Bills Fans Want O.J. Off Wall of Fame at Stadium

[moshquerade]

Fans want O.J. off Wall of Fame

Petition to remove Simpson's name from stadium sparks debate
11/26/2006
Buffalo News

O.J. Simpson's latest turn in the public eye has prompted some fans to call for the removal of his name from the Wall of Fame at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

O.J. Simpson was the first Buffalo Bills player to be honored with his name inscribed on the Wall of Fame at Ralph Wilson Stadium. That was in 1980.

Simpson's name has stayed on the wall for 26 years - through his 1994 murder arrest, his acquittal in a highly publicized criminal trial and the civil court conviction that followed.

But reports of his widely reviled book deal and TV interview are again generating calls from fans to remove the star running back's name from the stadium wall.

"When Buffalo makes the national spotlight, it's for something bad. Let's do something good for a change," said Jeff Brzyski, who started an online petition that urges the Bills to remove Simpson's name.

Brzyski's petition has collected more than 1,700 signatures demanding that Simpson's name come down because its presence disgraces the city and the team.

Hundreds more fans are passionately debating the topic on the official Bills Web site and other Internet forums, while local sports commentators also have taken up the issue.

"He's a disgrace and a killer, and I believe he got away with murder," said Lisa Brusehaber, a receptionist from Orchard Park who signed the petition with her husband, Tom.

But Bills owner Ralph Wilson Jr. has said he has no intention of taking Simpson's name off the wall.

"We put [Simpson] up there for football," Wilson told Buffalo News columnist Jerry Sullivan last week. "I feel the same way about him as you and most people do. But it's up there. Why start more controversy?"

No one is disputing that Simpson's performance on the field merits a place on the wall. A fast and powerful runner, Simpson was one of the best Bills ever and one of the top running backs in league history.

He was selected for the wall in 1980 by the local sports journalists who make up the Wall of Fame selection committee.

But Simpson largely became a pariah after he was arrested in June 1994 and accused of killing his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman.

"He was one of the most-liked characters in Bills history, right up to that day," said Dan Gestwick, a vice president of the Monday Quarterback Club.

In the days after Simpson's arrest, some Bills fans called for the team to take down his name from the wall, but Wilson rejected their demands.

Simpson also is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Hall officials say there is no provision for booting an inductee.

Rather than lying low, Simpson has remained in the public eye.

He's even attended three Bills games in the last few years.

"When people saw me they were like, "Hey Juice,' " Simpson told The News in October 2004. "It was very nice, a very good feeling. Everywhere I go, the reception is great."

And now Brzyski is moving ahead with his petition, located at www.petitiononline.com/thejuice/petition.html. As of Saturday afternoon, it carried 1,762 signatures.

Brzyski said he set up the petition in disgust following news about the book deal for "If I Did It," with publisher HarperCollins.

"He's bringing it up all over again," said Brzyski, 26, a construction project manager from the City of Tonawanda.

The petition has some fake names. It's doubtful that Miami Dolphins head coach Nick Saban, incarcerated former Carolina Panther Rae Carruth or Simpson himself signed it.

But many signers gave their own names while speaking in unvarnished terms.

Signer Roger Stornelli told The News he hasn't watched a Bills game since Simpson's arrest.

"I won't go to a Bills game until they take the sign down. It's sickening," said the corrections officer from Lockport. "You've got to take a stand in life, and my stand is this."

A passionate debate over keeping Simpson's name on the Bills Wall of Fame has bubbled up on local TV broadcasts, on talk radio and on Internet forums. This topic drew 190 comments on the message board on the official Bills Web site alone.

WGR 550 Sports Radio's Chris "Bulldog" Parker said that for years he tried to cling to the notion that the wall recognizes football achievements and has nothing to do with off-the-field actions.

"It's almost uncomfortable. I got his autograph when I was 7 years old. He was my first sports hero. You don't want to think about it. You want to compartmentalize it," Parker said.

Now, he said he thinks this community should make a statement that character matters more than athletic ability.

But some fans believe Simpson's name should stay.

"Yes, because that's for football accomplishments. It's not for what kind of man he is," said Kenneth Thrun, a Buffalo resident and Bills fan. Thrun sent Simpson a letter of support after his arrest that later was reprinted in a book.

Simpson's supporters include former teammate Booker Edgerson, an Erie Community College official who keeps in touch with Simpson.

"I think it should stay on there. There's no ifs, ands or buts about it. The accomplishments he had on the field [are] something you can't take away," said Edgerson, who noted Simpson was found not guilty.

Wilson has given no indication he'll change his mind on Simpson any time soon.

