Should OJ be kicked out of the HOF? (1 Viewer)

[David Yudkin]

Given that OJ has finally been convicted of some serious charges, should he still be enshrined in the HOF? IMO, had Simpson have been a player or retired and not yet inducted, he would not have stood a chance after the crimes he's committed. While I agree that his performance on the field has been exemplary, his criminal activities certainly has not.

I have no idea if there are provisions for the removal of an inducted HOF member in football. The only thing I remember is that the NHL had a controversy when someone essentially tampered with an election (so he then was not allowed entry) and steps were taken another time when an inducted league offical resigned days before being voted out for embezelling Player's Association funds.

Should OJ be kicked out of the HOF?

 

[3C's]

I was thinking about this very thing yesterday after the sentence was announced.

 

[notdarkyet]

No. He can be the biggest piece of crap in the history of mankind after he is done playing in the league and that doesnt change his league accomplishments. This is revisionist history. He was voted in on his legitimate accomplishments, and those accomplishments havent changed, regardless of his post career transgressions.

 

[Lash]

No

he's a hall-of-fame talented football player

and scum of the earth person

those can be separate things

 

[FUBAR]

no, LT is still in and I'm not convinced he's a better person; where would we draw the line?

Pete Rose should also be in FWIW

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

So wait, is he not gonna be on the SC sideline this week?

 

[3C's]

So wait, is he not gonna be on the SC sideline this week?

No, he's too busy looking for the killer.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

I believe the HOF is two things, at least. It is a place for Players and contibutors whose excellence is integral to telling the story of football itself. This is a standard that trandscenends to an extent just raw numbers. The HOF is also an honor, a priviledge, not a right. It is something to be achieved, but also, as an honor, it is of necessity an ongoing thing. I believe that once one is no longer worthy of the ongoing honor of continued inclusion they should be removed.

Simpsons ongoing presence demeans the honor of inclusion of all the other inductees. He should be removed. This will then be his distinction. He will have the 'honor' of being the first so distinguished.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

It would be all right with me if they gave his spot to someone who distingusihed himself as a human being. Joe Delaney, Jerry Kramer, Pat Tillman

 

[Despyzer]

To my knowledge, the NFL, unlike MLB, has no "citizenship" criteria for inclusion in the HoF. Even if they were to decide today that there should be, O.J. would be grandfathered under the old rules.

 

[Weiner Dog]

If we're focusing on O.J.'s criminal events of which he's been found guilty, I would have to assume there is a HOF or two with a worse rap-sheet. Armed-robbery is obviously a serious crime, but it's not rape or <gulp> murder. It's human nature to group the Goldman/Brown murders into O.J.'s non-football resume...even though he was never convicted of the criminal charges associated with the murders.

He stays in the HOF.

 

[Ice Cream Man]

For those saying OJ should not be taken out of the Hall, when do you draw the line?

What if a player ended up being a global terrorist? A serial killer? An arsonist? A murderer? A drug lord? A thief?

I can't imagine anyone here thinking a serial killer would belong in the Hall of Fame. "Oh hey daddy, that's the guy who killed 10 girls. What did he do on the football field? Oh he was great!"

I'm interested to know what line must be crossed?

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

His statistical achievements are his. Honors, by their very nature an ongoing type of thing when coupled with enshrinement, are not. This belongs to the group doing the honoring. They can stop honoring. It is their's, not his. His inclusion degrads the rest of the group.

 

[chedha]

For those saying OJ should not be taken out of the Hall, when do you draw the line?

What if a player ended up being a global terrorist? A serial killer? An arsonist? A murderer? A drug lord? A thief?

I can't imagine anyone here thinking a serial killer would belong in the Hall of Fame. "Oh hey daddy, that's the guy who killed 10 girls. What did he do on the football field? Oh he was great!"

I'm interested to know what line must be crossed?

Their is no line to be drawn. Enshrinement is based on football accomplishments. Period. Whether or not a persons character should be considered for the Hall going forward is the question. But if guys are included or removed based on off the field, or post retirement, activities, then their would be a turnover in the hall. The NFL is big on tradition, and I don't see this changing.

 

[Ice Cream Man]

For those saying OJ should not be taken out of the Hall, when do you draw the line?

What if a player ended up being a global terrorist? A serial killer? An arsonist? A murderer? A drug lord? A thief?

I can't imagine anyone here thinking a serial killer would belong in the Hall of Fame. "Oh hey daddy, that's the guy who killed 10 girls. What did he do on the football field? Oh he was great!"

