Despite the fact that O.J. Simpson murdered Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman in 1994, their deaths caused very different reactions in some circles.
Items from Tim Graham of TheAthletic.com Expressing contrast in surprising ways.
The Buffalo Bills did nothing to commemorate Simpson's death. In addition to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, released a lengthy statement that did not mention his murderactually lowered the flag to half staff in honor of Simpson.
Frankly, the Hall of Fame is a bit of a strange place. No one seems to be able to make big decisions without running a committee that becomes ineffective until the moment of action has passed. And the Hall of Fame's beliefs seemed to be rooted not in principles but in policies that remained rigid and inflexible until suddenly changed for no apparent reason.
Dan Pompei of TheAthletic.com Simpson bust may remain in Canton. At this point, why not? If they hadn't let it melt after the 1994 murder case and wrongful death civil judgment that followed a mysterious acquittal and felony conviction that sent Mr. Simpson to prison for nearly nine years in Nevada, There is no reason to dismiss him easily. Because he is no longer alive.
When Simpson should have been removed from the Hall of Fame, nothing happened because the atmosphere was basically, “The rules don't allow you to exclude anyone, so that's it.''
If Simpson had actually been convicted of murder, would he have been ejected? At best, a group has been set up to study the issue, mired in concerns about politics, technology, and precedent. , nothing would have happened and the world could have moved on.
Typically, Hall of Famers are motivated to act when the topic involves the possibility of finding a way to add busts rather than remove them. Ultimately, the museum hopes to make enough money to survive and is counting on his one weekend a year to make Canton the center of his NFL world. Unless the new Hall of Famers take the TO and refuse to attend the celebration because someone like Simpson is inducted, nothing will change.
Hall of Fame inertia is unique to the football industry. His board of directors consists of 24 members and his advisory committee consists of 11 members. No one can (or will) make large, comprehensive, important decisions in a timely manner.
When Simpson died, no one stopped the normal process of issuing a statement and lowering flags to half-staff upon the death of a Hall of Famer. In Buffalo, by contrast, someone knew to skip the normal steps of honoring a member of the team. wall of honor.
Graham's article includes a quote from Hall of Famer Ron Yearley, who played with Simpson at the University of Southern California many years ago: — It takes a lot of time. Even in war, killing someone with a knife is an intimate act. I don't know if there's a harder way to kill someone than this. You have to be insane to commit such a crime. ”
In the wake of Simpson's death, will Yary and other Hall of Famers speak out publicly or privately about Simpson's continued membership in the Hall of Fame? Will any of the NFL owners on the board say anything? Will Commissioner Roger Goodell, who is also a member of the board, spark an effort to right the wrongs of 30 years ago?
Some say it is unpopular and unseemly to raise such issues after Simpson's death. But the fact that the Hall of Fame did nothing when it should have made this an opportunity to delve into the question of why the Hall of Fame failed so badly and can that failure still be fixed? There is.
Don't expect anything to happen. That's not how a Hall of Famer works. Even if someone with real influence, like Yahry, Deion Sanders, or Goodell, argues that Simpson should ultimately be ejected, the Hall of Famer's “When I Got Here… The “I felt like it” approach will allow you to ignore the problem again and use up your time. Having to do something that might make someone uncomfortable.
