motion pictures. Either someone believes he brutally killed two people, or was framed. Either he was guilty of kidnapping and armed robbery, or was rolled-over by his own mixed company.
Either way, unless he trips-up over the next 24 years, he’s going to be out there and we’re gonna get more Juice than ever before. Thursday’s testimony was a clear indication OJ isn’t going to fade into Mike Tyson’s Bolivia.
Yeah. He’s cured all right. Sip wisely.
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