Posted on 09/30/2005 9:35:35 PM PDT by 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.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
OJ is trash of the lowest order. He should be on the end of a rope.How the hell does he get away with what he does?
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."
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He could cut and slice thru a crowd like no one before or since.
Officer Nordberg, hot on the trail of his ex-wife's murderer, stops for memorabilia money and scratch the patch in LAX.
I hope he keeps the images of Nicole and Ron laying butchered in his head every night................
I pray that someday he walks in to a resturant while I'm eating . I'd either demand he be thrown out or I'd make one hell of a scene. Why dosent someone talk every dime he ows from him at this autograph session.He never payed off his civil obligation.Why does he get a pass ?
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Does he get harassed by the public at all.If I saw him signing autographs they'd have to get the cop to stop me from shouting every obsenity I know at him
The only comfort we and the victims families can take out of this is that he may still be able to run for now but in the end, he will have to answer his maker someday for his actions.
There are no words, just none. (at least that are allowed on FR)
Black Jury and White Victims?
Fear of another black riot and looting fest in LA?
Typical liberal Democrat jury?
Star struck and publicity addicted Judge?
Inept, incompetent and emotionally "distracted" civil servants prosecuting?
Answer: ALL of the above, and more..
Plus, the public is impressed with the fine job he is doing, looking for his wife's REAL murderer......
Semper Fi
I'd spit in his face if i nmet him.
O though he owes BIG money to the victims families? I though they have the right to take what he earns to pay off a court ordered debt?
I still have his rookie card, never priced it.
I'd wipe my butt with it .
It's just a card.
Ok use the REAL OJ to wipe ya butt and keep the card .
Los Angeles Times, September 30, 2005
Drop everything, folks. Call in sick, cancel the kids' soccer games, load them into the Bronco and head for Northridge.O.J. Simpson is back in town.
The former USC and pro football superstar is scheduled to take a well-deserved break from his exhaustive search for the killer of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman to sign autographs ($90) and pose for pictures ($20) at a Halloween-themed comic book and collectible convention.
Hard to believe?
Come on. It's L.A.
"If the Earth doesn't open up, and the fires don't come all the way down to Northridge, he's going to be there," said Tom Riccio, a promoter who has been advertising Simpson's visit. After reading that Simpson had been kicked out of a sports memorabilia show near Chicago this summer, Riccio called a colleague who knows the ex-football player. The colleague assured Riccio that Simpson, who lives in Florida, "was all for getting back into L.A. and seeing his fans."
Assuming he shows up, Simpson couldn't pick a more dramatic moment. Monday marks the 10-year anniversary of his acquittal on murder charges, and on Sunday, he'll be appearing with a special guest.
No, not Charles Manson.
No, not Kato Kaelin.
Simpson will team up with none other than his old pal Al Cowlings.
Cowlings, of course, was the driver of the infamous white Ford Bronco and co-star of a live...
(snip)
But don't let wrongful death keep you from collecting a souvenir from the most elusive and slashing runner in history.
For $125, you can get O.J. to sign a USC helmet. For a mere $80, an autographed copy of the Simpson book "I Want to Tell You" will make a great holiday gift for a loved one. I once saw a remaindered copy in which someone had changed "Tell" to "Kill," but it's not clear whether O.J. would sign such a book.
"It's only for sports-related items," Riccio said. "He won't sign pictures of him in the courtroom, or him running around in the Bronco, or him holding up a glove."
It gets worse. Riccio told me O.J. won't sign a knife, either.
When you're on the trail of your ex-wife's killer, you don't want to come off like some kind of carnival act.
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