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Stephen A. Smith reacts to O.J. Simpson’s demise, weighs in on notorious trial: ‘I believed he was responsible’

The information of former NFL star O.J. Simpson’s death sparked quite a lot of blended reactions throughout the sports activities world.

“On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer,” the household introduced Thursday on X, previously Twitter. “During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.”

Simpson has an advanced legacy. 

He was one of many biggest athletes of his time. Simpson received the Heisman Trophy throughout his standout profession at USC. He received the NFL MVP in 1973 and later grew to become a sports activities broadcaster and an actor. However his sports activities feats have been overshadowed in 1994 when he was accused of the brutal killings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her pal Ron Goldman.

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Stephen A. Smith in 2021

Stephen A. Smith earlier than a sport between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics Nov. 19, 2021, at TD Backyard in Boston. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs)

Simpson was later discovered chargeable for each deaths in a lawsuit. 

Longtime ESPN broadcaster Stephen A. Smith had a scheduled time off Thursday as a result of the community shifted a lot of its focus to the opening spherical of The Masters. However Smith referred to as into “First Take” and reacted to Simpson’s demise.

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Smith asserted the homicide costs far outweighed Simpson’s accomplishments on the sphere.

“There’s no balance to it. You can remember and you can engage in recall by bringing up his athletic prowess and his tremendous career as a football player,” Smith mentioned. “But it all pales in comparison to him being perceived as a double murderer.

“When you consider O.J. Simpson, chances are you’ll do not forget that he’s a soccer participant, however what you keep in mind most is the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. And also you assume, clearly, of him. There’s no method round that.”

Smith went on to discuss the impact the infamous criminal trial left on the nation. He also mentioned how the late Johnnie Cochran’s profile rose significantly as a result of the media attention surrounding the trial.

O.J. Simpson wearing the blood stained gloves found by Los Angeles Police

O.J. Simpson wearing the blood-stained gloves found by Los Angeles Police and entered into evidence in Simpson’s murder trial June 15, 1995. (STR New/Reuters)

Smith then expressed his belief Simpson “dedicated these murders.”

“That is what it comes right down to. Most individuals consider that he dedicated these murders,” Smith said. “I do know that if I used to be on the jury, he would have been (in) the rattling jail. I do know that a lot. I believed he was responsible, however I don’t know. I’m speaking about based mostly on the proof that was positioned earlier than us through the trial overseen by Decide Lance Ito.”

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Simpson’s authorized points continued years later when he was arrested in Las Vegas for robbing two sports activities memorabilia collectors at gunpoint in 2007. He was launched from jail in 2017, and his parole ended in 2021.

Simpson is survived by his 4 kids.

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