THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 21, 1994 TAG: 9407210523
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Marc Tibbs
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
If all holds true in American popular culture, and if he doesn't get the death penalty, O.J. Simpson could become even more of a celebrity.
First, let me say that Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald L. Goldman suffered heinous and untimely deaths. And if O.J. Simpson is found guilty of these brutal slayings, he ought to be punished to the fullest extent of the law, his National Football League accomplishments notwithstanding.
But if saturation television coverage is any measure, Simpson eventually could wind up as a hot ticket on the lecture tour or maybe even as host of his own television talk show. Why not mayor of Los Angeles? Marion Barry's out of jail, and now he's running for his old job as mayor of Washington.
During the six-day preliminary hearing, I should have been mowing the lawn, shampooing the dog or otherwise making the most of my vacation. But when the gavel banged in the Los Angeles County Criminal Courts Building, I found myself hanging on the words of each witness.
Only three other televised events in recent years kept me so riveted: the Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill hearings; the release from prison of Nelson Mandela; and the Iran-Contra hearings of Ollie North and company.
Some say O.J.'s celebrity caused the media hype; others say it was the brutal nature of the slayings. Both may have contributed, but like many people, I was only marginally interested until I caught a glimpse of the police ``chase'' along a California freeway.
An apparent suicide note was read over the airwaves, and Hollywood celebs made national pleas for O.J. to turn himself in. Suddenly, what was already more than just another Los Angeles slaying had escalated beyond belief.
Since then, the case has been talked about more than the genocide in Rwanda. And, as much as I hate to admit it, I even bought one of those supermarket tabloids after it was revealed in court that one of those newspapers (and I use the term loosely), had paid more than $1,000 for the story involving O.J.'s purchase of a stiletto knife.
The networks were there for every twist and turn, and no doubt will continue to bring us every minute development in the case.
And all that attention could eventually benefit O.J.
Consider this: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas made his way to the bench despite hours of public humiliation by former colleagues who accused him of everything from Coke can indiscretions to making advances.
Hill, who is either a liar or a very gullible lawyer, is making the rounds on the national lecture circuit. O.J. can expect at least that much when this is over, given that executions in California are few and far between. And life in prison could mean as little as 15 years.
Stranger things have happened. Iran-Contra raconteur Oliver North is one of the most successful political fund-raisers in America and could be elected to the U.S. Senate.
On Friday, O.J. steps back into the media spotlight for his arraignment. The television cameras are sure to be there again. And this is just the beginning. by CNB