Thursday Thirteen #365

13 words/phrases from the OJ Simpson murder trial. 30 years ago this month, the Simpson saga grabbed the United States by the throat and held on. 

 

At the time, much was made of how the case revealed racial fissures in our nation, but honestly, that's not how I experienced it. To me, it was all about gender. I was shocked by how many of the men in my life reacted to it. For example, one young man I was working with opined -- after hearing one of Nicole Brown's 911 calls about domestic abuse -- that "of course" OJ could break into his ex-wife's house because his money was paying for it, and that domestic violence is no indicator of homicide. I never looked at him the same way after that. That young art director must be nearly 60 now. I wonder if his views have evolved with time. I hope so.

Anyway, here are 13 words/phrases that were in the national vernacular 30 years ago.

1. Bundy Drive in Brentwood. The scene of the double homicide that took place on June 12, 1994.

2. Rockingham. OJ Simpson's 7 bedroom estate.

3. Ron Goldman. The 25-year-old aspiring actor and model who waited tables to pay the bills. He was murdered alongside Nicole Brown.

4. Mezzaluna. The Italian restaurant where Nicole Brown had her last meal, and where Ron Goldman worked.

5. Kato Kaelin. Friend to both OJ and Nicole, he lived in the guest house on the Rockingham property. He became a star witness in the trial.

6. Kato the Akita. Named after Kaelin by the Simpson children, this dog was the only witness and his pawprints were visible at the bloody crime scene.

7. Robert Kardashian. Now known as ex-husband of Kris Jenner and father of Kim, he first came to prominence as OJ Simpson's friend and lawyer.

8. AC Cowlings. Another friend and former teammate of OJ's, known for being behind the wheel of ...

9. The White Bronco. While evading arrest, OJ Simpson led the LA police on a slow speed, nationally televised chase in a white Ford Bronco.

10. Marcia Clark. The lead prosecutor. Her curly perm became the topic of public debate. Today she is an author.

11. DNA evidence. It's hard to believe now, but 30 years ago DNA was a new and confusing innovation. The defense convinced the jury that the blood evidence could have been contaminated and corrupted to the point that the DNA results were unreliable. It's unlikely a 2024 jury would accept this as "reasonable doubt."

12. "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit." A bloody left-handed glove was found near the murder scene. It's mate was discovered at Simpson's home. During the trial, OJ stood before the jury and struggled to get the bloody glove on his hand but couldn't. His lead attorney, Johnnie Cochran, told the jury in closing arguments, "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit."

13. Faye Resnick. An interior designer and friend to Nicole Brown. Simpson's defense team used the fact that Faye had been in and out of rehab to create reasonable doubt, supposing that Nicole had been killed by drug dealers.

30 years on, how many of these did you remember?

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