OJ Buffalo Memories

[Captain_Quint]

2 hours ago, Pete said:

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?

That's a cool video that brings back some memories. And it really is crazy to think back on his trajectory. Hard to believe that years later he would almost cut his wife's head off along with that waiter. 

 

[Stranded in Boston]

4 hours ago, Chandler#81 said:

 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.

What a game! OJ shredded one of the best defenses in football, loaded with pro bowlers and future HOFers -- Buck Buchanon, Willie Lanier, Curly Culp, Bobby Bell, et al. Besides eclipsing 1000 yards in only 7 games (has any other RB ever accomplished that since?), I recall OJ broke an NFL record for most carries in a game that night, with 39. He just kept moving the chains. 

[BobbyC81]

I went to a UB football game in the late 70’s when mid game a “Juice” chant started and there he was walking field level.  UB was a Division 3 program back then with sparse attendance and enthusiasm so the players didn’t know what the heck was going on.

[BobbyC81]

6 hours ago, Utah John said:

I have never had a problem distinguishing between OJ the player and OJ the man.  I agree he was one of the very best RBs, possibly the best really, of all time.  That 14 game record in 1973 will never be broken, and his 1975 season was actually even better.

 

I also enjoy Kevin Spacey, Woody Allen, and Roman Polanski movies.  I am not blind to their faults but their work is excellent.

I think when it comes to the movie and TV industry, if everything that happened became public, there would be few idols remaining.

[Sierra Foothills]

14 hours ago, Pete said:

did you tag Al Cowlings Taxi Service?

 

@AlCowlingsTaxiService

 

13 hours 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

 

Yes, in two consecutive snowy weeks in December of 1973 he made history. I was 12 years old at the time.

 

In week 13 he rushed for 219 yards against the Patriots and then in week 14 he rushed for 200 yards against the Jets, breaking Jim Brown's NFL record of 1863 yards in a season and eclipsing 2000 yards... a feat never performed before and never matched again in a 14 game season. It was also the first time ever that a player had run for at least 200 yards in consecutive games. The only other time that has been done was by OJ in 1976.

 

When he broke the record, he was hoisted on to the shoulders of his teammates with whom he was beloved. After the game he agreed to a TV interview only after the network let him bring the entire offensive unit on camera... where he introduced each one of them by name.

 

A few weeks later he gave each of his teammates a gold bracelet engraved with "We Did It 3088" which was the total yards that the offense gained that year... not his own yardage total which was 2003 yards rushing and 70 yards passing for 2073 yards (63% of the team's offense).

 

He was the first humble sports superstar of his era and by far my biggest childhood hero. Gilbert Perreault was a distant second.

 

I met OJ and Reggie McKenzie at the Friendly's Ice Cream shop on Maple Road in Amherst. He signed autographs for me and my buddy. He was very nice. I remember seeing all of the astroturf burns all over his hands and forearms. OJ famously wore no arm protection when playing... he said that by keeping his arms bare that he could "feel" tacklers even when he couldn't see them.

 

I still consider him the greatest running back of all time and the greatest Buffalo Bills player of all time.

 

Edited Wednesday at 11:59 AM by Sierra Foothills

[Alphadawg7]

As someone who had a parent murdered - it sickens me a bit to see people celebrating a documented woman beater and murderer.  Its one thing to have your own personal fond memories, but he doesn't deserve the acknowledgement on a public forum, on a stadium wall, etc.  

[machine gun kelly]

I don’t have a lot of memories as he was in the tail end of his career when I was a pre-teen.  I do remember my older brother and dad going nuts when OJ broke the 2000 yard mark.  I was 5, and didn’t know why they were so excited, but it was a big day.  Even my mom pulled my Dad up to dance in jubilation.  She loved doing silly stuff, and my Dad never dances so was funny watch him try.

 

 I do remember when he went to the 49ers and his knees were shot.  He was a shell of himself, but he was a thing of beauty to watch from my earliest football memories.  I know he turned into a parody with Police Squad, then demonstrated what despicable character that should have put him in prison.  The football memories were great.  I even remember he played a bit role in the Towering Inferno.  I think he was one of the hotel security guards.

[cwater10]

10 hours ago, Pete said:

Josh did something evil after he retires?  Would you still look at Joshs career fondly?

As horrible as this is to consider, this IS exactly how the OJ story played out for so many of us. The awful turn of events turned all of my greatest childhood sports memories upside down and turned them all dark and twisty.  OJ was the ultimate good guy in our eyes.  It took a few years for me to get it all in perspective when his demons came to light.  I remember cheering when he was acquitted.  I look back now and cringe at that.  The fact does remain that OJ, as a football player in Buffalo brought incredible joy to our community in the 1970's.  That is factual.  If you lived it, it was unforgettable.  It was special.  The events of the 90's also happened and were horrific and tragic.  Both are true.  Life doesn't always fit into our neat little boxes as we want it to.

