NPR’s Michel Martin speaks with CBS Information’ Steve Futterman about former soccer star and acquitted homicide suspect O.J. Simpson.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Former soccer star Orenthal James Simpson, higher generally known as O.J., has died after a battle with most cancers. He was 76 years previous. His household introduced the information this morning in a put up on X, previously Twitter. After his soccer profession, Simpson starred in films and commercials, however he gained international consideration after being accused of the homicide of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her good friend Ronald Goldman. He was acquitted in that trial. Reporter Steve Futterman adopted the total arc of O.J. Simpson’s profession, and he’s with us now to inform us extra about it. Good morning.
STEVE FUTTERMAN: Good morning, Michel.
MARTIN: His household introduced Simpson’s dying this morning. Do we all know something extra in regards to the circumstances?
FUTTERMAN: Properly, we had been instructed a number of months in the past that he was coping with prostate most cancers. I truly was tipped off round per week in the past from a supply who mentioned that he was in very unhealthy form. I may by no means verify it. So it was one thing that basically, I assume, developed in the previous few months. His final put up on Twitter, X, was a number of months in the past, I believe in February. He was a daily poster on Twitter, X. However since then he had by no means posted a factor, and that made me a bit suspicious about whether or not this report the supply was telling me was true. And certain sufficient, it turned out to be.
MARTIN: You lined O.J. Simpson for many years. So I simply wish to begin by asking how he first turned a star.
FUTTERMAN: Properly, he was an incredible soccer participant – went to the College of Southern California, gained the Heisman Trophy. He was a charismatic determine, too. He ran the ball a bit in a different way than different gamers, and was simply an acclaimed operating again for USC, went to the Nationwide Soccer League, performed for the Buffalo Payments, did not obtain a lot so far as crew success. It was a crew that simply may by no means recover from the hump. However he achieved nice success. He turned the primary operating again to realize over 2,000 yards within the NFL, and was a Corridor of Famer. I imply, he was an ideal soccer participant. There was by no means any doubt about his soccer talents.
MARTIN: So then this homicide trial in 1994 – it was a world spectacle. You lined that. Simply describe for individuals who do not bear in mind it what it was like.
FUTTERMAN: Properly, first was the invention that he was being charged. This was in 1994, June 12, a Sunday night time, Ron Goldman and his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, have been – had some assembly at – she had had dinner at Ron Goldman’s restaurant. She left her glasses. He introduced them again. O.J. Simpson, in keeping with the prosecution, found them in the home, turned enraged and killed them. Now, that was the prosecution’s story. O.J. Simpson claimed he by no means did something like that. And that was what the trial was about – did he do it or did not he do it? There have been some memorable moments within the trial – the bloody glove that was discovered outdoors the place O.J. Simpson lived. Was that him attempting to return to the home? There have been blood stains – have been they O.J. Simpson’s blood stains or not? There was a well-known second within the trial – Johnnie Cochran, his very, excellent protection legal professional, throughout closing arguments, mentioned in regards to the glove, if it would not match, you should acquit. And the jury in a short time – this was one other controversial a part of the case – round 4 hours – it took the jury, after months and months of testimony, lower than 4 hours to search out him not responsible. And it by no means happy anybody. There have been individuals who felt it was a correct jury verdict. There have been individuals who felt it was the mistaken verdict. And it was by no means something that was utterly solved. There was at all times this query – did he or did not he do it? The trial did not actually resolve that.
MARTIN: He hasn’t been very seen in recent times. We solely have a few seconds left. However what do you make of that? I imply, he is been form of a – I do not wish to use the phrase joke, however he is been, you understand, in skits in “Saturday Night time Reside” and that form of factor.
FUTTERMAN: Proper.
MARTIN: He is type of develop into a joke. How do you suppose we’ll consider him now?
FUTTERMAN: Properly, I believe we’re at all times going to surprise about whether or not he did it or not. There was a civil trial afterwards the place he was discovered liable. He was finally imprisoned after a cost of kidnapping in Las Vegas, the place he was attempting to take memorabilia that he mentioned belonged to him. So he did find yourself in in jail for round 9 years. However at all times I believe it is going to be, did he do it? Did he not do it? And I believe there are nonetheless many, many people who find themselves not satisfied both manner. So I believe that is the lasting reminiscence we will have about O.J. Simpson, one of many nice whodunits of all time.
MARTIN: And in addition form of a – type of a metaphor for movie star tradition gone off the rails.
FUTTERMAN: Completely, completely.
MARTIN: That is correspondent Steve Futterman. He joined us through Skype. Steve, thanks a lot.
FUTTERMAN: Thanks, Michel.
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