OJ Buffalo Memories

[PrimeTime101]

Edited Tuesday at 09:30 PM by PrimeTime101

[Pete]

1 minute ago, Long Suffering Fan said:

 

My problem is that, whenever I start to think about my good OJ memories, I begin to feel guilty about it.  So, then I think - OJ, why did you have to do what you did?  You were such a good player and such a seemingly nice representative of Buffalo and my childhood.  That leads me to feeling guilty again, this time because I am feeling sorry he messed up my memories as if I was some sort of victim, when the real victims are the people who are dead and those that knew them.

 

OJ is a difficult minefield for me to navigate.

Like Utah John suggested, try differentiating between the player and the person.  Ive heard cringy things about some Bills players in the past, but I will always cheer for the Bills.  The saying is true, with 17 being the exception, You don't want to meet your heroes.  It is another example of Buffalo Bills history of cruelty, that the most famous and talented Bill ended up being a psychopathic killer.  I understand it being a difficult minefield.  But OJ brought much joy and hope to Buffalo in the 70s, and for that I will cherish my football memories.

[Utah John]

5 minutes ago, Long Suffering Fan said:

 

My problem is that, whenever I start to think about my good OJ memories, I begin to feel guilty about it.  So, then I think - OJ, why did you have to do what you did?  You were such a good player and such a seemingly nice representative of Buffalo and my childhood.  That leads me to feeling guilty again, this time because I am feeling sorry he messed up my memories as if I was some sort of victim, when the real victims are the people who are dead and those that knew them.

 

OJ is a difficult minefield for me to navigate.

He did have a very nice persona, but as a human being he was never really the fine person we thought he was.  (Then again, no one could live up to the reputation that he had.  But still...)

[Pete]

2 minutes ago, PrimeTime101 said:

did you tag Al Cowlings Taxi Service?

[PrimeTime101]

Just now, Pete said:

did you tag Al Cowlings Taxi Service?

run forest.. lol

[SoTier]

I was a poor starving grad student in Lincoln, NE in 1973 when OJ ran for 2003 yards.  Because it was the first regular season game to be held in then Rich Stadium, the game between the Bills and Patriots was broadcast nationally, so I  got to watch OJ ran for 250 yards against them.   I also got to watch the Jets game in which he ran for 200 yards to get the magic 2003 yards for the season because that was nationally televised, too.   Good times, but who knew what was to come?

 

OJ was easily the greatest Bills player prior to the Glory Years teams, and he remains one of the greatest of all time in team and NFL history today.  I feel very sad -- and somewhat angry -- that what he did in his post-NFL career was so awful that his football achievements can't be a cause for celebration.

Edited Tuesday at 09:37 PM by SoTier

[Chandler#81]

2 hours ago, Gregg said:

I was at the Jets vs Bills at Shea in 1973. I was 5 at the time so I can't say I have a memory of it, but I was there according to my dad.

1st regular season game at Rich, Bills won 9-7. I was also there & the Monday Night game vs KC where Juice topped 1000 yards in game 7, setting the goal for a 2k season.

[Fleezoid]

33 minutes ago, PrimeTime101 said:

 

This must be the Benny Hill version. 

[Victory Formation]

I don’t care about how good of a player he was, I will never root for a killer. Exalting such a monster is in bad taste..

Edited Tuesday at 10:04 PM by Victory Formation

[BigAl2526]

I became a Bills fan when the Bills drafted Simpson.  I was a bit disappointed in his production early on, and then we learned that genius head coach, (sarcasm alert) John Rauch, had decided the best way to use Simpson was as a decoy.  When he got fired and the Bills hired Lou Saban (for a second stint as Bills head coach) Simpson's production exploded.

Edited Tuesday at 10:09 PM by BigAl2526

[stevewin]

I was at the game prior to the game he broke the record.  I was 9 yrs old and a neighborhood friend had an extra ticket - my brother and I flipped a coin and I won.  He ran for over 200 yds in a snowstorm that game.  Without that game he prob doesn't break 2000 or maybe even the record the last week.

 

I remember the day after he broke the record my friend and I saving the newspaper.  If you are not of that age you can't imagine what an absolute hero OJ was to all of us who were kids then

[Westside Madness]

I am 47. My first season watching football was 1990 (yeah, I know). So, OJ doesnt really tick any boxes for me. I am just curious what triggered the post. Birth day? Death day? Bronco speeding down the highway day? Just sitting there drinking a Miller Highlife and decided an OJ post was what was missing from this 90 degree day? My brain gets hung up on how other brains work.

