Orenthal James (O.J) Simpson might finally be going away for good. 61 years after his birth in San Francisco, 40 years after he won the prestigious Heisman trophy, 35 years after being the NFL MVP, 23 years after marrying Nicole Brown, 14 years after Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman were found dead outside Brown's condo, and 13 years after being found not guilty of murder, we may have just seen the last free chapter of O.J Simpson's unbelievable life come to a close around midnight on October fourth as he was found guilty on all 12 twelve charges including armed robbery and kidnapping. After years in America's spotlight, we may have seen the last of O.J.
Why does this matter? Why does America care so much about a sociopathic, ex-star athlete that has not contributed positively to American society in any way in around 35 years?
Sadly, we care because O.J has come to symbolize America in far too many ways. He was symbolic of "the American Dream," but has now come to represent racial tension, greed, and lost hope. In many ways, O.J has become a scapegoat for American society and its growing problems. Who cares about the economy, at least we aren't in O.J's shoes (or gloves). It is as though America needs to constantly be a part of his situation and even before the murder he constantly needed to be in our spotlight.
Regardless of if he was innocent or guilty of murder in 1994, the day he led those California cops along the Orange Country freeway in his White, Ford Bronco, O.J became more than a person, he became a sign of change and loss of innocence in American society. As America watched O.J drive away from authority, losing his fortune and livelihood right before our eyes along the way, we could no longer hold onto the blind faith and trust connected with American superstar athletes. Never before had one's demise been so public, and in a weird way it feels as if O.J never left his Bronco, but has continued to drive for the past 14 years through American hearts and minds. Millions of American's can't stand the though of O.J, yet they can't seem to stop thinking about him.
Even if O.J's lawyers appeal this case, it is hard to imagine O.J not spending the rest of his life in jail. And in many ways, jail may be the most fitting end to O.J's life-long saga, as he has gone from embodying the American Dream to the American Nightmare.
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