[TH3]

12 hours ago, Pete said:

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?

 No….maybe somethings are bigger than entertainment

Edited Wednesday at 12:08 PM by TH3

[BillsPride12]

2 hours ago, cwater10 said:

As horrible as this is to consider, this IS exactly how the OJ story played out for so many of us. The awful turn of events turned all of my greatest childhood sports memories upside down and turned them all dark and twisty.  OJ was the ultimate good guy in our eyes.  It took a few years for me to get it all in perspective when his demons came to light.  I remember cheering when he was acquitted.  I look back now and cringe at that.  The fact does remain that OJ, as a football player in Buffalo brought incredible joy to our community in the 1970's.  That is factual.  If you lived it, it was unforgettable.  It was special.  The events of the 90's also happened and were horrific and tragic.  Both are true.  Life doesn't always fit into our neat little boxes as we want it to.

OJ was before my time so I didn't grow up watching the player.  When I was a kid I remember the Bronco chase and the trial being on TV.  At the time I remember it being a polarizing case and many people were split on whether he did it or not.  The case always fascinated me and as a kid I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt and think he was innocent.  But I have followed it closely and watched all the documentaries and read books on it and there's no way he wasn't guilty.  OJ was a true sociopath and hid it well with such a public friendly persona.  I think it's totally fair to have great memories from that era and what it meant to Buffalo and being a Bills fan, you can't change history and that is what it is at this point. However you don't have to celebrate OJ as a person either because he was a great football player.  Those two things don't have to be mutually exclusive in my opinion.

[Sierra Foothills]

4 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

As someone who had a parent murdered - it sickens me a bit to see people celebrating a documented woman beater and murderer.  Its one thing to have your own personal fond memories, but he doesn't deserve the acknowledgement on a public forum, on a stadium wall, etc.  

 

I recall now from past posts what happened to your Dad. I can't imagine how that makes you feel and I empathize that you'll never be able to forget the trauma, horror and sadness... nor should you be asked to. As much as a person can who has not experienced what you have, I understand your revulsion towards OJ and others who have committed murder. I respect greatly that you have been able to find peace, happiness, and success in life in spite of what happened to your family.

 

Others here have articulated very well the conundrum of having their greatest childhood hero revealed as a murderer and the angst and sadness that has caused us. It can't compare to your loss but many old time Bills fans like myself have had a large part of our fondest and most treasured childhood memories destroyed by his unforgivable act.

 

I am not celebrating OJ Simpson but simply reciting historical facts and the recollections of his career as seen through the eyes of a boy.

 

 

[Chandler#81]

4 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

As someone who had a parent murdered - it sickens me a bit to see people celebrating a documented woman beater and murderer.  Its one thing to have your own personal fond memories, but he doesn't deserve the acknowledgement on a public forum, on a stadium wall, etc.  

fair enough -and my heart truly goes out to you Dawg! But there was no inkling of this kind of behavior when OJ ran wild on the NFL. Many accounts of that horrible night claim Nicole had the knife -for obvious self defense and OJ took it from her beginning the horrific assault. I’m in no way condoning what he did then. But facts support that his attack wasn’t preplanned. For the record, I’m convinced he killed her & Goldman 19 years after he retired from his HOF NFL career and I hope he’s rotting in Hell for it.

[Alphadawg7]

2 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

I recall now from past posts what happened to your Dad. I can't imagine how that makes you feel and I empathize that you'll never be able to forget the trauma, horror and sadness... nor should you be asked to. As much as a person can who has not experienced what you have, I understand your revulsion towards OJ and others who have committed murder. I respect greatly that you have been able to find peace, happiness, and success in life in spite of what happened to your family.

 

Others here have articulated very well the conundrum of having their greatest childhood hero revealed as a murderer and the angst and sadness that has caused us. It can't compare to your loss but many old time Bills fans like myself have had a large part of our fondest and most treasured childhood memories destroyed by his unforgivable act.

 

I am not celebrating OJ Simpson but simply reciting historical facts and the recollections of his career as seen through the eyes of a boy.

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Chandler#81 said:

fair enough -and my heart truly goes out to you Dawg! But there was no inkling of this kind of behavior when OJ ran wild on the NFL. Many accounts of that horrible night claim Nicole had the knife -for obvious self defense and OJ took it from her beginning the horrific assault. I’m in no way condoning what he did then. But facts support that his attack wasn’t preplanned. For the record, I’m convinced he killed her & Goldman 19 years after he retired from his HOF NFL career and I hope he’s rotting in Hell for it.