 

That being said, I do enjoy seeing older fans revel in their memories of football past. I suppose I am getting there myself with Okoye, Bo Jackson, Cunningham, Mr. #78 filling my mind with happy memories.

Edited Tuesday at 10:58 PM by Westside Madness

[Pete]

7 minutes ago, Westside Madness said:

I am 47. My first season watching football was 1990 (yeah, I know). So, OJ doesnt really tick any boxes for me. I am just curious what triggered the post. Birth day? Death day? Bronco speeding down the highway day? Just sitting there drinking a Miller Highlife and decided an OJ post was what was missing from this 90 degree day? My brain gets hung up on how other brains work.

 

That being said, I do enjoy seeing older fans revel in their memories of football past. I suppose I am getting there myself with Okoye, Bo Jackson, Cunningham, Mr. #78 filling my mind with happy memories.

I watched the first video I posted- which was only on youtube for two days.  The video is titled OJ from the Memories of a Buffalo Kid.  Its spot on.  If you were not a Bills fan in the 70s, you have zero idea how big OJ was, and what a source of pride for Buffalo.  OJ seemed like every ones great friend.  Imagine if Josh did something evil after he retires?  Would you still look at Joshs career fondly?

[DaVinci]

We used to go to the airport after road games. Me and my sister met him in the parlking lot. He signed a little football and we took a picture of us two squirts and him.

[WotAGuy]

We were heading to the stadium for a game, driving on the Youngmann Expressway near the Harlem exit, and we passed a car. I looked over and OJ was driving (no, it wasn’t a white Bronco). I waved and he waved back and smiled. I was probably 14 or 15. 

[Chandler#81]

27 minutes ago, stevewin said:

I was at the game prior to the game he broke the record.  I was 9 yrs old and a neighborhood friend had an extra ticket - my brother and I flipped a coin and I won.  He ran for over 200 yds in a snowstorm that game.  Without that game he prob doesn't break 2000 or maybe even the record the last week.

 

I remember the day after he broke the record my friend and I saving the newspaper.  If you are not of that age you can't imagine what an absolute hero OJ was to all of us who were kids then

At home vs the Pats*. Juice ran for 200 yards in that game as well -in the snow. My Man Bob Chandler caught 2 TD passes.

[stevewin]

Just now, Chandler#81 said:

At home vs the Pats*. Juice ran for 200 yards in that game as well -in the snow. My Man Bob Chandler caught 2 TD passes.

That's the game I was talking about

[SoTier]

1 hour ago, Victory Formation said:

I don’t care about how good of a player he was, I will never root for a killer. Exalting such a monster is in bad taste..

 

This is the problem with Simpson.   I am conflicted because as a football player he was so great but as a human being he was so evil.  His actions robbed all Bills fans of any joy we could have in celebrating his achievements.   2023 was the fiftieth anniversary of his 2003 yard season -- and I don't think anyone in the media, on this TSW or in the NFL even mentioned it.

[Victory Formation]

6 minutes ago, SoTier said:

 

This is the problem with Simpson.   I am conflicted because as a football player he was so great but as a human being he was so evil.  His actions robbed all Bills fans of any joy we could have in celebrating his achievements.   2023 was the fiftieth anniversary of his 2003 yard season -- and I don't think anyone in the media, on this TSW or in the NFL even mentioned it.

I will always be a Bills fan, no one player is above the team, that’s the way I see it. I don’t need to like that player so I’ll leave it there..

[LABILLBACKER]

3 hours ago, Pete said:

Like Utah John suggested, try differentiating between the player and the person.  Ive heard cringy things about some Bills players in the past, but I will always cheer for the Bills.  The saying is true, with 17 being the exception, You don't want to meet your heroes.  It is another example of Buffalo Bills history of cruelty, that the most famous and talented Bill ended up being a psychopathic killer.  I understand it being a difficult minefield.  But OJ brought much joy and hope to Buffalo in the 70s, and for that I will cherish my football memories.

So true...I've told this story several times. As a 9 yr old kid from LA, I vowed to follow whatever team drafted OJ.  With each year the passion and obsession grew. Then one fateful day at 730a in the morning I'm making deliveries in Brentwood near San Vicente.  Drove right by a crime scene all taped off, not knowing what happened.  Later news broke and I knew the worst. 

 

My love for the Bills never wavered but being asked why a native LA guy loved the Bills, forever became awkward. Fortunately players like Eric Moulds, Fred Jackson and Josh Allen make it easy to forget 32.