Mercury Morris is on the phone, watching news coverage of O.J. Simpson’s death after a battle with cancer, and recounting stories from the life and times of his friend and rival.
The topic here is the pursuit of low-speed broncos.
On September 28, 1975, O.J. Simpson outran Steeler tacklers Jack Russell (age 59) and Andy Russell (age 34) in the third quarter of a game and ran 87 yards for a touchdown. . (Bettman Archive via Getty Images)
A few years ago, two former NFL running backs were heading to a mutual friend’s house for a party that night in South Florida when Morris got lost.
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“I took a wrong turn,” Morris recalled. “And he comes in his Bronco or his truck, rolls down the window, and says, ‘Hey, you’re in the wrong house. Follow me, you’ve been doing this all your life. like.
“So I followed him. I was following O.J. in the Bronco.”
Mercury Morris reflects on O.J.
Morris paused, recognizing the irony of his statement.
Morris, 77, was Simpson’s generation. The two played college football at the same time in the 1960s. Both chased the same rushing record. Both were drafted in 1969, and although they competed against each other during the season, they remained friendly during the offseason.
So Morris decided to bring Simpson back. So the former Miami Dolphins running back will be back among the group of people who choose to think of Simpson primarily in terms of football.
Miami Dolphins running back Mercury Morris during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Colts at the Orange Bowl on December 16, 1972 in Miami, Florida. The Dolphins defeated the Colts 16-0 in the final game of the regular season. This resulted in a victory over the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII, making them 17-0 and undefeated on the season. (Ross Lewis/Getty Images)
Everyone else is going in a different direction. They believe Simpson is the man accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. They believe Simpson is a prisoner in Nevada.
They remember the downfall of O.J. Simpson.
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Morris is aware of Simpson’s subsequent career, but decided to try to strike a balance between a football player and a man on trial.
“A lot of people were really angry when Juice was found not guilty,” Morris said. “Because they thought he was guilty and all that. But that’s the system you have. It’s not new.
“I was looking [television]And people, especially women, try to do that, and there’s nothing wrong with that, because they have a right to be heard, but they always think that he’s on trial for murder and that he I want to go back to what happened when I got off. ”
That’s not how Morris remembers Simpson. He has fond memories of the man.
“Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah,” Morris said. “What else can you do unless you participate in the pre-sentence discussion of the conclusions? And that’s the position the media is in right now. I can’t see it from that vantage point. Then I won’t be able to criticize him. Because I have to. I don’t think so.” I want someone to judge me. So I can’t judge him. ”
San Francisco 49ers running back O.J. Simpson, No. 32, hits the ball against the Seattle Seahawks during an NFL football game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California on October 7, 1979. carry. Simpson played for the 49ers from 1978 to 1979. (Focus on Sports/Getty Images)
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Morris never asked questions.
Mr. Morris and Mr. Simpson last met about five years ago, he said. He recalled those days, after his retirement, when they exchanged friendly banter as one side tried to gain an advantage over the other.
But amidst the jokes and arguments, Morris never questioned Simpson about the alleged murder, especially whether he had done it.
“No way!” Morris said. “First of all, because it doesn’t matter to me whether he did it or not. I can’t think of that girl’s name, she’s turned on.” [television] I can’t remember her name now, but somehow they seem to be trying to make it a bit of news.
“So now that’s the center of this guy’s life. His football career is one thing, but that’s not the only thing we’re going to talk about about him.”
Robert Shapiro appears in court with his client O.J. Simpson on June 20, 1994 in Los Angeles, California. (Ted Soki/Sigma via Getty Images)
What Morris likes to say about Simpson is that he knows him from personal interactions.
“Juice was a great football player,” Morris insists. “He was a good guy. He was a joker. He didn’t reflect on what was going on around him. He came across as a normal guy.
“The last time I saw him was at an event about five years ago. He was gray and bald and he said to me, ‘You’ve gotten smaller.'” I was like, that’s what happens. said. I told him his hair was gray and he was old. ”
Simpson didn’t argue.
