Was OJ Simpson the most well regarded athlete in U.S. history? (Before the murders)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely not! He was famous because of the Bronco chase.

Surely you jest or were living under a rock (or are somewhat young, and that is OK as an excuse).

Top collage player at storied USC.

Heisman winner.

NFL great running back.

Pro Football Hall of Fame.


And of course,
The biggest commercial of its time.

[Anonymous]

OJ was a great athlete and then a well known pitchman. It would be like if Eli Manning or Gronk murdered an ex wife. Totally out of left field and unexpected based on what we thought we knew about them.

But in terms of cultural impact, there is no contest. Jordan won six titles. Sold billions of dollars in shoes. Not the magnetic pitchman in the same way OJ was, but sold far more products and much broader appeal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OJ was a great athlete and then a well known pitchman. It would be like if Eli Manning or Gronk murdered an ex wife. Totally out of left field and unexpected based on what we thought we knew about them.

But in terms of cultural impact, there is no contest. Jordan won six titles. Sold billions of dollars in shoes. Not the magnetic pitchman in the same way OJ was, but sold far more products and much broader appeal.

Except Gronk's teammate another tight end even was convicted of murder posthumously diagnosed with CTE.

[Anonymous]

I know I am dating myself, but I have a fond memory of meeting and talking to Jesse Owen’s when I was 10 years old at the University of Illinois. Not surprisingly, he was as kind as can be and thought of him often when I ended up running at a top level in D1. The courage to stare down Hitler in 1936.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely not! He was famous because of the Bronco chase.

You must be young. OJ was a huge celebrity back in the day. Everyone loved him. Heisman, great looking, charismatic, decent actor in roles that worked for his personality, then the commercials.

Burt Reynolds is probably the most famous athlete (and not even a great one) to become larger than life later as an actor.

[Anonymous]

I'm the one who wrote the long screed earlier. Embarrassed I did not consider female athletes, but I just don't think you see the longevity. Mary Lou Retton was huge, but how far and how long did she reach?

Maybe Martina Navratolova? Not broad commercial success? But she's made a dent culturally.

It does make you wonder what it takes to transcend sports. Tihnking about Michael Jordan, who I believe probably does have the biggest reach, famously rejected politics, policy, advocacy of any sort. what truly successful sportspeople have become political leaders? Is Tommy Tuberville now suddenly the most influential sports-related person in the US?

Sports accomplishments
college - national championships, big awards
Olympic/world championships - gold medals
Professional - championships, MVPs, other awards

business accomplishments
marketing/branding - spokesperson role/image/likeness
creating/owning a product/business/brand
developing a successful business outside of sports or not related to on the field success
moving from sports in sports commentary/coaching

cultural accomlishments
broadening from sports to other types of commentary/hosting
cameos/appearances in TV shows or talk shows
movie or television acting / acting unrelated to sports persona

pop culture / social media
dating/marrying famous person
branding/selling/creating

transcending sports
well known for adovcacy of particular issue that moves the needle /creates real change
leader of social movement
politically adjacent
holder of public office

Finally - this isn't even considering international. David beckham? Cristiano Ronaldo? Pele?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you have to think about reach and influence.

OJ was a sports star, of which there are many. He did sports commentary - a number of retired athletes do that and achieve name recognition success. He also had a number of commercials that had broad appeal (see the running through the airport thing, which was real) - fewer athletes, but still a lot, have that level of broad commercial appeal. AND, add in a small but still broad movie/television career as an actor (not himself) - that's where it becomes relaly really rare.

And all this before super saturation of commercial product. Michael Jordan certainly approaches this level, due to the aboslute saturation of the market with Be like Mike commercials and NIKE and then his own shoes. And, he had TV appearances and even a movie. Not a good actor though. Shaq has also had TV/movie appearances, but not a good actor.

OJ wasn't a great actor, but he could hit the baseline and had that charisma that translated on screen.

