Mercury Morris reflects on his friendship and rivalry with O.J. Simpson, mostly choosing to remember Simpson for his football career rather than his controversial post-career history. Morris recalls a time when he got lost on his way to a party with Simpson and was instructed to follow him in his Bronco to get to the right location. The two athletes competed against each other during the NFL season but remained friendly off the field. Morris acknowledges that most people think of Simpson in a negative light, focusing on his murder trial and time in prison, but he prefers to remember Simpson as a great football player and a good person.
Morris is aware of Simpson’s legal troubles, including his acquittal in the murder trial, but he chooses not to pass judgment on him. He mentions that people, particularly women, often bring up Simpson’s past during conversations about him, but Morris refrains from getting involved in those discussions. Despite the media scrutiny around Simpson’s controversial past, Morris sticks to his positive memories of their interactions and insists on focusing on the football player and the person he knew. He recalls friendly banter with Simpson post-retirement but never asked him about the murder accusations as it was not his business to inquire about such personal matters.
The last time Morris saw Simpson was around five years ago at an event, where they exchanged casual banter about aging and physical appearance. Morris describes Simpson as a jokester and a regular guy who didn’t let his surroundings influence his behavior. He remembers Simpson as a great football player and a good person, choosing to look past the negative media portrayal and his legal troubles. Morris emphasizes the importance of remembering the full picture of Simpson’s life, not just focusing on his NFL career or his controversial post-career history.
Despite the widespread negative perception of O.J. Simpson due to his murder trial and imprisonment, Mercury Morris maintains a positive view of his friend and rival. He acknowledges the public outrage surrounding the murder trial verdict but refrains from passing judgment on Simpson. Morris recalls fond memories of their interactions and friendly banter post-retirement. He appreciates Simpson’s sense of humor, regular guy demeanor, and football skills. Morris chooses to remember Simpson as a great football player and a good person, emphasizing the importance of seeing the full picture of his life beyond the media headlines and legal controversies.