"At my age, I have more important things to worry about," Wilson, 87, told Sullivan.

Bills spokesman Scott Berchtold declined to comment further, except to note that any formal effort to take a name off the wall would require entering "uncharted territory."

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20061126/1013886.asp

 

[SoulAssassin]

I didn't reply to this post, but if I did, this is what it would have looked like.

 

[Conky]

Geez, kill a couple of people and everybody is on your case. :roll:

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

And now Brzyski is moving ahead with his petition, located at www.petitiononline.com/thejuice/petition.html. As of Saturday afternoon, it carried 1,762 signatures.

It's an online petition. 'Nuff said. When they can find enough people in upstate NY to boycott season tickets then... maybe... Till then Ralph Wilson is too old to even know where he is much less care about something that is happening on the interweb.

I agree his name should come down. I also think that he should be removed from the hall of fame. But it ain't gonna happen.

 

[Tom]

Could we trade Buffalo to Canada for say, Toronto ?

 

[JulesMaximus]

I say take his name down. The guy killed two people in cold blood...He's lucky he's not in prison.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I say take his name down. The guy killed two people in cold blood...He's lucky he's not in prison.

they should move his name to the "Wall of Shame".

 

[hpkeeper]

apparently aquitted doesn't mean anything anymore.

<--Bills fan.

Keep him up there, what he did while playing football has nothing to do with what he's done in retirement.

No one has anything to say about Ravens Ray Lewis and his murder trial... why should it be different from OJ?

 

[Dean]

He was found Not Guilty from what I remember. Sure I believe he actually did it, but to penalize him by taking his name down simply because of public opinion of him, would only serve up a big lawsuit from him. Who would want that?

He was great on the field, taking his name down makes no sense. I never saw any banning of Naked Gun movies after he was found guilty in public opinion.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: hpkeeper
apparently aquitted doesn't mean anything anymore.

<--Bills fan.

Keep him up there, what he did while playing football has nothing to do with what he's done in retirement.

No one has anything to say about Ravens Ray Lewis and his murder trial... why should it be different from OJ?

you know full well that he was acquitted yet was guilty. so yeh, his acquittal was a mockery of our system. that's all. it did not prove his innocence.

and i'm a Bill's Fan too, but having his name up on the "Wall of Fame" is sickening. maybe if he killed your sister you'd see it differently.

 

[crystal]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I say take his name down. The guy killed two people in cold blood...He's lucky he's not in prison.

they should move his name to the "Wall of Shame".

His peers judged him not guilty of the crimes. Whether or not you agree with the decision, you don't want this country court system turns into guilty until proven innocence.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: crystal

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I say take his name down. The guy killed two people in cold blood...He's lucky he's not in prison.

they should move his name to the "Wall of Shame".

His peers judged him not guilty of the crimes. Whether or not you agree with the decision, you don't want this country court system turns into guilty until proven innocence.

yeh, but Simpson was found liable for their deaths in civil court where they didn't have a starstruck jury presiding.

 

[imported_bum]

Even if he was found guilty, that does not take away his football achievements. Starting up a big fiasco about taking down his name will cause more controversy than just leaving the damn thing up there. Saying you won't go to a game until they take it down is stupid, IMO.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: hpkeeper
apparently aquitted doesn't mean anything anymore.

<--Bills fan.

Keep him up there, what he did while playing football has nothing to do with what he's done in retirement.

No one has anything to say about Ravens Ray Lewis and his murder trial... why should it be different from OJ?

you know full well that he was acquitted yet was guilty. so yeh, his acquittal was a mockery of our system. that's all. it did not prove his innocence.

and i'm a Bill's Fan too, but having his name up on the "Wall of Fame" is sickening. maybe if he killed your sister you'd see it differently.

I'm also a Bills fan. I lived in Rochester, NY and started watching the Bills when I lived there during the Jim Kelly era.

OJ murdered two people and got away with it.

 

[eits]

i say get his name off the wall

 

[JujuFish]

OJ was one of the best running backs in the history of the league. He deserves to stay.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: crystal

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I say take his name down. The guy killed two people in cold blood...He's lucky he's not in prison.

they should move his name to the "Wall of Shame".

His peers judged him not guilty of the crimes. Whether or not you agree with the decision, you don't want this country court system turns into guilty until proven innocence.

yeh, but Simpson was found liable for their deaths in civil court where they didn't have a starstruck jury presiding.

