Other Free Encyclopedias » Famous Sports Stars » Football » O.J. Simpson Biography - The Early Years, Chronology, Usc And Beyond, The Record Books, Acting And Endorsements

O.J. Simpson - The Early Years

single season rushing record san francisco brown california

Born Orenthal James Simpson on July 9, 1947, in Putrero Hill, a low-income neighborhood outside of San Francisco, California, Simpson's childhood pointed to everything but a career in athletics. His father left the family while Simpson was still a toddler and his mother worked at a psychiatric ward to support her four children. Simpson developed rickets soon after birth and the disease left him pigeon-toed and bowlegged. Unable to afford surgery to correct the affliction, Simpson endured the wrath of his childhood friends who took to calling him "Pencil Pins" because of his legs. His early interest in sports was encouraged by his mother, however, and combined with his unfettered determination he would eventually achieve the excellence and acceptance he desired in his youth.

During Simpson's adolescence his experiments on the wrong side of the law would lead to a life changing meeting with San Francisco Giant hero Willie Mays. Simpson, along with friend Al "A.C." Cowlings, joined a local gang known as the Persian Warriors. After getting caught stealing, a neighborhood youth leader asked Mays to spend an afternoon with the teenage Simpson. He would recall it later in life as the first time he realized that he could achieve his dreams.

Chronology

1947 Born July 9 in San Francisco, California
1967 Enrolls at the University of Southern California
1967 Marries Marguerite Whitley
1967 Named Outstanding Player in the Rose Bowl
1968 Wins the Heisman Trophy
1968 Signs television contract with ABC
1969 Joins the Buffalo Bills
1969 Named Man of the Year by Sport magazine
1973 Breaks single season rushing record
1974 Appears in The Towering Inferno
1975 Begins Hertz Rent-A-Car campaign
1977 Meets Nicole Brown
1978 Divorces Maguerite Whitely
1978 Traded to San Francisco 49ers
1979 Daughter Aaren drowns in backyard swimming pool
1979 Retires from football
1985 Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame
1985 Marries Nicole Brown
1989 Arrested for spousal battery
1992 Files for divorce from Brown
1994 Nicole Brown found murdered
1994 Arrested for murder
1995 Acquitted in criminal trial

Simpson would quickly gain his first taste of the adulation that he would enjoy throughout so much of his life. Simpson and Cowlings were named to the all-city team in high school and were their team's star players. Simpson, however, didn't have the grades to go on to a reputable school and instead played at City College of San Francisco. At City College, Simpson quickly garnered notice averaging 9.3 yards per carry and scoring fifty-four touchdowns. Of the fifty colleges that tried to recruit him after his sophomore year, Simpson chose the University of Southern California. He married his high school sweetheart, Maguerite Whitley, and continued his climb to stardom.

O.J. Simpson - Chronology [next]

User Comments

Your email address will be altered so spam harvesting bots can't read it easily.
Hide my email completely instead?

Cancel or

Vote down Vote up

3 months ago

gay

Vote down Vote up

3 months ago

gay

Vote down Vote up

over 3 years ago

see what happends when u let a guilty man free of murder charges he thinks he can get away with anything! Now hes robbed a bank and in 06' came out with a book IF I DID IT. hahah no dummy u did do it no what if about it u did the crime now u shall pay the time! Wow the people we let go wild and free in this world is rediculous!!

Vote down Vote up

over 1 year ago

Not sure who the brain deads posting on here are but a few things- acquitted means cleared of the charges, the correct spelling is ridiculous not rediculous, "as you did to" should actually be too, as in also, "see what happends" lol I could go on and on....

Vote down Vote up

almost 2 years ago

Potrero Hill is not outside San Francisco. The "Hill", as it is referred to by long time residents, is prime property and homes here sell for upwards and beyond 1 million dollars. Yes, we do have public housing, where OJ grew up, but even that , now, is worth mega bucks.

Vote down Vote up

about 3 years ago

Yes, for all the reason stated O.J. even if convicted would have walked away from the murders as a free man any way. The media had already had him as the guilty party and you did to. Not only was this turned in to a media free for all if you can remember the media was giving out information that was not and should not have been aired. Like the 911 calls, those things should not have aired at all let me give you some facts on the case June 12,1994, Nicole and Ronald found stabbed to death. Simpson notified next day in Chicago.

June 13,1994, Simpson handcuffed taken in for questioning

June 17,1994, The Bronco Chased.

By this time the news had been all over the case that’s all that was on the television so every one had an opinion on his guilt or innocence, you can’t say you did not, and if you do you are lying to yourself.

September 2,1994, jury sequestered

November 3,1994, jury selected

Now between June and September no one had an opinion even the selected jury had an opinion, but if he was convicted he would still walk because his Constitutional Rights Had Been Broken in the same way Dr. Sam Sheppard’s right were broken in the murder cases of his wife it was overturned by the U.S Supreme Court.



Vote down Vote up

over 4 years ago

he did it badly i feel sorry for him.

Vote down Vote up

over 4 years ago

he shouldn't even play football for what he did.

Vote down Vote up

over 4 years ago

O.J. Simpson is GUILTY as SIN!!! He should have been acquitted on the murders!!! He should have recieved capitol punishment!!! The eletric chair!!!

Vote down Vote up

over 4 years ago

I noticed a misspelling in the neighborhood where OJ grew up. It should read "Potrero" Hill--there is no "u" in his neighborhood name.