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If something obtained to the center of OJ Simpson’s troubled legacy within the NFL, it was the shortage of response to his dying from a sport at which he excelled.
Simpson, whose dying on the age of 76 was introduced on Thursday, was one of many biggest 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 buddy Ronald Goldman, that will 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 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 biggest gamers in NFL historical past, a real pioneer and activist. Jim Brown’s legacy will dwell on perpetually.” 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, typically with video from the league’s big archive, Simpson’s dying 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 reflected on Simpson. “Anybody who has critically seemed on the proof … must come to the conclusion that he was a assassin,” stated Schaap. “And so am I stuffed with sorrow in the present day? I’m not.”
NFL groups publish tributes to social media when considered one of their former participant dies, even when they solely had a quick time with the franchise. However the Buffalo Bills, the place Simpson performed most of his profession and have become one of the vital well-known males in America, didn’t acknowledge his dying on their social media accounts on Thursday. A number of hours after Simpson’s dying the latest tweet on the Payments’ X account was a contented birthday message to considered one of their former broad receivers, Steve Tasker. Simpson’s different skilled staff, the San Francisco 49ers, and his school staff, USC, additionally selected to not point out his dying on their X accounts.
Excessive-profile athletes comparable to LeBron James, who typically reacts to the dying 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 prepared to say something remotely optimistic about Simpson.
“The quantity [of] journalists/media firms which can be utilizing OJ’s courtroom photos to announce his dying is disgusting! No matter what you might take into consideration him he was harmless in courtroom and has children out right here,” wrote Smith.
However whereas the sports activities world stayed largely silent, Simpson’s dying was quickly trending on X. Lots of the hottest tweets had been of Simpson being welcomed to hell.
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