So? Civil != criminal. By the definition of the law, he is innocent and didn't commit the murders. Just because you don't believe it doesn't mean everyone can turn it into a witchhunt.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: crystal

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I say take his name down. The guy killed two people in cold blood...He's lucky he's not in prison.

they should move his name to the "Wall of Shame".

His peers judged him not guilty of the crimes. Whether or not you agree with the decision, you don't want this country court system turns into guilty until proven innocence.

yeh, but Simpson was found liable for their deaths in civil court where they didn't have a starstruck jury presiding.

So? Civil != criminal. By the definition of the law, he is innocent and didn't commit the murders. Just because you don't believe it doesn't mean everyone can turn it into a witchhunt.

what witchhunt? the last i heard only OJ himself was "looking for the real killers."

 

[Syrch]

replace it with therman thomas!

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Tom
Could we trade Buffalo to Canada for say, Toronto ?

sounds good. i'd rather live across the river from toronto.

 

[akshatp]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I say take his name down. The guy killed two people in cold blood...He's lucky he's not in prison.

You can prove this? Damn they should have came to you during the trial!

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: akshatp

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I say take his name down. The guy killed two people in cold blood...He's lucky he's not in prison.

You can prove this? Damn they should have came to you during the trial!

It was proven with the evidence during the trial. The jury acquitted him because they are a bunch of blithering idiots.

Let me ask you this, do you believe he didn't commit those murders? And don't give me the crap about he was acquitted therefore he is innocent and/or not guilty either. I'm asking you what you believe.

There are people guilty of murder running around free in this country and there are innocent people who are in prison. The justice system fails. It failed miserably in this case.

 

[akshatp]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: akshatp

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I say take his name down. The guy killed two people in cold blood...He's lucky he's not in prison.

You can prove this? Damn they should have came to you during the trial!

It was proven with the evidence during the trial. The jury acquitted him because they are a bunch of blithering idiots.

Let me ask you this, do you believe he didn't commit those murders? And don't give me the crap about he was acquitted therefore he is innocent and/or not guilty either. I'm asking you what you believe.

There are people guilty of murder running around free in this country and there are innocent people who are in prison. The justice system fails. It failed miserably in this case.

I believe he is guilty. I beleive he killed those people.

But the bottom line is the judicial system, no matter how flawed, found him innocent. This and only this is what counts in this country, so you can't go pulling his name down for something he did that wasn't proven.

I'm not saying its right. Its just the way it is.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: akshatp

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: akshatp

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I say take his name down. The guy killed two people in cold blood...He's lucky he's not in prison.

You can prove this? Damn they should have came to you during the trial!

It was proven with the evidence during the trial. The jury acquitted him because they are a bunch of blithering idiots.

Let me ask you this, do you believe he didn't commit those murders? And don't give me the crap about he was acquitted therefore he is innocent and/or not guilty either. I'm asking you what you believe.

There are people guilty of murder running around free in this country and there are innocent people who are in prison. The justice system fails. It failed miserably in this case.

I believe he is guilty. I beleive he killed those people.

But the bottom line is the judicial system, no matter how flawed, found him innocent. This and only this is what counts in this country, so you can't go pulling his name down for something he did that wasn't proven.

I'm not saying its right. Its just the way it is.

Sure you can.

Proof.

Just like Hollywood can, and did, stop hiring him for movies following his acquittal. OJ's acting career came to a halt faster than a Mazda Miata in a NHTSA front impact crash test.

More proof.

 

[akshatp]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: akshatp

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: akshatp

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I say take his name down. The guy killed two people in cold blood...He's lucky he's not in prison.

You can prove this? Damn they should have came to you during the trial!

It was proven with the evidence during the trial. The jury acquitted him because they are a bunch of blithering idiots.

Let me ask you this, do you believe he didn't commit those murders? And don't give me the crap about he was acquitted therefore he is innocent and/or not guilty either. I'm asking you what you believe.

There are people guilty of murder running around free in this country and there are innocent people who are in prison. The justice system fails. It failed miserably in this case.

I believe he is guilty. I beleive he killed those people.

But the bottom line is the judicial system, no matter how flawed, found him innocent. This and only this is what counts in this country, so you can't go pulling his name down for something he did that wasn't proven.

I'm not saying its right. Its just the way it is.

Sure you can.

Proof.

Just like Hollywood can, and did, stop hiring him for movies following his acquittal. OJ's acting career came to a halt faster than a Mazda Miata in a NHTSA front impact crash test.

More proof.

Haha Naked Gun was a great movie series.. He was never a great actor to begin with anyway, no big loss.

Anyway, I get your point, I just dont think they will take down his name from the wall of fame for something he might have done that is totally unrelated to football