If something obtained to the guts of OJ Simpson’s troubled legacy within the NFL, it was the dearth of response to his loss of life from a sport at which he excelled.
Simpson, whose loss of life on the age of 76 was introduced on Thursday, was one of many biggest operating 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 good friend Ronald Goldman, that might overshadow his taking part in profession.
That trial, which ended his picture as a lovable retired soccer star, explains the silence. When Jim Brown, a equally proficient operating 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 biggest gamers in NFL historical past, a real pioneer and activist. Jim Brown’s legacy will reside 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 after they die, usually with video from the league’s big archive, Simpson’s loss of life was reported with company copy. There was no look again at his biggest video games or most interesting touchdowns.
ESPN, the mainstream voice of sports activities in America, aired a section by which reporter Jeremy Schaap mirrored on Simpson. “Anybody who has severely seemed on the proof … must come to the conclusion that he was a assassin,” stated Schaap. “And so am I full of sorrow right this moment? I’m not.”
NFL groups put up tributes to social media when one among their former participant dies, even when they solely had a short time with the franchise. However the Buffalo Payments, the place Simpson performed most of his profession and have become probably the most well-known males in America, didn’t acknowledge his loss of life on their social media accounts on Thursday. A number of hours after Simpson’s loss of life the newest tweet on the Payments’ X account was a contented birthday message to one among their former broad receivers, Steve Tasker. Simpson’s different skilled crew, the San Francisco 49ers, and his faculty crew, USC, additionally selected to not point out his loss of life on their X accounts.
Excessive-profile athletes akin to LeBron James, who usually reacts to the loss of life 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 optimistic about Simpson.
“The quantity [of] journalists/media firms which can be utilizing OJ’s court docket footage to announce his loss of life is disgusting! No matter what chances are you’ll take into consideration him he was harmless in court docket and has children out right here,” wrote Smith.
However whereas the sports activities world stayed largely silent, Simpson’s loss of life was quickly trending on X. Most of the hottest tweets had been of Simpson being welcomed to hell.
