He once said: "I always knew I wanted to be somebody famous, someone who people would ask for an autograph, and someone who people could have a good time around." He did that and more; he had it all. He was O. J. Simpson. He was rich, famous, living the American dream and known in almost every household of our country. In June of 1994 O. J. would become the talk of a nation, win air time over the president, and dawn upon the spotlight longer than anyone in recent history during the most controversial criminal law case of the century.
             Orenthal James (O. J.) Simpson was born on July 9, 1947 in a small housing project near San Francisco. He grew up as an average "ghetto kid", but then something changed; O. J. became a high school football hero. His explosive style at running back landed him in the University of Southern California. In a short time, O. J. had made a name for himself, won the national college championship, and set several new collegiate records. In 1968 he was awarded the Heisman Trophy, given to the most gifted college football player each year.
             O. J. 's career really got going when he was drafted as the number one pick of the 1969 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills. O. J. signed a four year contract for $350,000, one of the larger of his time. Like most rookies, O. J. started off slow, adapted to pro ball and put up little numbers his first few seasons. Then in 1973 Simpson became the first player to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season. He was voted player of the year for three years in a row and set almost a dozen new records over the next few years. In 1978 O. J. was traded to his home team, the San Francisco Giants where he would play for two before years before retiring after injuries. By this time O. J. was recognized as one of the greatest football players of all time and was accepted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in 1985.
             ...