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On April 10, local time, Orenthal James Simpson, a former American football star who became famous for his wife murder in the 90s of the last century, died of cancer at the age of 76. The athlete, who was once hailed as the best running back in the history of professional rugby, has a storied sporting career and high-profile legal battles that have combined to weave his controversial life.
With his death, the secret of the murder of his wife will be permanently taken to the grave and become an unsolvable historical mystery.
△ A death statement issued by Simpson's family
The glory years on the rugby field
Simpson was born on July 9, 1947 in San Francisco, USA, to an ordinary family. His name, Orenthal, was taken from his aunt's favorite French actor, and this unique name became his later known symbol.
From an early age, Simpson showed exceptional athletic talent, particularly in football. In 1967, he played football as a regular player at the University of Southern California. A year later, Simpson shone on the field, running 1,709 yards and making 22 touchdowns, a year that earned him the Heisman Cup, Maxwell Awards, and many other accolades.
△ Simpson on the field Source: National Football League official website
In 1969, Simpson was drafted by Buffalo Beal with the first pick, and his professional football career officially began.
During his years with the Buffalo Bills, Simpson gradually rose to prominence as an indispensable core player for the team. In 1973, he set a record of more than 2,000 yards with the ball in one season. While six other athletes have broken the 2,000-yard record, Simpson remains the only professional rugby player to have sprinted over 2,000 yards with the ball in a 14-game season.
△ In 1985, Simpson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Source: The official website of the National Football League
Simpson's 76 touchdowns in his professional football career made him unbeatable on the pitch with his speed, strength and perseverance, making him one of the greatest running backs in American football history. In 1985, Simpson was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame.
A life of controversy in the maelstrom of law
The glory on the court should have made Simpson's life dazzling, however, a murder case that shocked the world was like a heavy shadow, shrouding his life in endless controversy and doubt. Although he was legally acquitted, the public's skepticism was unavoidable.
△ In 1994, Simpson was with his ex-wife Brown and their children Source: Reuters
Five years after retiring from professional football, in 1985, Simpson married Nicole Brown Simpson. Brown was his second wife, and the couple had two children, but in 1992, Brown filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
On June 13, 1994, Brown, then 35, and his 25-year-old friend Ron Goldman were found dead in their home in Brentwood, California, both from stab wounds with sharp weapons.
After the crime, Simpson became the prime suspect. But he did not turn himself in on time, so the police pursued him, with a helicopter following him overhead. When chased by police, Simpson reportedly pointed a gun to his head, forcing the officers to retreat, but ultimately chose to surrender to police that day.
Police chase Simpson's car Source: CNN
Simpson's bloodstains were found at the scene of the crime, bloody leather gloves were found behind the hotel where Simpson was staying, Brown had been abused by Simpson for a long time, and Simpson himself had no clear alibi...... All sorts of evidence seem to point to Simpson.
To defend the lawsuit, Simpson spent a lot of money to assemble a strong team of lawyers known as the "Dream Team" to defend the case, including civil rights attorney Johnnie Cochran, star defense attorneys F. Lee Bailey and Alan Dershowitz, and DNA expert Barry Scheck. Robert Kardashian, a close friend of Simpsons and father of the Kardashian sisters, also joined.
The "trial of the century" lasted more than eight months, and was finally acquitted by the court on the grounds of insufficient evidence. However, in a civil lawsuit filed by the victim's family, Simpson was awarded $33.5 million in damages.
△ In 1995, Simpson was tried in Los Angeles Source: CNN
Simpson was last involved in a criminal case in 2008 when he broke into a Las Vegas hotel room with four accomplices, pointed a gun at 2 sports memorabilia dealers, and stole items related to his NFL career. Simpson was convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to 33 years in prison, but was released on parole in 2017 after serving about nine years.
Died of cancer
What many people don't know is that Simpson also broke into the entertainment industry.
Simpson began acting while still in college, appearing in a series of films such as the miniseries Roots (1977), the dramatic action film The Ku Klux Klan (1974), The Skyscraper (1974), Cassandra Bridge (1976) and Capricorn One (1978). He even founded his own film production company, Orethal Film Productions, in 1979.
In addition, Simpson has been a commentator for Monday Football Night and NBC Review of the National Football League.
And after being released from prison on parole for the robbery, Simpson gradually faded out of the public eye.
In 2019, he told The Associated Press that he played golf every day and said, "My family and I have entered what we call the 'no-negativity zone.'" We focus on the positives. ”
△In 2019, Simpson opened his own social media account
That year, he also started his own social media account on X (formerly Twitter) and posted a video saying "You'll see my thoughts and opinions on almost everything."
Since then, he has become an "active user" of the platform, updating more than 2-3 video posts almost every month, basically in the form of his selfie perspective, sharing his insights on hot topics in rugby and the online world "from one shot to the next".
In February, there was media reports that Simpson had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and there was speculation that he was receiving hospice care. On Feb. 10, he took to social media to deny rumors that he was undergoing chemotherapy and had been taken to a hospice, saying "All is well."
And on the evening of April 11, his family posted the news of Simpson's death through the account: "On April 10, our father James Simpson died of cancer. His children and grandchildren are with him. During this time of transition, his family expects you to respect their privacy and give the last decency. ”
The controversy over the good death of the "wicked" will continue
According to CBS, Simpson's death has once again sparked discussion about his acquittal.
Goldman's father, Fred Goldman, said Simpson's death was "not a great loss to the world." "The only thing I have to say is that this is just another reminder of how many years Ron has been gone."
Attorney Alan Dershowitz, who served as legal counsel to Simpson's defense team, admitted to NBC in a statement that the 1994 wife-killing trial and eventual acquittal were an important part of Simpson's legacy.
Dershowitz told reporters that it was one of the most racially divisive trials in U.S. history. People will always remember the moment when he was chased by a police car, tried on gloves in court, and acquitted.
Alyssa Farah Griffin, the former White House communications chief, dismissed Simpson's acquittal as "a miscarriage of justice," and "when such a person dies, my only thought is that I hope it will bring some comfort to the victim's family." ”
Even though Simpson has died, the controversy will continue. Some are convinced that Simpson's guilt is a "foregone conclusion" and that his death is just an unfair "evil" death. Others believe that the court has already handed down a fair verdict.
Modern Express/Hyundai + reporter Long Qiuli