O.J. Simpson - The Early Years
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.
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.
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User Comments Add a comment…
10 months ago
Rico Hall » reshaud22 ((at)) yahoo dot com
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.
about 1 year ago
LIA » liamonea55 ((at)) yahoo dot com
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!!
almost 2 years ago
TENESIA » user ((at)) domain dot com
he did it badly i feel sorry for him.
almost 2 years ago
TENESIA » user ((at)) domain dot com
he shouldn't even play football for what he did.
about 2 years ago
Rhonda Adkins » www dot rhonda-b-adkins ((at)) yahoo dot com
O.J. Simpson is GUILTY as SIN!!! He should have been acquitted on the murders!!! He should have recieved capitol punishment!!! The eletric chair!!!
about 2 years ago
Carlton » choler75 ((at)) hotmail dot com
I noticed a misspelling in the neighborhood where OJ grew up. It should read "Potrero" Hill--there is no "u" in his neighborhood name.