Abby Burgin
Mr. Jones
English 12 Honors, Period 2
February 24, 2017
Tragic Hero: O.J. Simpson
Throughout time there have been an abundant amount of well-respected individuals who have let their flaws lead to their downfall. O.J. Simpson is a prime example of a tragic flaw leading to a downfall. O.J. Simpson was a luminary football player and actor who let his tragic flaw of anger and jealousy get the best of him. His tragic flaw led him to a life of crime including the alleged murder of two people, robbery, and kidnapping.
At a young age, Simpson told his mother, that he would be in the paper one day, which his little sister would respond with, “In the police report.” Not only did he make the headlines as a star football player, he also
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Within his first two years at the junior college, he scored more than fifty touchdowns and gained 2,445 yards rushing. He became a reputable player and even got the attention of major universities. He began playing at the University of South Carolina. He led this team to two Rose Bowl appearances in 1967 and 1968. During these appearances, Simpson scored thirty-five touchdowns and gained 3,265 yards rushing within twenty-two games. In 1968, he earned himself the Heisman Trophy ("O. J. Simpson." Contemporary). At USC, he was an All-American halfback and this is where he gained all of his fame ("O.J. Simpson." Biography.com). Pete Axthelm, a sports writer for Newsweek stated, “O.J. . . . has done more than his share . . . He has led the Trojans, inspired them, and when necessary carried them.” ("O. J. Simpson." Contemporary). He inspired many, set NCAA football records and took his football career to the next level ("O.J. Simpson." Biography.com).
Simpson moved on to the National Football League draft, where the team with the worst record gets to choose first. Simpson was then granted the opportunity to play for the Buffalo Bills for part of his NFL career. In February of 1969, Simpson obtained the name of Sports Magazines “Man of the Year”. This made him the first college student to have received this honor ("O. J. Simpson." Contemporary).
As his NFL career took off, he yet again set records and impressed football fans. He played for the Buffalo Bills for eight
Flutie went on to win the Heisman Trophy after the 1984 season. He went on to play in the NFL where he participated in One pro
Bruce Watson, author of “When Theodore Roosevelt Saved Football,” explored the impact that the former president, Theodore Roosevelt had on football. One of the main objectives of the author was to inform the reader about how the game of football was different compared to the way we play the game today. The author, “Bruce Watson” went deep into detail about how injuries to players were occurring at alarming rates. Football today stands accused of causing brain damage and spinal injuries, but football in Roosevelt’s time was often lethal. Players wore flimsy padding and leather helmets. Every game saw several players carried unconscious from the field. During Roosevelt’s time 45 young men died playing college or high school football. Theodore
He led them to the BCS National Championship and along the way he was named the Southeastern conference player of the year and the AP player of the year. He also won the Heisman trophy.
During his NFL years he set a recorded for the most number of tackes totalling 224. However, Tillman didn’t only work hard on the field, but also in school. Tillman graduated in only 3.5 years with a 3.84 grade point average. Adding to that Tillman went back to get his masters for history during his NFL years.
In his college football years at Stanford University John set many records for passing attempts/completions completing 774 passes out of 1243 attempts for over 9300 yards to go along with 77 touchdowns. He was chosen for All-American honors, won the Sammy
The Pittsburgh Steelers famed player Mike Webster was used as an example supporting Dr. Omaul’s findings. However the autopsy of Mike Webster’s brains was completely voided by the NFL as not worth looking into and completely discredited due to fear of painting a negative light on the FL if word was exposed of how dangerous the actual sport of football could
A person’s happiness is completely different than that of the person next to them. In Fahrenheit 451, the society is given the idea that happiness is found in the fast life. Students crash cars, crack windows, and drive recklessly for fun. Schooling in this society is not even in the realm of learning. Instead, it is filled with sports, electronics, and everything but an education. Death is a quick cremation instead of a proper funeral and mourning. Adults not only have poor relationships with their spouses, but also their children. Despite all these things, to the people of the Fahrenheit 451 society, the weak human connections and speedy existence
Manziel, called "Johnny Football" in college, had impressive statistics in college, along with his Heisman Trophy. Starting 26 games over two years, he was 595 for 863, 68.9%, for 7,820 yards, with 63 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. He was the first freshman and fifth play to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in the same season. He was the first freshman ever to win the Heisman and led Texas A&M to a 41-13 victory over Oklahoma in the 2013 Cotton
Later Adrian Peterson went to Westwood High school where he couldn’t play until his junior year because of transportation situations. Once that was situated Adrian Peterson rushed for more than 2,000 yards and scored 22 touchdowns in his junior year. After this year college recruits drooled over his natural talent and his physical stature as he stood at six feet and two inches also weighing in at an amazing 215 pounds. Some people may not know this but Adrian Peterson size is huge for any running back. Adrian Peterson finished up his senior year with extraordinary numbers, he signed to the University of Oklahoma. In his first year as a sooner things didn’t go quite as expected.
