O.J. Simpson in Los Angeles for memorabilia signing (10 years ago , Oct. 3rd , OJ walked)

ap on LA Times ^ | 9/30/05 | Linda Deutsch - ap

[NormsRevenge]

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Ten years after he was acquitted of killing his ex-wife and her friend, O.J. Simpson was back in Los Angeles - autographing sports memorabilia for people attending a horror movie convention.

Simpson acknowledged it felt "strange" to be signing autographs in such venue, but said it didn't occur to him that the date nearly coincided with the 10th anniversary of his Oct. 3, 1995, acquittal on charges of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.

"I don't keep these dates in my head," Simpson told The Associated Press on Friday as he signed various items with the inscription "O.J. Simpson '68 Heisman," a reference to the year he won the Heisman Trophy as college football's greatest player.

He said the only anniversary he observes is when he and his children mark their mother's birthday with a cake.

His opening-night appearance was a private affair in the upstairs portion of a warehouse where he was presented with items sent in by collectors who paid in advance for his signature.

Fans who prepaid $95 a ticket to enter the convention later in the weekend will have the opportunity to buy memorabilia and also get Simpson's signature, as well as buy souvenirs of horror films and comic books.

"This is kind of an unusual venue," Simpson remarked. "Friends were really excited when they heard I was coming to this, but I find this strange."

The former football star, who flew to California from his Miami home, said he occasionally appears at memorabilia conventions to sign such things as football helmets, jerseys and lithographs for collectors who pay top dollar. He acknowledged he was being paid for this appearance but declined to discuss financial arrangements.

"All the guys do this," he said of his fellow retired athletes. He also suggested he needs the money to pay for college educations for his two youngest children.

One of those who came to see him was Karen Valentina of Fort Worth, Texas, who hoped to have a picture taken.

"He was an amazing player," she said. "That's awesome."

Simpson, meanwhile, said he isn't worried that relatives of his wife and her friend will take him to court to try to get the money he's being paid.

After his acquittal, the victims' survivors sued him in civil court where a jury, using a lesser standard of proof than required in a criminal trial, found Simpson liable for the killings. He was ordered to pay $33.5 million.

"If I get a lot of legal hassle, I'll just go back to playing golf," he said.

[princess leah]

"the only dates we remember are the children's mother's birthday which we celebrate with a cake" Too bad you didn't remember your divorce date in which you were given notice to "leave her alone" or the date she called 911 to tell them that he was "trying to kill her"...too bad the jury didn't believe the word of the dead woman in court tapes!

[Bogolyubski]

The whole affair is a enormous mockery of God, of course. On a serious note, the theologian John Calvin had an interesting comment on the fact that evildoers sometimes get away with their wickedness in our fallen world. To paraphrase:

Don't fret about evildoers who escape justice! It's actually a very bad sign for them that they are allowed to escape judgement in this life, for they are merely being fattened (with their wickedness) for the day of (ultimate) slaughter.

One day, this hero of degenerates will face a judge who knows the complete truth of what took place, who knows every single thought that went through his mind as he did what he did. God will not be mocked forever. Dies Irae.

[TheSpottedOwl]

How revolting. I remember when he got off. It was like, "no bleepin' way"! From what I hear, he's bucking for Father of the Year. Nicole's family should have gotten custody of the kids.

[aardvark1]

I'm sure he's using the money to fund the search for his wife's murderer.

[hoboken109]

probably guilty ???You're not SURE? You have to be joking ..Oh and your racism comment , I see where you're coming from my friend. Very obvious . Buddy , OL being black has zero to do with my hatred of him .Dont pull the racist crap on me , I dont fall for it .

[hoboken109]

PS , why do you assume I'm white ?

[mombonn]

He said the only anniversary he observes is when he and his children mark their mother's birthday with a cake.

Is that before or after the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy have tea with Santa Claus?

[Radioactive]

I wonder if he ever found the killers of his wife and her friend.

He must still be looking...I'll bet he thought that the killer may attend one of these events or even golf on the same courses he plays.

