O.J. Simpson was trying to connect with Bob Costas.
It was June 17, 1994, and Simpson was the most well known passenger in a white Ford Bronco leading a police and helicopter chase all-around the Los Angeles freeways. Simpson experienced a cellphone in his car or truck, and he required a favor from Costas.
Receiving via was a challenge in the pre-cell cellular phone earth, as Costas defined in an interview with CNN on Thursday when Simpson died of most cancers.
Photo by Issac Brekken-Pool/Getty Photographs
“Inevitably he referred to as the studio in which we did the NFL clearly show from, which was also the place we did the NBA present from, but on this situation considering that it was the Finals, we were being at Madison Sq. Backyard garden,” Costas advised CNN‘s Boris Sanchez. “The cell phone rang and rang. Apparently, he tried using it a couple times. And an engineer ultimately answered the phone. He explained, ‘I require to talk to Bob Costas.’
“Who’s contacting? ‘O.J. Simpson.’ – yeah right, click on, he hung up.”
Days later on, Costas mentioned, he was in a position to speak to Simpson, former Buffalo Bills teammate Al Cowlings, and attorney Robert Kardashian in a Los Angeles County jail. The Bronco’s driver, Cowlings, informed Costas they experienced known as through the fateful freeway chase.
“I was being defamed – not so substantially about the alleged murders, but my full lifetime was remaining defamed – and I believed you could give a distinct viewpoint as my good friend,” Costas recalled Simpson indicating. “I did not hassle to describe to him what the journalistic imperatives would’ve been at that time.”
Questioned what he would have asked Simpson at the instant, Costas mentioned, “The first factor you would have to inquire, Boris, as delicately but nevertheless immediately as probable, is ‘O.J. did you do it?'”
That simple question — whether or not Simpson was accountable for murdering Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman on June 12, 1994 — dominated the legacy of the former football star till the stop of his existence.
Even individuals in the sports environment who have been alive throughout Simpson’s heyday with the Buffalo Bills were being evidently troubled by the question Thursday. Previous Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson, retired Important League Baseball slugger Jose Canseco, and former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III ended up amongst all those who commented on Simpson’s death Thursday.
“NFL Corridor of Fame Managing Again O.J. Simpson has died at the age of 76 following a fight with Most cancers,” was the entirety of Griffin’s put up on Threads.
Canseco wrote on his Twitter/X account: “OJ Simpson was a murderer / His death ought to not be glorified.”
OJ Simpson was a murderer
His demise should not be glorified.
— Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) April 11, 2024
Johnson also took to Twitter/X to compose: “Cookie and I are praying for O.J. Simpson’s children Arnelle, Aaren, Justin, Jason, and Sydney and his grandchildren pursuing his passing. I know this is a complicated time🙏🏾”
Cookie and I are praying for O.J. Simpson’s young children Arnelle, Aaren, Justin, Jason, and Sydney and his grandchildren subsequent his passing. I know this is a complicated time🙏🏾
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 11, 2024
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay wrote a much more traditional tribute to Simpson on Thursday:
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