NATION: Star of sports, television and film fame, the magnanimous Orenthol James Simpson, 'OJ' Simpson has died. At age 76, the stellar athlete who led the Buffalo Bills and San Francisci 49ers to record heights, playing in the running back position for 11 consecutive years between 1969 -1980, OJ Simpson passed away while surrounded by his children and other family members in Las Vegas. By Michelle Crawford-Sapenter
"On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace."--Comments by the family of OJ Simpson
It had only been 2 months since the famed star athlete and actor, OJ Simpson, was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Over the period of some 6 to eight weeks, according to reports, Simpson had received chemotherapy. Contrary to a matter of speculation, the mega sized NFL legend was not stricken to a hospice and, however, resided in his home in Las Vegas. It was in his home that OJ succumbed after his battle with cancer.
As the commentary circulates, there have been a number of statements made in regard to the one man who, during his lengthy athletic career that began, for him, while playing football for USC, there arose speculation surrounding the possibility that Khloe Kardashian was one among OJ's 5 children.
There is no secret that the 'Juice' s living children are aged in their late 40s and 30s. Based upon record the eldest Simpson would be Arnelle who, born during the 12 year union of OJ and Maguerite Whitley, was the sibling of Aaren Simpson who, at 2 years of age died after drowning.
Of course, there were a total of 5 children known to be sired by OJ--the latter of them born during the union of OJ and Nichole Brown Simpson. Among those born during the 80s are Jason Simpson, Justin Ryan Simpson and Sydney Brooke Simpson.
Today, in regard to Khloe Kardashian being the youngest of OJ's children, there remains some unconfirmed inquiries and, therefore, burgeoning speculation.
As a career professional athlete, wealth seemed to run alongside OJ Simpson at a speed that would match the stellar performer's Hertz Rent-A -Car, hurdling sprint across airport corridors -luggage in hand. As his career in football rose through the 60s and 70s and fell to a decrescendo in the early to mid 80s, by then, OJ Simpson had already amassed multi millions. If, while considering the ascension of the more recent athletic stars who. like Deion Sanders, Emmit Smith or the $26m contract of David Robinson and of course 'Jordan;' Michael Jordan, whose name, jersey number and athletic shoe style won for him millions in endorsements from Nike the presumption would be that pro athletes' earnings reach into the upper 5% to 1%ers in the US economic strata.
In the 60s and 70's, the same frenzied hard-sell stirred companies whose feverish push for building a brand name would find frequent flyers rushing to the Hertz rental shop at airports across the country. That, along with a major size-worthy sports organization contracts, earned for OJ Simpson the athlete's crown that accompanied major profits that reached into the mega-millions while pro athletes of that era earned salary increases at an annual and biannual rate of 5% to 10%. By the 1980s, after he turned 34, OJ Simpson's net worth surpassed $35.0 million dollars.
Enter the Juice's television and film career. OJ never seemed to stop wowing audiences. Just as crowds of spectators gathered to watch the Juice run the length of a football field to score a touchdown for the Buffalo Bills, it might have been the comic style antics of one of Simpson's biggest television sports broadcaster fans, Howard Cosell, that shined an even brighter light on OJ's perky and bigger than life personality. While Cosell, also, made himself a name as a emerging and sought after star commentator, quite possibly, after OJs first 2000 yards rushing and, thereafter, during every game ever played by the Juice, in turn, OJ's stellar athletic performance gained more glow through the excitement and friendly exchanges that were televised between he and Cosell during half times and games end.
Simpson was portrayed in film and television. In 1995 following the trial by which he was exonerated of the alleged murders of his former wife, Nichole Brown Simpson, the OJ Simpson Story aired on Fox Network's television movies . OJ's life was portrayed over the next years and perused by FX cable tv via 'The People v OJ Simpson-Simpson portrayed by actor Cuba Gooding. For the 25 years that proceeded the end of the trial alleged murder trial, television companies seemed to perlustrate the life of Nichol and OJ from the vantage point of their own beliefs ...or the opportunities that were presented for capitalizing on "the OJ saga."
From Court TV to the Coagula Curatorial Gallery in L.A., from the NBC Tv series, Law and Order to the halls of the Alcatraz East Crime Museum, from /The Real Story/ by the Discovery Channel to the 'OJ Made in America' film produced by Sundance, the name OJ Simpson was a 3rd time household phrase. Adding to these the 2018 film by Boris Kodjoe, entitled the "Nichole and OJ Story," millions of dollars were profited, dozens of stars were borne and acting, production, cinematography and more awards were won--today, it is questionable whether there could remain any more than the $33.5 million dollar debt paid to the Brown-Goldman families and society by the American football legend.
OJ Simpson's life was one kaleidoscope; a celebration of stellar highs and a maelstrom of deep lows. OJ Simpson seemed to ride along the crest of a wave, however, situated on a carrousel- a place that gradually lost the light that he, in fact, shined into the hearts, the minds and the eyes that delighted in beholding his magnificent mastery. In life, athletes are not really made, are they. A star, with the athletic strength and agility, the able-bodied energetics and, lest it be forgotten, a brilliant smile that could only add grace to such a strikingly alluring countenance-making apparent the internally perfected lacteal- No, it is only stars, like the incomparable Orenthol James Simpson, "The Juice," OJ Simpson, that are born.
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