8-8 Forever? Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 (edited) Good idea. No one in the media will dare protest the move either... but since he was never convicted, taking the name down may bring a defamation suit from OJ's lawyers, though, as the presumption will be that the Bills believe he is guilty. Which is probably why its still up there in the first place. Its all about legal risk, nothing else... Edited January 4, 2015 by 8and8Forever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 Incorrect. O.J. Simpson was found liable of the murders and acting with oppression and malice. Civil liability and criminal guilt are not the same thing. Geez, if we black-balled everyone who was ever found liable for something... There's lots of good points and comments made throughout this thread (though Gugny's wasn't one of them. ). I'm honestly conflicted on the issue, more-so now after this season's Ray Rice horseshit and the league's new "stance" on domestic violence. How do you recognize someone for what they did on the field, when their name is tarnished by events off the field years later? Conversely, how do you stop honoring him without calling even more attention to him? I think the best idea from above was: when they build a new stadium, he doesn't come with. Good idea. No one in the media will dare protest the move either... but since he was never convicted, taking the name down may bring a defamation suit from OJ's lawyers, though, as the presumption will be that the Bills believe he is guilty. Which is probably why its still up there in the first place. Its all about legal risk, nothing else... I don't know that he could bring a defamation suit. The Goldmans basically own him. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the Goldmans couldn't sue to have his name taken down. They own his name, in part (were legally awarded rights to it when they got the rights to "If I Did It."), but I don't know how far that ownership extends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChevyVanMiller Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 (edited) When did Ko Simpson go on the wall? IIRC, he was worth millions. Edited January 4, 2015 by ChevyVanMiller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Adams Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 To those bemoaning the "slippery slope," when the next person on the wall comes close to OJ's infamy, we can have a heated debate about it. The new stadium clearly gets no OJ. But there's no reason for him to be there now. Not for a loooooooong time. What he did as a player is impressive and was good for the team THEN. There's no need for the fans to still give him praise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I_want_2_BILL_Lieve Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 (edited) I am also conflicted. He was the face of the franchise early on. And then....... I like the idea of keeping his name off any new stadium. Is there a compromise? Keep the #32 up, but remove the name. Bills fans know of his importance. #32 will always be the Juice to those of us old enough to remember him as a player. But i admit, seeing his name up there does kinda bother me. Edited January 4, 2015 by I_want_2_BILL_Lieve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Frankish Reich Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 You forgot "The Towering Inferno" as he was the guard who found the fire. Don't forget the Hertz commercials. In all seriousness, I may be in the minority, but he is the only person ever in the NFL who ran for 2000 yards in 14 games. Dickerson, nor AP, ever did that so for his play on the field, he should be on the wall. Now his behaviors afterwards are despicable, and he is in prison. The problem is there are athletes who have committed crimes after their time in professional sports. It doesn't make sense as it is a slippery slope and where do you draw the line. Just missed the Hollywood walk of fame. Capricorn One, now that was a performance. (I actually loved that movie when I was a kid). As for slippery slope fears. C'mon, I don't really want to go there but... You have to admit that there are some things so repugnant that the usual rule (a place on the Wall is forever) has to be suspended. Let's say OJ had joined a jihadi group and helped to finance a terrorist act that killed Americans. Or was convicted of sex abuse of a child. Or... Was found liable for a double homicide, and was convicted of a robbery. The hard and fast rule of "if we do it under these circumstances, how do we draw the line for lesser misbehavior" is an excuse for not being willing to make distinctions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick the Greek Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 He is the greatest RB in Bills history (sorry Thurman). Hell, you could even make the argument that he's the best RB in NFL history. He was lucky to get off on the murder charges. However, he got hosed on the robbery charges and sentence. Keep him on the wall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 He is the greatest RB in Bills history (sorry Thurman). Hell, you could even make the argument that he's the best RB in NFL history. He was lucky to get off on the murder charges. However, he got hosed on the robbery charges and sentence. Keep him on the wall. He was lucky he was tried in Southern California. Gotta love the LAPD...couldn't