If something acquired to the guts of OJ Simpson’s troubled legacy within the NFL, it was the shortage of response to his demise from a sport at which he excelled.
Simpson, whose demise on the age of 76 was introduced on Thursday, was one of many best working backs of all time. He performed within the NFL for 11 seasons, led the league in speeding on 4 events and was elected to the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 1985. His induction into the corridor got here 10 years earlier than the homicide trial, the place he was controversially acquitted of killing his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and her pal Ronald Goldman, that may overshadow his enjoying profession.
That trial, which ended his picture as a lovable retired soccer star, explains the silence. When Jim Brown, a equally proficient working again, died final 12 months the NFL tweeted a tribute inside minutes of the announcement of his passing. “We’re heartbroken by the passing of the legendary Jim Brown,” learn the tweet. “One of many best gamers in NFL historical past, a real pioneer and activist. Jim Brown’s legacy will dwell on ceaselessly.” In distinction, the NFL’s solely tweet on Thursday morning was a glance again on the 1989 draft.
On the NFL’s official web site, which normally posts prolonged tributes to former stars once they die, usually with video from the league’s enormous archive, Simpson’s demise was reported with company copy. There was no look again at his best video games or most interesting touchdowns.
ESPN, the mainstream voice of sports activities in America, aired a section during which reporter Jeremy Schaap mirrored on Simpson. “Anybody who has critically seemed on the proof … must come to the conclusion that he was a assassin,” mentioned Schaap. “And so am I full of sorrow at present? I’m not.”
NFL groups put up tributes to social media when one among their former participant dies, even when they solely had a quick time with the franchise. However the Buffalo Payments, the place Simpson performed most of his profession and have become one of the well-known males in America, didn’t acknowledge his demise on their social media accounts on Thursday. A number of hours after Simpson’s demise the newest tweet on the Payments’ X account was a contented birthday message to one among their former huge receivers, Steve Tasker. Simpson’s different skilled crew, the San Francisco 49ers, and his faculty crew, USC, additionally selected to not point out his demise on their X accounts.
Excessive-profile athletes similar to LeBron James, who usually reacts to the demise of former sports activities stars, had been largely silent. Caitlyn Jenner, who was an Olympic champion when Simpson’s soccer profession was at its peak, tweeted “Good riddance”. Former NFL receiver Torrey Smith was one of many few soccer gamers keen to say something remotely constructive about Simpson.
“The quantity [of] journalists/media firms which are utilizing OJ’s court docket photos to announce his demise is disgusting! No matter what you might take into consideration him he was harmless in court docket and has youngsters out right here,” wrote Smith.
However whereas the sports activities world stayed largely silent, Simpson’s demise was quickly trending on X. Most of the hottest tweets had been of Simpson being welcomed to hell.
