I want to hear three words from O.J. Simpson: Instead, he says 'I’ve got a little getting even to do' in his first Twitter post
… does he have CTE?
Now that former football great O.J. Simpson is a free man, finally released from prison, he is free to set up a Twitter account. And, he has.
However, instead of an apology for his past transgressions, he said this in his first tweet, “I’ve got a little getting even to do.”
That is sad. Vengeance is something anyone can seek. However, when a person seeks redemption from society, those are not the ones people want to hear.
The words he must say
Actually, I would like to hear three words from O.J.: “I am sorry.”
However, one of the greatest running backs in football history may not be capable of feeling any remorse for his past.
Simpson was one of the most likable and gregarious athletes in the country when he was accused of murdering his ex-wife, and her friend, in 1994. He was then acquitted in a sensational trial that demonstrated the benefit of being able to afford great defense lawyers.
Later, O.J., who went from being a great hero to someone who was anathema to Americans, was later convicted of other crimes and spent almost nine years in prison.
Why?
Fabulous running back
O.J. was a great running back from the University of Southern California and then for nine years with the Buffalo Bills. He was the first back to surpass 2,000 yards rushing in a season in 1973 when he rushed for 2,003 yards in 14 games.
In my book, he is one of the five greatest running backs in NFL history.
So, how did that gregarious, extremely popular man, go from lovable to a despised murderer?
Dr. Bennett Omalu believes that he has CTE
Dr. Bennet Omalu is an honored neurosurgeon who discovered Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), and he has studied the effects of it in football players.
Omalu discovered that CTE caused many changes in behavior, which included “explosive, impulsive behavior, impaired judgment, mood disorders, and even criminality.”
The neurosurgeon said that this may have been true with O.J. and also former Patriots player Aaron Hernandez, who was convicted of murder before hanging himself in prison, though no one will know about O.J. until his brain is analyzed after his death.
According to Business Insider,
In fact, Omalu, the physician who discovered CTE, is positive the degenerative brain disease led Hernandez to violence and suicide.
"There is no question in my mind that CTE drove Aaron Hernandez to suicide and other criminal and violent behavior," Omalu told TMZ.
The Nigerian doctor, on whose work the movie "Concussion" starring Will Smith was based, links Hernandez to another former NFL star many believe to be murderous despite his acquittal in criminal court.
"If you read my book 'Truth Doesn't Have a Side,' you will encounter the chapter titled 'I bet my license O.J. Simpson Has CTE,' therefore, it should not be surprising that Aaron Hernandez eventually committed suicide," Omalu said.
And based on the life paths of Simpson and Hernandez, this remark by Dr. Omalu is particularly ominous: "I am yet to examine the brain of a professional football player who does not have CTE or other forms of brain damage."
Does CTE change morality?
Should a person be exonerated of criminal behavior because of a medical condition like CTE? That is a difficult moral judgment. That is more complicated than what Dr. Omalu is making right now.
However, regardless of the moral implications, there is a likelihood that such brain injuries can change behavior in traumatic ways.
The great center for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Webster, is an example. He was a great guy, but he eventually became homeless late in life because of his CTE. This was because his wife had to divorce him because of his aberrant behavior. She still loved him, but could not understand why he did what he did any more than he did and had to protect his children from him. That was very sad.
That disease is also sad for O.J., but it is reality. Perhaps he can never understand morality any longer, but that is unlikely.
I would still like to hear him say, “I am sorry,” without any further explanation.
That is unlikely to ever happen.
The words he must say
Actually, I would like to hear three words from O.J.: “I am sorry.”
However, one of the greatest running backs in football history may not be capable of feeling any remorse for his past.
Simpson was one of the most likable and gregarious athletes in the country when he was accused of murdering his ex-wife, and her friend, in 1994. He was then acquitted in a sensational trial that demonstrated the benefit of being able to afford great defense lawyers.
Later, O.J., who went from being a great hero to someone who was anathema to Americans, was later convicted of other crimes and spent almost nine years in prison.
Why?
Fabulous running back
O.J. was a great running back from the University of Southern California and then for nine years with the Buffalo Bills. He was the first back to surpass 2,000 yards rushing in a season in 1973 when he rushed for 2,003 yards in 14 games.
In my book, he is one of the five greatest running backs in NFL history.
So, how did that gregarious, extremely popular man, go from lovable to a despised murderer?
Dr. Bennett Omalu believes that he has CTE
Dr. Bennet Omalu is an honored neurosurgeon who discovered Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), and he has studied the effects of it in football players.
Omalu discovered that CTE caused many changes in behavior, which included “explosive, impulsive behavior, impaired judgment, mood disorders, and even criminality.”
The neurosurgeon said that this may have been true with O.J. and also former Patriots player Aaron Hernandez, who was convicted of murder before hanging himself in prison, though no one will know about O.J. until his brain is analyzed after his death.
According to Business Insider,
In fact, Omalu, the physician who discovered CTE, is positive the degenerative brain disease led Hernandez to violence and suicide.
"There is no question in my mind that CTE drove Aaron Hernandez to suicide and other criminal and violent behavior," Omalu told TMZ.
The Nigerian doctor, on whose work the movie "Concussion" starring Will Smith was based, links Hernandez to another former NFL star many believe to be murderous despite his acquittal in criminal court.
"If you read my book 'Truth Doesn't Have a Side,' you will encounter the chapter titled 'I bet my license O.J. Simpson Has CTE,' therefore, it should not be surprising that Aaron Hernandez eventually committed suicide," Omalu said.
And based on the life paths of Simpson and Hernandez, this remark by Dr. Omalu is particularly ominous: "I am yet to examine the brain of a professional football player who does not have CTE or other forms of brain damage."
Does CTE change morality?
Should a person be exonerated of criminal behavior because of a medical condition like CTE? That is a difficult moral judgment. That is more complicated than what Dr. Omalu is making right now.
However, regardless of the moral implications, there is a likelihood that such brain injuries can change behavior in traumatic ways.
The great center for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Webster, is an example. He was a great guy, but he eventually became homeless late in life because of his CTE. This was because his wife had to divorce him because of his aberrant behavior. She still loved him, but could not understand why he did what he did any more than he did and had to protect his children from him. That was very sad.
That disease is also sad for O.J., but it is reality. Perhaps he can never understand morality any longer, but that is unlikely.
I would still like to hear him say, “I am sorry,” without any further explanation.
That is unlikely to ever happen.
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