even frame a guilty man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 Whether you think he did it or not, you can't punish people for being accused of crimes especially when they are found not guilty. You can't? It was an alleged double murder. There was noting alleged about the murders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireChan Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 You can't? There was noting alleged about the murders. It was alleged that OJ did it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machine gun kelly Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 Just missed the Hollywood walk of fame. Capricorn One, now that was a performance. (I actually loved that movie when I was a kid). As for slippery slope fears. C'mon, I don't really want to go there but... You have to admit that there are some things so repugnant that the usual rule (a place on the Wall is forever) has to be suspended. Let's say OJ had joined a jihadi group and helped to finance a terrorist act that killed Americans. Or was convicted of sex abuse of a child. Or... Was found liable for a double homicide, and was convicted of a robbery. The hard and fast rule of "if we do it under these circumstances, how do we draw the line for lesser misbehavior" is an excuse for not being willing to make I forgot about Capricorn One Frank. I just think he is one of the top 3 RB's of all time, and he was a Bill. I'm not embarrassed about his off the field antics as he was disgusting in his actions, and now he's in prison, which is where he belongs. His name is up there simply for the time on the field, That's it. What sucks is how all of the conversation around greatest RB's, he is often overlooked because of his later choices. He was so much better than many brought up in the usual conversations. I loved watching him when i was a young boy. I understand the other points of view though. It's just conversation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 There was noting alleged about the murders. Newspapermen learn to call a murderer 'an alleged murderer' and the King of England 'the alleged King of England' to avoid libel suits. Stephen Leacock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted January 4, 2015 Author Share Posted January 4, 2015 Civil liability and criminal guilt are not the same thing. Geez, if we black-balled everyone who was ever found liable for something... I realize there's a big difference. It's not like he was found liable for the carpet in a rental after his dog pissed on it too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Frankish Reich Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 I forgot about Capricorn One Frank. I just think he is one of the top 3 RB's of all time, and he was a Bill. I'm not embarrassed about his off the field antics as he was disgusting in his actions, and now he's in prison, which is where he belongs. His name is up there simply for the time on the field, That's it. What sucks is how all of the conversation around greatest RB's, he is often overlooked because of his later choices. He was so much better than many brought up in the usual conversations. I loved watching him when i was a young boy. I understand the other points of view though. It's just conversation. On this we definitely agree. I am too young to remember Jim Brown or Gale Sayers, but in my football fan life, I believe no RB has been so completely game changing as OJ. Earl Campbell came close, but his run ended pretty quickly, as was the case with Barry Sanderson. Dickerson was pretty close too. Payton and Emmitt were not the same kind of back -- they lacked the explosiveness, the realization that every run was just one amazing cutback/acceleration away from a breakaway. What a talent, sadly squandered first by an uncreative coaching staff/management in the 1970s, then by the poorest post-football adjustment to life imaginable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 Civil liability and criminal guilt are not the same thing. Geez, if we black-balled everyone who was ever found liable for something... I realize there's a big difference. Then why'd you equate the two? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted January 4, 2015 Author Share Posted January 4, 2015 Then why'd you equate the two? Tom, I didn't equate civil liability to criminal guilt; simply saying civil liability for the deaths of two people, acting with oppression and malice, is reason enough to warrant the removal of one's name from a sports venue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 No. But if they build a new stadium, I won't be surprised if his name is dropped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick the Greek Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 When did Ko Simpson go on the wall? IIRC, he was worth millions. He claimed to be worth millions. However, I'm pretty sure his net worth is far less than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuntheDamnBall Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 When did Ko Simpson go on the wall? IIRC, he was worth millions. Actually, even more millions, adjusted for today's dollars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 It was alleged that OJ did it. You need to be more clear in what you are alleging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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