 

Its all good, and I take no personal offense to others enjoying fond memories.  I shouldn't even honestly chimed in, no one was doing anything wrong - I was just tired and alone with my 2 boys (26 months and 10 months) who are both sick and the 10 month old threw up on me a bunch lol.  But, it also is kind of why I responded as it just hits different now that I am a parent.  It was one thing having gone through the loss in my life, its a whole other imagining my boys having to go through it if it happened to me, and its unimaginable to think about a parent losing a child of any age.  

 

So for me, while I get the fond memories, heck still enjoy the Naked Gun movies, it always just feels a bit dirty when someone like him still gets the honor of being remembered for the positive stuff he did, especially since while he obviously didn't murder anyone back then, his known woman abuse allegedly goes back to 1977 making a lifelong POS even during his best days.  

 

But everyone is all good here with me - just one of those things where it just feels a bit dirty when he gets the honor of being remembered for the positive stuff he did while he was later discovered to be both a POS during that whole span and later a monster.  

 

PS - It also doesn't help I know he did it as I had one of his defense lawyers essentially admit to me on a golf course when we played a round together.  It was actually a crazy round -

• A fun side story to lighten the mood.  It was me, my friend (a lawyer), one of OJ's lawyers, and the father (also a lawyer) of the kid who created Snap Chat.  At the time, his son (who was like 21 at the time) had just publicly turned down Zuckerberg and his $3B offer to buy them and was in a bit of a public spat.  He then turned down $4B.  What wasn't known publicly at the time, and what the dad ranted all day about, was his son had also just turned down Google for $5B lol.  It was pretty funny listening to his rants all day about a 21 year old turning down $5B and then they went on to give each other crap about who had the more frustrating client - the other guy with OJ or him with his Son lmao. They were a fun group to play with, never saw either again, but it was a fun day.   

[JÂy RÛßeÒ]

He hurt a knee (on a kick return) in my first in-person game against the Bengals at the Rockpile in 1970 (https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197011080buf.htm) - he got helped off the field and plopped on the bench right in front of us.  Missed the rest of the season, and we didn't win another game.

 

Spent the 71-72 and 72-73 seasons away from Buffalo.

 

Went to the first preseason and regular season games at Rich Stadiium.  A few weeks into the 2003-yd season we went to an autograph signing he did.  More accurately, he handed out pics that had a pre-printed autograph on it.  I forget where it was, but it was a huge line.

 

Continued going to games in 74-75, but moved away from Buffalo again before the 76 season.  Returned to WNY (Rochester) in 1983 but he was long gone.

 

yada yada yada, he killed his wife.

Edited Wednesday at 03:24 PM by JÂy RÛßeÒ

[North Buffalo]

I met him at the Buffalo airport, he was gracious, signed a comic book think it was a Superman... wish I still had it... watched him at the old rockpile against cincy Bills lost like 42-36, still OJ went off... playing touch football we all tried to imitate his moves... that being said he  was a despicable human later in life.  Still have a copy of book that came out back then Czonka, Kick, Washington and Simpson...

[dwight in philly]

In addition to bringing relevance back to the Bills , used to run into OJ, and few others occasionally at Mulligans on Hertel in the early to mid 70's after a Sunday game.. Very engaging in a brief convo about the game if you ran into him  while waiting at the bar.. Nothing earth shattering . but all good.. 

[Gugny]

20 hours ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

This thread is likely to get real ugly. Real quick.

As it should. 
 

Glorifying a murderer isn’t cool in my book. 
 

I’m glad he’s rotting in hell. 

[Just Jack]

2 minutes ago, Gugny said:

As it should. 
 

Glorifying a murderer isn’t cool in my book. 
 

I’m glad he’s rotting in hell. 

But he was so funny in the movies.  

[dwight in philly]

4 minutes ago, Gugny said:

As it should. 
 

Glorifying a murderer isn’t cool in my book. 
 

I’m glad he’s rotting in hell. 

I am under the impression the thread  its not about "Glorifying a murderer", more about one's memories about OJ's career here.. 

[SoonerBillsFan]

21 hours ago, Pete said:

I met OJ as a young kid, when I was with my Father, who was looking at suits, at Sims in the mid 70s.

 

Going 0 for the 70s, I remember the jingle "Miami might have the Orange Bowl, but Buffalo has the Juice.

 

Bills would not still be in Buffalo if not for the Juice. 

 

I loved OJ in Naked Gun films.

 

 

 

 

We have so many happy memories of OJ.

 

We all know the tragic and cruel ending between OJ, Nicole, and Ron, and rightfully OJ is vilified.

 

But to us older Bills fans,  OJ was larger than life, prior to his demise.

 

Please post some good OJ memories.  Who was at the Jets game when OJ went over 2000?  Who has met OJ?

OJ Was one of the greatest RB's ever and one of the Best Bills as a football player.  He was a disgusting POS as a human being.   So I appreciate everything he did on the Field as a Bill, but after that...