Uh, oh. This guy again?

I can remember sitting on my kitchen counter as a six year old watching the O.J. Simpson trials on TV. This is one of the first news stories many people our age remember. I didn’t know him as a football player or a famous celebrity, I just knew him as the guy who they say murdered his ex-wife and her friend. The nation followed his story, many sympathizing with the victims’ families and watching jaw-dropped when he was acquitted.

After the surprise wore off, we forgot about him… until his book. Last year, everyone cringed as the National Enquirer reported that Simpson would release a hypothetical book, “If I Did It,” where he described how he could have committed the murders. Now, he is back in the news again. The New York Times reported his arrest in the September 17 article “O.J. Simpson Arrested and Charged With Felonies.” Steve Friess wrote “Mr. Simpson was booked into the Clark County Detention Center and charged with two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon and assault with a deadly weapon, as well as one count each of conspiracy to commit burglary and burglary with a firearm.”

It seems like he keeps doing these things to get his name back in the news. According to Friess’ article, O.J. could spend 6 to 70 years in jail. Is having fame, or even being infamous worth that much to him? He is already infamous from his first indiscretion.

Richard Huff commented for the NY Daily News that it reminded him of 1994, “this time there was no gun, no white Bronco and no threat of him killing himself, but the scenario was the same: a gridiron star at the heart of an alleged crime kicking off a media circus.”

Before, I talked about the influence of celebrity on teenagers, but what about the influence of celebrity on the celebrities themselves? I see O.J. as being one of those little kids who always needed attention. As he grew up, he kept receiving that attention and when he became famous with his football career, he got even more.

What happens when the cameras stop? For most celebrities, they slip back into normal society, and are often relieved to have a life without paparazzi. What about those who are addicted to the spotlight?

For O.J., crime could be his desperate cry for attention. It is scary to think that someone could commit such acts for the fame, but celebrity could be just like any other addiction; it changes people to the point where they would do anything for one more fix.

He is definitely receiving attention. The Associated Press reported that he returned to Florida after posting bail on Thursday “into the center of a media cavalcade.”

ABC news reported that Simpson’s lawyers “believe he has a better chance of acquittal in Las Vegas than he did in Los Angeles.” Great. We could be seeing Simpson’s name in the papers again sometime in the future. Lets hope not.