In 1995 O.J. Simpson, the football superstar affectionately nicknamed "the Juice" found himself as the defendant in "The Trial of the Century". The charge: First degree murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman. At the time it was the biggest trial in U.S. history, and arguably remains so today, right up there with Casey Anthony and Jodi Arias.
OJ Simpson was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. As a child he developed rickets and had to wear braces on his legs until he was five. He lived in the projects, belonged to a gang and served a brief stint in jail.
In high school he excelled in football, and received a Junior College scholarship, which paved the way for him to enroll at USC. There, he was twice named an All-American, and awarded the Heisman trophy.
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He set numerous records in the NFL, and is still one of the most famous running backs in the history of football.
O.J. Simpson was an athlete who came from nothing and created an empire. It wasn't given to him -- he worked hard for it and earned it.
He was looked up to, in fact worshipped, by millions. He broke many racial barriers and was loved by all.
When he retired from the NFL he was at the top of his game, an icon, and began acting in both television and movies. Whatever he wanted, he got and he had no trouble showing it off. He had the Heisman, the big mansion and more money than he knew what to do with. His every whim was catered to wherever he went.
O.J. was living a great life, and was a married man when he met 17-year-old Nicole Brown. He soon divorced his wife and married the beautiful Nicole, but it wasn't long before trouble began brewing.
Nicole kept a diary, describing the anger, the hitting, the kicking, the fighting. She had photos of her injuries and she also had witnesses.
When she filed for divorce, the stalking began. She wrote that she was extremely frightened that he would carry out his threats to kill her, and that he had become a monster.
Yet, nothing was done and he continued to stalk and harass, wherever she went.
This is when we get our first glimpse inside the mind of O.J. It’s a very simple analysis. He was an abuser of the worst kind, one with money, power and fame. Nicole was not a wife, but rather a possession like the big L.A. mansion, the Heisman trophy and the NFL records.
He expected her to cater to him like an adoring fan and when she did not, he became furious.
While he was still married to Nicole he was living a wild, single life. He wanted her to excuse his indiscretions-- something she did up to a point.
Finally, she wrote OJ a letter that she was through with the abuse, through with the cheating, and wanted a new life. OJ just could not accept that. HE could walk away from someone, but no one was going to walk away from him.
The abuser mindset is all about power and control over another person, usually a love interest. The abuser often has a fear they are not good enough and use psychological insults and isolation to gain control.
This starts the cycle leading to verbal and then physical abuse. At some point the abuser realizes he is losing his possession and the mindset kicks in: "Well, if I can't have her no one else will.”
In the end, Nicole's fear was realized. Her throat was slashed, and she and Goldman were brutally stabbed repeatedly.
The O.J. mindset is one of an abuser coupled with that of an entitled celebrity. He was “the Juice,” the beloved O.J. and Nicole belonged to him.
The normal rules of society did not apply to him; he could do what he wanted, when he wanted and there would always be an adoring public to have his back.
There were always women more than ready to jump in bed with him and men who wanted to be his friends.
O.J. was a suspect in his ex-wife’s murder. His trial, which was presided over by Judge Lance Ito, lasted nine months, but was deliberated by the jury for only four hours.
O.J. was found not guilty.
Reactions to the verdict split along racial lines-- blacks for the most part celebrated and whites, formerly his biggest supporters, felt Simpson got away with murder. But let's not forget, even though he was found not guilty, he was later found liable for civil damages to the tune of $33.5 million.
This and the legal fees from his two trials wrecked his financial empire and brought his playhouse tumbling down.
So, what’s a superstar celebrity to do when he’s lost everything? In OJ’s case it lead to stealing sports memorabilia he had signed years before. He needed the money and it didn't matter that the property was owned by another-- his autograph was on the merchandise and therefore he wanted it. It was really his, right? After all he was “the Juice.”
The jury didn't see it that way, and O.J. was found guilty of armed robbery and kidnapping- sentenced to spend 9-to-33 years in prison.
For the majority of Americans, who believe he got away with murder, this was considered the ultimate payback for killing his ex-wife and her friend.
Now O.J. is attempting to get that guilty verdict reversed with a new trial. He says he didn't have adequate representation -- placing the blame (of course) on somebody else -- his lawyer at the time. We will find soon find out if OJ is granted a new trial.
It's all or nothing for O.J. with this move, but if his wish is granted you can bet this trial will be a media circus just like the first one. If another trial is granted, it will be O.J.'s Hail Mary pass, a last ditch effort to get out of prison before he is an old, old man.
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