I'm interested to know what line must be crossed?

Their is no line to be drawn. Enshrinement is based on football accomplishments. Period. Whether or not a persons character should be considered for the Hall going forward is the question. But if guys are included or removed based on off the field, or post retirement, activities, then their would be a turnover in the hall. The NFL is big on tradition, and I don't see this changing.

I think this is incredibly naive. If a serial killer was in the NFL hall of fame, they'd take him right out... and rightfully so.

 

[Slider]

For those saying OJ should not be taken out of the Hall, when do you draw the line?

What if a player ended up being a global terrorist? A serial killer? An arsonist? A murderer? A drug lord? A thief?

I can't imagine anyone here thinking a serial killer would belong in the Hall of Fame. "Oh hey daddy, that's the guy who killed 10 girls. What did he do on the football field? Oh he was great!"

I'm interested to know what line must be crossed?

Their is no line to be drawn. Enshrinement is based on football accomplishments. Period. Whether or not a persons character should be considered for the Hall going forward is the question. But if guys are included or removed based on off the field, or post retirement, activities, then their would be a turnover in the hall. The NFL is big on tradition, and I don't see this changing.

I think this is incredibly naive. If a serial killer was in the NFL hall of fame, they'd take him right out... and rightfully so.

I think the whole argument is naive. There's about a .0000000000001% chance of a HOF player having the makeup of a serial killer, terrorist, etc. Yeah, OJ probably killed a woman. That was more domestic/emotional than crazy. Anyone who has had a HOF career is probably a pretty satisfied person.

 

[CLIFF]

So wait, is he not gonna be on the SC sideline this week?

No, he's too busy looking for the killer.

Maybe he'll find them in Jail.Here's a question, if he gets out on bail while he awaits his appeal would he bolt??Would you bolt facing same thing, with his assets?What chance do you think he has of getting out on bail awaiting the appeal?

 

[Max Power]

So wait, is he not gonna be on the SC sideline this week?

No, he's too busy looking for the killer.

Maybe he'll find them in Jail.Here's a question, if he gets out on bail while he awaits his appeal would he bolt??

Would you bolt facing same thing, with his assets?

What chance do you think he has of getting out on bail awaiting the appeal?

I thought OJ was broke...

 

[hardcoredx]

Time is critical. If the HOF voting occured after he committed these crimes, there is no way he would be voted in.

He should be kicked out

 

[CLIFF]

So wait, is he not gonna be on the SC sideline this week?

No, he's too busy looking for the killer.

Maybe he'll find them in Jail.Here's a question, if he gets out on bail while he awaits his appeal would he bolt??

Would you bolt facing same thing, with his assets?

What chance do you think he has of getting out on bail awaiting the appeal?

I thought OJ was broke...

Yeah right, that's why he was always golfing and never needed to work after his trial not to mention still being able to afford the attorneys. He has money at his disposal just not where the Goldmans will ever be able to access.

 

[Godsbrother]

They don't have to officially kick him out but they could certianly remove his bust and memorabilia of him from Canton.

Actually they better remove the memorabilia because OJ is likely to come for it when he gets out of jail.

 

[FFdork]

I think the whole argument is naive. There's about a .0000000000001% chance of a HOF player having the makeup of a serial killer, terrorist, etc. Yeah, OJ probably killed a woman. That was more domestic/emotional than crazy. Anyone who has had a HOF career is probably a pretty satisfied person.

Uh, speaking of naivete... I suppose all people that have a lot of money are happy as well?

 

[FFdork]

If we're focusing on O.J.'s criminal events of which he's been found guilty, I would have to assume there is a HOF or two with a worse rap-sheet.

Really, you think there are a couple of HOFers that killed 3+ people? Anyway, to the original question. I'm fine with it either way. Either have it be 100% about football accomplishment or have a character component. If guys aren't getting voted in now b/c of character issues, I have no problem removing OJ. Being in the HOF is a privilege not a constitutional right.

 

[Mikey16x]

no, LT is still in and I'm not convinced he's a better person; where would we draw the line?Pete Rose should also be in FWIW

Giants Homer... don't go there. lol.. LT may be a lot of things one being a crackhead but let's not make him into a person that would commit double homicide and then rob people at gun point. "shark changed linebacking for life!, you can't just cut a guy like that"When it comes down to the Hall of Fame for troubled guys like this I am all for it. He is looked at as a piece of $$$$ to everybody right now, and rightfully so... but it was done off of the field. He might be a severely disturbed individual but his accomplishments on the field are without question.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

His convictions have nothing to do with Football Fame

 

[Sundog]

I voted no. I agree that there's probably a line somewhere, but I don't think his conviction & prison sentence crosses it. And yes, he probably killed his wife, but he was acquitted of that, so as a practical and technical matter, I don't think that can be factored in at this point. Together, these would easily bar him from being inducted today, regardless of his on-field accomplishments, but I don't think they add up to his ex-duction (I just made that word up!).

 

[Chachi]

I have opinions but really opinions on OJ should probaly be kept to ones self.

One thing to mention is to all the people saying "Where do you draw the line" I don't think it really matters, OJ is so far over the line it's not really a valid question.

 

[On The Rocks]

No.

I do however think his bust should be put in a dark corner closet that no one ever goes near.

 

[David Yudkin]

If off the field transgressions have nothing to do with on the field accomplishments and playing the game, why are players like Vick and Pacman getting suspended for big chunks of time? Would those incidents impact their ability to make the HOF?

I understand OJ's incidents were post his football playing games, but folks like Plaxico Burress are not getting to play for things that have nothing to do with football. Theoretically, if off field criminal problems didn't factor into it then why are players getting suspended?

I don't know whether Simpson should or should not be given the HOF boot, but in baseball Pete Rose certainly isn't getting a lot of love based on his on-field records . . .

 

[chedha]

For those saying OJ should not be taken out of the Hall, when do you draw the line?

What if a player ended up being a global terrorist? A serial killer? An arsonist? A murderer? A drug lord? A thief?

I can't imagine anyone here thinking a serial killer would belong in the Hall of Fame. "Oh hey daddy, that's the guy who killed 10 girls. What did he do on the football field? Oh he was great!"

I'm interested to know what line must be crossed?

Their is no line to be drawn. Enshrinement is based on football accomplishments. Period. Whether or not a persons character should be considered for the Hall going forward is the question. But if guys are included or removed based on off the field, or post retirement, activities, then their would be a turnover in the hall. The NFL is big on tradition, and I don't see this changing.

I think this is incredibly naive. If a serial killer was in the NFL hall of fame, they'd take him right out... and rightfully so.

Ok, so you just answered your own question. Their is a line, and it's serial killer. So Enshrinement into the HOF does in fact have to do with your character off the field. Even when you're a retired player and have been inducted for years, the NFL conduct policy must be adhered to maintain your status.

 

[WisWolvrns]

No. He can be the biggest piece of crap in the history of mankind after he is done playing in the league and that doesnt change his league accomplishments. This is revisionist history. He was voted in on his legitimate accomplishments, and those accomplishments havent changed, regardless of his post career transgressions.

The HOF is for the football accomplishments. It isn't some moral high ground establishment. Thats the problem with people "looking up" to sports figures or actors. They are just people who happen to have skills which put their face in the spot light. But having those skills never equates to meaning they are all good people morally. It's amazing how people give a care about what this actor has to say or this sports star has to say. They are just people like everyone else and if you can read and memorize a script on film well or you can run fast or physically skilled, you could be a decent moral person or you could be scum. Leaving him in there would just allow a parent walking through the HOF to note that fact. That their kids can't just blinding put sports stars and/or actors on a pedestal. They have to like them for their skills, but have pause before thinking of following some of the decisions they make morally. So I think it would be a good thing to leave him there. He would be an example to everyone that even if you are born with some great talents, if you don't live a moral life, you can still see your life crash and burn and get thrown into jail for your wrong actions in society.

 

[G-Money]

Naw, leave him in the HOF...........but move his bust into the "crapper".

 

[chedha]

No. He can be the biggest piece of crap in the history of mankind after he is done playing in the league and that doesnt change his league accomplishments. This is revisionist history. He was voted in on his legitimate accomplishments, and those accomplishments havent changed, regardless of his post career transgressions.

The HOF is for the football accomplishments. It isn't some moral high ground establishment. Thats the problem with people "looking up" to sports figures or actors. They are just people who happen to have skills which put their face in the spot light. But having those skills never equates to meaning they are all good people morally. It's amazing how people give a care about what this actor has to say or this sports star has to say. They are just people like everyone else and if you can read and memorize a script on film well or you can run fast or physically skilled, you could be a decent moral person or you could be scum. Leaving him in there would just allow a parent walking through the HOF to note that fact. That their kids can't just blinding put sports stars and/or actors on a pedestal. They have to like them for their skills, but have pause before thinking of following some of the decisions they make morally. So I think it would be a good thing to leave him there. He would be an example to everyone that even if you are born with some great talents, if you don't live a moral life, you can still see your life crash and burn and get thrown into jail for your wrong actions in society.

 

[CravenM]

No way. He was a great football player - period

 

[Ketamine Dreams]

Naw, leave him in the HOF...........but move his bust into the "crapper".

LOL, make a new wing...'The Crapper Wing', OJ, LT, etc. Agree he should NOT be in it. As mentioned, guys are suspended, banned, etc. for small transgressions, then someone who is convicted of a felony should be removed.

 

[Max Power]

Will OJ now lose the NFL pension he receives? If not, then there is no way they can remove him from the HOF.

 

[Weiner Dog]

If we're focusing on O.J.'s criminal events of which he's been found guilty, I would have to assume there is a HOF or two with a worse rap-sheet.

Really, you think there are a couple of HOFers that killed 3+ people?

My point exactly. OJ was never convicted of criminally killing anybody (even though most agree he did). OJ lost the civil suit.So...do you believe he does not belong in the HOF b/c of arm-robbery or losing a civil case for murder? If we start throwing civil cases into the mix, the process could get ugly.

 

[David Yudkin]

If we're focusing on O.J.'s criminal events of which he's been found guilty, I would have to assume there is a HOF or two with a worse rap-sheet.

Really, you think there are a couple of HOFers that killed 3+ people?

My point exactly. OJ was never convicted of criminally killing anybody (even though most agree he did). OJ lost the civil suit.So...do you believe he does not belong in the HOF b/c of arm-robbery or losing a civil case for murder? If we start throwing civil cases into the mix, the process could get ugly.

How many members of any sports HOF have been convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping and also lost a civil murder case?I have no idea if any HOF inductees in any major sports have been convicted of a major felony before . . .

 

[Thunderlips]

OF course he should be kicked out. I don't think that's enough. Take back his Player of the Year award and eliminate his records from the NFL record book. I hope that USC destroys his transcripts, eliminates him from the alumni association and eliminates his records. I also think that the Bills should be penalized for drafting him and the NFL go back and retroactively reevaluate all the games he played in for them, figure out which games he won (or had a hand in winning) and give them a loss on the record books. All football cards,photos, and memorbilia should be destroyed. I'd even go so as far as to rename Orange Juice...because it's nickname is his nickname. Let's make it so he never existed. AS a matter of fact, I think we need to reevaluate the NFL for letting a man of his character play.

 

[Ice Cream Man]

OF course he should be kicked out. I don't think that's enough. Take back his Player of the Year award and eliminate his records from the NFL record book. I hope that USC destroys his transcripts, eliminates him from the alumni association and eliminates his records. I also think that the Bills should be penalized for drafting him and the NFL go back and retroactively reevaluate all the games he played in for them, figure out which games he won (or had a hand in winning) and give them a loss on the record books. All football cards,photos, and memorbilia should be destroyed. I'd even go so as far as to rename Orange Juice...because it's nickname is his nickname. Let's make it so he never existed. AS a matter of fact, I think we need to reevaluate the NFL for letting a man of his character play.

Before going into a sarcastic rant, it's worth noting that the Hall of Fame is an honorary award, which connotates a privilege, and putting someone in high public esteem.

Actual accomplishments or events are facts, and no one is seeking to rewrite history.

Laying the league's top honor on a convict, or murderer, is surely something the League should have issues with. This is particularly true given the leagues stance on off the field conduct for current players.

Carry on.

 

[UnderDawgs]

I have nothing to add really, but wanted to say that I love the fact that he was convicted for armed robbery and sentenced for murder. LOVE. IT.

 

[prosopis]

No. He can be the biggest piece of crap in the history of mankind after he is done playing in the league and that doesnt change his league accomplishments. This is revisionist history. He was voted in on his legitimate accomplishments, and those accomplishments havent changed, regardless of his post career transgressions.

These are my thoughts as well.

 

[T Bell]

My gut says "yes", but my head says "no".

I don't want things external to football to influence Hall of Fame induction. There's enough politics as it is. The HoF is there to honor football achievements.

 

[prosopis]

So wait, is he not gonna be on the SC sideline this week?

The line has changed accordingly.

 

[David Yudkin]

Hypothecially speaking, if Brett Favre in the offseason was convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping and sent away for up to 33 years, would he still be a HOF lock? I doubt it. Is there that much difference in having your transgressions years after retiring vs. as an active player?

 

[prosopis]

For those saying OJ should not be taken out of the Hall, when do you draw the line?What if a player ended up being a global terrorist? A serial killer? An arsonist? A murderer? A drug lord? A thief? I can't imagine anyone here thinking a serial killer would belong in the Hall of Fame. "Oh hey daddy, that's the guy who killed 10 girls. What did he do on the football field? Oh he was great!"I'm interested to know what line must be crossed?

I voted he should stay. If I ever visit the HOF I would use his spot as a place to teach my son. It does not matter if you were a HOF player. I would speak of the importance of being a good person. In essence I would be using his bust to show that anyone could be a POS.I am saying this all wrong but I think most will know what I am trying to say.

 

[prosopis]

No. He can be the biggest piece of crap in the history of mankind after he is done playing in the league and that doesnt change his league accomplishments. This is revisionist history. He was voted in on his legitimate accomplishments, and those accomplishments havent changed, regardless of his post career transgressions.

The HOF is for the football accomplishments. It isn't some moral high ground establishment. Thats the problem with people "looking up" to sports figures or actors. They are just people who happen to have skills which put their face in the spot light. But having those skills never equates to meaning they are all good people morally. It's amazing how people give a care about what this actor has to say or this sports star has to say. They are just people like everyone else and if you can read and memorize a script on film well or you can run fast or physically skilled, you could be a decent moral person or you could be scum. Leaving him in there would just allow a parent walking through the HOF to note that fact. That their kids can't just blinding put sports stars and/or actors on a pedestal. They have to like them for their skills, but have pause before thinking of following some of the decisions they make morally. So I think it would be a good thing to leave him there. He would be an example to everyone that even if you are born with some great talents, if you don't live a moral life, you can still see your life crash and burn and get thrown into jail for your wrong actions in society.

This guy said it better then me.

 

[Tau837]

If off the field transgressions have nothing to do with on the field accomplishments and playing the game, why are players like Vick and Pacman getting suspended for big chunks of time? Would those incidents impact their ability to make the HOF?I understand OJ's incidents were post his football playing games, but folks like Plaxico Burress are not getting to play for things that have nothing to do with football. Theoretically, if off field criminal problems didn't factor into it then why are players getting suspended?I don't know whether Simpson should or should not be given the HOF boot, but in baseball Pete Rose certainly isn't getting a lot of love based on his on-field records . . .

I think you are mixing two different things here.If Vick returns to the league and accomplishes enough in the rest of his NFL career to merit HOF induction, I definitely think he will be considered. I think plenty of voters would hold his transgressions against him, and it would hurt his chances of getting enough votes... but my point is, I do not believe he would be barred from consideration.If Pacman Jones returned to the field and played the rest of his career as well as Deion Sanders, I feel pretty certain he'd be elected to the HOF.Time not playing due to suspension hurts a player's chances of accomplishing enough to merit induction. But if they do still accomplish enough despite the missed time, I think they would make it.The best example I can think of is Paul Hornung. He was suspended for an entire season for off field conduct (gambling), and yet he was elected to the Hall of Fame. I'm not saying Hornung's gambling was the same as what Vick, Pacman, and/or O.J. did, but it goes to your question.

 

[prosopis]

Hypothecially speaking, if Brett Favre in the offseason was convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping and sent away for up to 33 years, would he still be a HOF lock? I doubt it. Is there that much difference in having your transgressions years after retiring vs. as an active player?

What if he was black?

 

[Slider]

I think the whole argument is naive. There's about a .0000000000001% chance of a HOF player having the makeup of a serial killer, terrorist, etc. Yeah, OJ probably killed a woman. That was more domestic/emotional than crazy. Anyone who has had a HOF career is probably a pretty satisfied person.

Uh, speaking of naivete... I suppose all people that have a lot of money are happy as well?

What the heck does that have to do with what I said? Having a HOF football career is nothing like a guy who made a few million. Or a $100 million. You know the football player and they have to work on a very strict schedule for a long time to achieve the HOF. Please name the wealthy terrorists or serial killers that are in the HOF. Heck, name 3 HOF'ers that are in big trouble.