The Way of the World

O.J. Simpson: America’s Nightmare, the Media’s Wet Dream

"Again?!" That was the thought that immediately registered in my mind when I saw a caption flash across my television screen reporting that O.J. Simpson had been arrested and charged with armed robbery on Sunday, September 18 in Las Vegas. Authorities allege Simpson was arrested for probable cause stemming from an incident earlier that week when he and five other men allegedly entered a room unlawfully at the Palace Station Hotel and attempted to forcibly obtain football paraphernalia that once was the property of Simpson. The police report includes details stating the men were armed with semi-automatic weapons. Simpson is charged with two felony counts of robbery, a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon, and also conspiracy to commit burglary. “Damn! O.J. can’t stay out of trouble!” That was my second thought, as I finished reading the caption.

What profound irony that Simpson would generate headline news on Sunday morning, the day of the week that Simpson made his self famous as a superstar football player in the NFL. Initially, I didn’t think Simpson’s latest run in with the law was significant, considering the fact this wasn’t the first time Simpson has been in legal trouble since the much media hyped “trial of the century” that concluded with Simpson acquitted of murder charges of his wife and her “friend” Ron Goldman. Since the murder trial, OJ has sporadically made headlines due to his erratic behavior. I simply dismissed this as yet another incident of Simpson engaging in frivolous behavior that led him into some legal trouble. I assumed he would make headlines for the next couple of days, be the target of a couple Jay Leno and David Lettermen jokes, and as time went on the media would quickly start to forget about Simpson’s case and move on to the next celebrity or athlete surrounded in controversy. Where is Michael Vick when you need him?

However, Simpson’s latest legal troubles have garnered overwhelming coverage from the mainstream media. It seemed that every major media outlet was covering Simpson’s case as a high profile world exclusive with updates by the second of new developments of the case. Before I could even finish writing it has just been reported Simpson passed gas in the infamous white Ford Bronco he was driving when authorities apprehended him in the first trial. Additional information will be provided as reporters investigate the cause of his flatulence.

I was surprised Simpson was still considered relevant enough to attract so much media attention. I understand he was a Heisman trophy winner at the University of Southern California, six time NFL pro-bowler, and the first running back to rush for 2000 yards in an NFL regular season. The significance of Simpson’s accomplishments on the field made him a superstar athlete which helped transcend his stardom from sports to entertainment which was one of the reasons his murder trial was one of national interest. However, the most paramount reason, the O.J. Simpson trial captured the collective attention of the nation was not simply because a famous football player was accused of murdering his wife, but rather because a black football player was accused of murdering his white wife. It remains to be seen, but goes without saying if Simpson’s wife was African American his trial would not have been amplified to be titled “The Trial of the Century”.

The reality is Simpson’s celebrity as a superstar was destroyed due to the murder trial, and he has never been able to come close to repairing his image. Simpson is no longer thought of as a football player, but rather as an alleged murderer. Since the murder trial Simpson has become a caricature of himself, largely due to the media scrutinizing his post-trial actions. His celebrity has been removed and replaced with infamy. The interest in Simpson is no longer because of his fame as an athlete, but rather the legacy of the murder trial. I remember being in high school when the verdict for the murder trial was announced, when the words not guilty reverberated across the nation. The revelation of the polarization of black and white race relations manifested. It is undeniable Simpson has caused self inflicted damage to his reputation. However, it is equally undeniable the media has sensationalized Simpson’s life. This latest incident serves as an example of the media’s obsession with O.J Simpson. Simpson was elusive on the football field evading defenders; he was also evasive at shaking off prosecutors during his murder trial. However, Simpson will never be fast or elusive enough to outrun the camera, microphones, pens, and laptops of the media.

-Dante Harris