Controversial figure OJ Simpson was a prolific athlete and sports media continues to struggle with how to note his recent passing.
Simpson, a renowned running back who has died at age 76, had an illustrious 11-season NFL career, led the league in rushing four times and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
OJ’s accomplishments on the field were later overshadowed by his controversial acquittal in the murder trial of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ron Goldman.
The trial that shattered his image as a beloved former soccer star explains the uncomfortable sports coverage of his death or, in some cases, the complete lack of mention of it.
For example, the Pro Football Hall of Fame issued a detailed statement Thursday regarding the passing of OJ Simpson. However, they carefully distinguished his actions outside the field from his achievements. The organization decided to honor the former Bills running back’s legacy solely for his contributions to the game.
The Hall of Fame released a standard 500-word eulogy following the announcement of former NFL star Simpson’s death from cancer. They focused solely on his football career and his statistics without offering praise.
“OJ Simpson was the first player to reach a rushing mark that many thought could not be reached in a 14-game season when he surpassed 2,000 yards,” said Hall of Fame President Jim Porter. “His contributions in the field will be preserved in the Hall’s archives in Canton, Ohio.”
Meanwhile, the Heisman Trophy Trust took a slightly different tone in acknowledging Simpson’s death, expressing its sadness at his passing. “We extend our deepest condolences to his family,” the organization wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Other sports media coverage of OJ Simpson’s fight to the death to find the right tone
The official website of the NFL, known for its extensive tributes to stars of the past, including videos from its vast archive, covered Simpson’s death with a short article written by the agency. In particular, he lacked retrospectives of his most memorable games or celebrated touchdowns.
When a former player dies, NFL teams often pay tribute on social media. This is regardless of the player’s tenure in the franchise.
However, the Buffalo Bills, where Simpson spent most of his career and rose to fame as one of the most famous people in America, chose not to acknowledge his passing on their social media platforms Thursday.
Hours after Simpson’s death, the Bills’ X account posted a birthday message to former catcher Steve Tasker, without mentioning Simpson.
Similarly, the San Francisco 49ers and USC, Simpson’s other professional and college teams, did not acknowledge his death in their X accounts.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn