The voicemail left on my landline that June night, 30 years ago during the infamous slow-speed white Bronco police chase, was abrupt and far from pleasant.
"Get to California!"
Working at The Washington Post at the time, our sports editor, George Solomon, wasted no time mobilizing the team for what would become one of the most significant stories of our careers: the arrest and trial of O.J. Simpson for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman.
The following morning, I boarded a flight from Washington to San Francisco with a single task: to knock on the front door of Simpson's sister's home and attempt to secure an interview. I wasn't overly optimistic, but it was a necessary endeavor.
Upon arrival, I found myself face-to-face with Simpson's sister. With mere seconds to plead my case, I explained that I had traveled from D.C. specifically to speak with her about her brother. Could we have a conversation?
Politely, she declined and shut the door. Though not slammed in my face, it was a definitive end to my mission, leaving me standing alone on her front porch, my purpose in California abruptly thwarted.
Over the ensuing three weeks, Los Angeles became my temporary home as I immersed myself in the unfolding saga. Alongside a cadre of Post reporters, I interviewed Simpson's former USC teammates, staked out the courthouse, engaged with the soon-to-be-famous lawyers, and dined at the now-infamous Mezzaluna restaurant, where fellow journalists were the only other patrons.
For many, the O.J. Simpson case marked the onset of America's fixation with reality TV. However, my journey began a few months earlier with the Tonya-Nancy scandal, which, while equally sensational, had a crucial distinction: the attack on Nancy Kerrigan, though severe, resulted in only a bruised knee, propelling her to an unforgettable Olympic performance and a silver medal.
The shockwaves reverberated when Simpson's alleged involvement in the murders came to light. While acquitted in the criminal trial, he was later found liable in civil court, ordered to pay $33.5 million in damages to the victims' families.
This period taught us a lesson that resurfaces periodically in the sports world: we seldom truly know the superstar athletes we idolize. Simpson, the first athlete to transcend sports and attain celebrity status in TV, movies, and advertising, shattered the illusion of familiarity we had with our sports icons.
Today, it's commonplace for sports stars to saturate every aspect of media and culture, from commercials to social media to their own brands. LeBron James, Caitlin Clark, Tom Brady, Serena Williams—these names are ubiquitous in our sports fandom, thanks in part to O.J. Simpson blazing the trail.
I encountered Simpson just once, at the 1992 U.S. Olympic track and field trials in New Orleans. We exchanged a brief handshake and exchanged pleasantries on an escalator. Of course, he flashed his trademark, disarming O.J. smile.
