30 YEARS AGO TODAY OJ Simpson's Bronco chase interrupted Game 5 of the 94 Finals

It would need to be someone known for their professional career as well as their presence in the entertainment industry or other public roles. O.J. Simpson was not only a celebrated NFL player but also had a significant career as a broadcaster, actor, and commercial spokesperson. His fame extended beyond the sports world.

To draw a parallel for a younger audience today, you’d look for an athlete who is similarly multifaceted and universally recognized, someone who has excelled in their sport and also made a name for themselves in entertainment, media, and/or business.

Magic Johnson? Too big?
Shaq?

 

I always felt like the whole OJ ordeal was very California-centric, which is, of course, where Hollywood and a lot of media companies were HQ'd (outside of NYC and I guess Atlanta with CNN). Coming from Texas, I gave zero ****s about it outside of the jokes, but it seemed like the Cali media was on crack when they reported on it.

 

Barkley's who I thought of too. Some run-ins with the law, but largely loved by the public. Former superstar, but not the GOAT. Gift of gab.

 

Barkley is as famous as OJ was then but his image isn't as squeaky clean. Part of why the whole saga was so engrossing was because OJ wasn't someone that people expected to have been accused of murder and on the run from the police.

Shaq might fit as even though he gets mocked has a pretty positive image and if he did something like this happened it would be shocking.

 

Also with the growth of media and the internet it's become harder to really put people on pedestals as back even in the 90's. Especially sports stars. People like Tom Brady, Brett Favre, and Kyrie Irving might never have taken the hit to their reputations a few decades ago as a lot of that stuff they did and said might never have gotten out to the wider public.

 

Kobe

He was lucky that he could still ball out of his mind, and people were ok from the bloody rumors that he stuck it in a crazy girl's poophole.

Hero worship and forgiveness will only get worse.

#meTooGoated

 

Tortillas had a bouncer? Damnnn.. I recall that place being a Mexican restaurant next to Franco’s.