During the summer of 2013 one of the biggest outrages in all sports, not just the collegiate division, was the story of Texas A&M’s golden boy Johnny Manziel. At the beginning of the football season Manziel shocked fans around the country with his remarkable abilities; abilities that would later make him the youngest Heisman winner at the time. However, a couple of months later no one would be talking about his talent or his Heisman, but the allegations surrounded around Manziel selling his signature on eBay for money. The NCAA strictly bans collegiate athletes to benefit in any way when it comes to their name and the revenue that comes with it. This shined light on one of the major controversies in college sports; the dispute of whether it is right to allow student athletes to benefit off their names. The NCAA ought to allow collegiate athletes the ability to profit off the use of their name because by allowing players to receive revenues it would ease the negative effects of playing collegiate sports for the student athletes.
Vince Lombardi, the famous coach of the football team "Green Bay Packers", was feared by the discipline applied. But he was also a great motivator. One day he ate alive a player who had failed to make several blocks. After the trainning, he went into the locker room and saw the player sitting next to his locker. His head was looking down the floor and looked very discouraged.
After trading their first and fifth round draft picks to the New England Patriots in exchange for the 23rd overall pick, the Baltimore Ravens’ front office was buzzing with excitement. They knew what they needed, and they knew who they wanted: a 6’5 322 pound force on the offensive line. Earning First Team Freshman All-America honors and First Team Freshman All-SEC, playing in all 11 games and paving way for Ole Miss RB Mico McSwain to establish the freshman rushing record, left tackle Michael Oher was a force to be reckoned with. His talent and size were unmatched and unheard of on his path to greatness. His success on the field, however, doesn’t truly reflect his struggled upbringing and scarred past. The story of Michael Oher is a true rags to riches story.
Though this NFL conduct is in the light, it is unnecessary because the U.S. criminal justice system has the ability to end the professional sports careers of society’s worst criminals. Everyone asked themselves how could such a successful, talented person throw their opportunity away like this? Crimes from the past always catch up and come to light in the justice system. The NFL from now on is trying to prevent incidents like this from happening from making their off field standards stronger, and making consequences stronger that come with
O. J. Simpson is a son of Eunice Simpson and Jimmy Lee Simpson. They got divorced in 1952. Eunice, his mother, was left all alone with her four children, she worked in a hospital and had often night shifts, which led to that Simpson, his brother and two sisters had to take care of themselves often, in the evening and throughout the night. His father was gay and was well known as the drag queen in the San Fransisco area. O. J. grew up in the Potrero Hill district, he didn 't have a great childhood ( almost nobody in that district either). When he was 13 years old he joined a gang. O. J. Simpson spent lots of his time on stealing and being a "gangster" in his childhood. Later when he went to City College of San Fransisco he became an American football player. O. J. Simpson was very talented. He was soon awarded an athletic scholarship at USC (University of Southern California) and in 1967 he ran for 1543 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. Everyone on that school was admiring him. When he won the Heisman trophy in 1968, Simpson became a star. O. J.
“He was an abuser of the worst kind, one with money, power and fame” (Archer, 2013). O.J. Simpson a man who attracted the attention of millions when he was at the peak of his career to when he was on trial for the brutal murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman. The trial that shocked the country is still referred to today as “the trial of the century” and will continue to hold that title as this trial had an indefinite effect on our judicial system and how money and fame influence verdicts. Regardless if someone believes he’s innocent or guilty, why is this trial still discussed today with as much controversy and conviction it held in 1991? Before Simpson was remembered only for this infamous trial he was a prolific athlete, role model, and someone whose background and upbringing beat the odds. Understanding the rise and fall of O.J. Simpson through his high-profile career and his personality may allow a clear understanding of why an American idol became Americas favorite criminal.