Muhammad Ali I'd agree might be the most well regarded, and did all of it before there were really opportunities for the type of media saturation that other althetes had. And he started as hated when he changed his name to Muhammad Ali and tore up his draft card. His natural charisma just won out.

Jesse Palmer was a standout in college, not as well regarded in the pros, does a competent job as a football broadcaster and was a Bachelor. Now he also hosts a bunch of TV shows (a bunch on the Foodnetwork). But I'd in no way say he's as well regarded.

Who else. LeBron is trying to broaden his appeal. Terry Bradshaw. Of course: JOE NAMATH - maybe before all our time, but he probably is the only one I can think of who approached OJ levels? Maybe Joe Dimaggio, with his public life/marilyn monroe?

Peyton Manning seems to be everywhere now. He has all the commercials - both by himself and with his brother. He's done some voice work on tv/movies, been a guest host on SNL. He does a sports show with his brother.

[Anonymous]

No Serena Williams is

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was there any celebrity athlete more well regarded in the States than OJ was?

I’ve heard Michael Jordan’s fame doesn’t even compare to how OJ’s fame reach was in the country. Same with LeBron and Iverson. That OJ was embraced everywhere and in movies, commercials, media.

Would you say he was probably the most well regarded athlete prior to the murders?

Mark Spitz
Mary Lou Retton
Joe Namath
Kareem Abdul-Jabar
John McEnroe
Jesse Owens


It’s a big list

[Anonymous]

Michael Phelps!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you have to think about reach and influence.

OJ was a sports star, of which there are many. He did sports commentary - a number of retired athletes do that and achieve name recognition success. He also had a number of commercials that had broad appeal (see the running through the airport thing, which was real) - fewer athletes, but still a lot, have that level of broad commercial appeal. AND, add in a small but still broad movie/television career as an actor (not himself) - that's where it becomes relaly really rare.

And all this before super saturation of commercial product. Michael Jordan certainly approaches this level, due to the aboslute saturation of the market with Be like Mike commercials and NIKE and then his own shoes. And, he had TV appearances and even a movie. Not a good actor though. Shaq has also had TV/movie appearances, but not a good actor.

OJ wasn't a great actor, but he could hit the baseline and had that charisma that translated on screen.

Muhammad Ali I'd agree might be the most well regarded, and did all of it before there were really opportunities for the type of media saturation that other althetes had. And he started as hated when he changed his name to Muhammad Ali and tore up his draft card. His natural charisma just won out.

Jesse Palmer was a standout in college, not as well regarded in the pros, does a competent job as a football broadcaster and was a Bachelor. Now he also hosts a bunch of TV shows (a bunch on the Foodnetwork). But I'd in no way say he's as well regarded.

Who else. LeBron is trying to broaden his appeal. Terry Bradshaw. Of course: JOE NAMATH - maybe before all our time, but he probably is the only one I can think of who approached OJ levels? Maybe Joe Dimaggio, with his public life/marilyn monroe?

Yes, I love sports. Jesse Palmer is not in the same conversation.

Other than perhaps those at AVIS, this commercial was universally loved!
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/11/arts/television/oj-simpson-hertz-ads-commercials.html

Jessee Palmer is a hilarious take. Hilarous. Average football player and terrible announcer. A virtual unknown unless your exposure to sports is the Food Network and the Bachelor.


OJ never came close to the orbit that Jordan or Ali had. There are probably 50 athletes that have had similar exposure and public appeal to OJ. Kobe, Barkley, Brady, Shaq, Jeter, Namath, Magic, Lawrence Taylor, Aikman, LeBron and that's not even talking about Mickey Mantle and others who played in black and white - just off the top of my head, at least as popular if not more popular and recognized than OJ. Spotlight was smaller when OJ did it, you could argue that he was a trendsetter but not on the level of modern day athletes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No Serena Williams is

No lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No Serena Williams is

In your dreams bugaboo

[Anonymous]

Michael Jordan was a bigger deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No Serena Williams is

I thought of Serena as well.