THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, July 1, 1994                   TAG: 9407010005
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A14  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   30 lines

SIMPSON ISN'T HEROIC; THE POLICE ARE

Your June 19 headline, ``The fall of an American hero,'' referring to O.J. Simpson, was asinine. He was only a sportsman who achieved recognition because of his ability to run, and only then because of players who gave him good blockage.

The real American heroes, whom you fail to recognize with such high honors, are those who gave their lives in the wars, and policemen who give us protection every day.

Let's stop making sports figures appear bigger than they are.

The police who kept their distance to prevent bloodshed or casualties outsmarted not only Simpson, but the NAACP and Civil Liberties people, for they knew if they subdued those characters, they would immediately be accused of unnecessary and abusive apprehension even though they were dealing with a suspected murderer.

If one has done nothing wrong, he does not have to run and hide from the law. It's time everyone thinks about this.

CHARLES F. HAGAN

Norfolk, June 20, 1994 by CNB