[drt1]

"He said he was charging $95 for photos and T-shirts signed by Simpson, and $125 for autographed football jerseys and helmets. But one fan who turned up, Joseph Wells, 41, said he paid $200 for an autographed jersey."

" I like the Juice, and I wanted to get a shirt signed,” Wells said, referring to the former running back’s football nickname."

Brain Dead, amoral, ignorant A$$hat

[drt1]

"The absence of law and order is chaos and anarchy."

Maybe but there are many who see the legal system, the complexity/technicalities and the ease with which it is manipulated, as a primary source of chaos and anarchy - It is just so much more subtle a form of the two. This case is a prime example.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Ten years after he was acquitted of killing his ex-wife and her friend, O.J. Simpson was back in Los Angeles - autographing sports memorabilia for people attending a horror movie convention.

Why would anyone want this clown's autograph?

[RipSawyer]

Oh, he murdered Ron and Nicole all right; the evidence is well beyond a reasonable doubt.>>>>>>>>

Oh, come on, it is certainly reasonable to believe that aliens from another planet kidnapped O.J. collected blood samples and other evidence from him, committed the murder and then set up a frame job. What could be more of a reasonable doubt than that?

On the other hand, this crazy notion that the police framed him is simply beyond belief for anyone with a measurable IQ.

[HereInTheHeartland]

"How the hell does he get away with what he does?"

He won't. His punishment will be after he departs earth.

[the Deejay]

How the hell does he get away with what he does?

Because the jury gave him a free ticket....And it is amazing how many people believe the jury's verdict.

[the Deejay]

Probably guilty???

If calle, please stay off a jury.

I see you signed up yesterday.....

[Churchillspirit]

Good post.

Why could I not get images of the Clintons out of my head as I was reading it?

[Churchillspirit]

The only good thing to come out of the Simpson trials was that Mark Furhman (so vilified in the criminal trial) now has a good job as a criminal analyst with FOX and has authored two(?) best selling books.

[Rebelbase]

"He was ordered to pay $33.5 million."

Can't the court sieze the ticket proceeds from the event?

[TheForceOfOne]

Unless someone has a better idea we are stuck with the system we have. Society will never be a perfect place but we can make the best of it. OJ in my eyes was guilty and deserved to die them same as his victims but it wasn't my decision that he went free.

Generally, the more civil the location the trial takes place the more likely a just outcome will prevail. We have many areas in the country we could consider lacking in this category. In Baltimore they put out a "Don't Snitch" video to intimidate witnesses and until the police tracked them down it gave criminals an advantage over the law. There is a website out now that promises to post pictures of snitches and undercover law officers to expose them to harm and it too must be stopped. I posted a thread on this topic recently. Here is the link if you're interested.

Snitch Site Could Lead To Internet Hits On Rats

Also, as Mark Levin will tell you we have many problems with our judiciary but those problems can be fixed and we must do what we can to make that happen. President Bush is making these changes at the highest level the SCOTUS which will cause a ripple affect to the lower courts and the assertion of law.

The citizens who do take part on a jury that allows criminals to go free results in part due to bad prosecutions and also in part to the citizens themselves to understand the law and put their prejudices and personal feelings about the defendant and environment they live in to the side.

We have had innocent people locked up for life in prison because they were railroaded by corrupt police officers and witnesses and by prejudice of the jury. We have also watched them walk free for the sames reasons.

Under no circumstance would I support private citizens extracting their own private justice beyond the courts by rope or any other method. It doesn't matter what color your skin is, know one deserves this fate in a civil society.

The affects of Liberalism that have destroyed our cities and has created a population block that rely on the socialism of this ideology is directly responsible. Liberalism has nurtured an atmosphere of mistrust by color, sexual orientation, etc. and promulgated by the likes of Charlie Rangel for personal gain politcally and financially.

Rangel's Repugnant Ravings

We look at OJ with disdain through a narrow looking glass when it is a much larger picture we must address.

[Bogolyubski]

Thanks. You ask:

"Why could I not get images of the Clintons out of my head as I was reading it?"

Probably because it applies as much to the Great Stainmaker, Lord Hee Haw of Arkansas and his bride the Lizard Queen as much as it does to O. J. That's my take on it, at least!