O.J. Finally Gets One Of His Suits Dismissed [UPDATE]
Last week, America’s repository of historical artifacts denied acceptance into its collection the suit that O.J. Simpson, the 18th-ranked all-time career rusher and two-time murderer, wore in court on the day he was acquitted (of the murders, not the rushing yards – I’m not sure how one would be acquitted of that. Then again, I’m still not sure how he got acquitted of killing two people, so let’s call it a draw).
The museum called the dismissed item “inappropriate.”
Now wait a second.
Muhammad Ali was suspended from boxing in 1967 and subsequently arrested for standing up for his beliefs against a war he thought foolish. Yet, the curators of the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of American History gave Muhammad Ali’s boxing gloves and robe sanctuary in its vaunted collection.
Same thing with Roger Staubach, the Hall of Fame quarterback who invented the “Hail Mary” pass, a play that has blasphemously taught generation after generation that fusing church with athletics is the same as ignoring Sunday athletics by going to church. Heretic. Yet, there’s Roger Dodger’s jersey.
All these gross dismissals of reality and yet, O.J. Simpson is the one of whom the Smithsonian Institute decides to make an example.
I ask you, what’s inappropriate about a (still!) fashionable suit worn during one of the most memorable television moments in history by one of the NFL’s best running backs (who also happened to do some other stuff)? A decision like this would lead many a cynical sports fan believing that the Smithsonian has no criteria, that decisions like these are based on nothing more than a fragile whim. Turns out, those cynics were correct.
The museum’s spokeswoman, Linda St. Thomas, said curators consider several criteria for accepting donations, including whether an item has historical significance, whether it is needed to complete a collection or is needed for research.
“In this case, they knew it was not appropriate for the collection,” she said.
Sheesh. Are you feelin’ that whim? What’s not historically significant about a mustard-yellow tie? Frankly, I can’t think of anything more significant.
If there’s a sliver of silver lining this storm cloud of humbuggery, it’s that the attorney of the suits current owner, Fred Goldman, will not rest until the suit is displayed and enjoyed by the masses somewhere.
“We’re going to hang this suit in America’s closet and there will be no lack of people who want it,” attorney David Cook said. “It’s a matter of finding the right fit.”
He said he already has some ideas including two Washington, D.C., museums: the Newseum, which has a collection on historical news events, and the Museum of Crime and Punishment.
Sweet relief. A promise of justice.
[UPDATE] The suit will not be oppressed! NYDN
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Photo courtesy of Yahoo! via Getty Images
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