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“If I Did It:” Will you read it?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In our tabloid-riddled world of toxic pop culture, it takes a lot to get us riled up sometimes.
So let’s talk about the new O.J. Simpson book, “If I Did It.” Nothing to get agitated about there, right?
The book is finally scheduled to hit bookstores next week. Just so we’re all on the same page, let’s recap the actual facts, then get to the feelings.
Last year, HarperCollins announced a deal to publish this book, in which Simpson talked, hypothetically he claimed, about how he might have murdered his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman in 1994. Supposedly he tells in some detail what “might have” happened that night. The response was so overwhelmingly negative that HarperCollins cancelled the book.
But the Goldman family, which won a civil suit against Simpson, viewed the book as Simpson’s confession, and actually wanted it made public. A Florida court assigned the rights to the book to the Goldman family, and it is now being published by Beaufort Books, a small publishing house, and the profits will go to the Goldmans, not Simpson.
The book cover now includes the words “The Ron Goldman Foundation for Justice Authorized Version.” There is a great deal of added “commentary” by the Goldman family. And in Amazon.com’s photo of the jacket, the word “If” in the title cannot even be seen; the title appears to read, in huge red letters, “I DID IT.” A subtitle calls it “Confessions of the Killer.”
Neverthless, Denise Brown, Nicole’s sister, has called for a boycott of the book. Some stores (Target, Wal-Mart) say they won’t carry it, but Barnes & Noble will, and it’s selling OK but not great online.
I was utterly hooked on the trial when it aired like an endless miniseries live on CNN in 1995. No fiction could ever compete with all the bizarre twists and turns, and then the stunning verdict that exposed, as if it needed exposing, how differently blacks and whites view some things.
I also got to meet Fred and Kim Goldman, Ron’s father and sister, when they came to Atlanta in 1997 to promote their book, “His Name is Ron.” “The public turns off the TV and moves on,” Kim told me. “We don’t.” My impression of Fred was that he was a fine man dealing with the unspeakable tragedy not only of the murder of his son, but watching the murderer go free, and gloat.
So “If I Did It” is a different kettle of fish now from when it was first announced. Then it was Simpson trying to make a buck off his infamy. Now it’s a family’s continued search for justice. At least that’s one way to look at it.
But the question remains: Does that change your thinking about the book? Given all this, is there a chance you would buy or read “If I Did It?”
Thanks everybody for the comments. We’re gonna turn off commenting now cause I won’t be able to monitor over the weekend. Come back Monday morning for a new book topic.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Are You Kidding Me?
September 7, 2007 7:24 AM | Link to this
No way. Even though the Goldman’s now own the rights he gets all the publicity. I would also have to support Mike Vick if I bought this trash book.
By eblee
September 7, 2007 7:48 AM | Link to this
I will not buy it! If the book was banned because OJ was to benefit, then why should the Goldman’s benefit. They are money hungry just like everyone else. People are so hypocritical! Down with the Goldmans. They should not get one red cent. If there was any fairness about the situation, the Goldmans should be splitting the proceeds with Nicole’s family, don’t you think.
By When Hell Freezes Over
September 7, 2007 7:50 AM | Link to this
In a day and time when anything goes, this piece of trash is the ultimate obscenity. We’ve heard too much already from that sociopathic killer. I feel sorry for the children.
By ron
September 7, 2007 8:01 AM | Link to this
By KC
September 7, 2007 8:10 AM | Link to this
Nah, I wouldn’t buy it. I read some of the version that leaked on the internet, and the writing is probably at a 4th grade level.
Plus I don’t want to give Fred Goldman one red cent. He’s dedicated his life to trying to get rich off of OJ……
By Pen
September 7, 2007 8:26 AM | Link to this
I am an avid reader and will read just about anything put in front of me but I would not read this book if it were the last one on earth. I would be happier reading the back of shampoo bottles.
By hedidit
September 7, 2007 8:33 AM | Link to this
I wouldn’t wipe my butt with it.
By grabbingsand
September 7, 2007 8:36 AM | Link to this
With so many better book options available, I can’t ever see a time when I would read this. Life is too short.
And besides, I’ve had more than my fair share of exposure to the Simpson trail and all that went with it. In 1994, I was living in Chattanooga and working for Waldenbooks. Every week brought in the latest tabloids with the latest gossip, followed then by the hordes of customers who asked us to hold stacks of those papers for purchase and pickup. Between that print media and the radio coverage driving to and from work, I couldn’t have avoided that much saturated news coverage if I tried.
By DB
September 7, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this
Never. That SOB should have been executed for those brutal murders, and if he did get off, he should have the good taste to SHUT UP and disappear instead of writing inane crap like this that only twists the knife deeper into the tragedy. Why does this psycho get away with this sort of stuff?!?!
Sorry, Goldman family. You have my sympathy, but not one penny of my money will you get. It won’t bring Ron back.
By Jeff
September 7, 2007 8:41 AM | Link to this
I like trying to get into peoples’ minds, think how they think. Particularly icons of both good and evil.
For that reason, I would have enjoyed reading the original edition from OJ, though I probably would have waited - as usual, for me - for the paperback.
HOWEVER, this edition, as has been said by others here, appears to be nothing more than a vindictive family trying to frame an innocent (according to the law, at least) man and get rich off of him.
Therefore, I cannot support this book.
By Sarah
September 7, 2007 8:50 AM | Link to this
No, I would never buy this book nor do I read the National Enquirer, both have the same target audience, idiots. It’s disgusting to see this horrible excuse for a human being running around free but what is even worse are the pitiful old white men you see hanging around with OJ, playing golf with him as if they’re hanging out with a real celebrity. How pathetic and desperate can one be to want to be seen with this disgusting excuse for a man.
By Jeff
September 7, 2007 9:08 AM | Link to this
Do you people not remember that LEGALLY the man is INNOCENT????
By Liberal Drive-by
September 7, 2007 9:14 AM | Link to this
You people need to get over OJ. Why are you still carrying around this much anger for someone who did nothing to you? Jury said he didn’t do it, so get over it. It’s been 12 years and h*ll no I won’t buy the book or read it.
By Hera
September 7, 2007 9:20 AM | Link to this
Does no one remember that OJ was found NOT GUILTY? If the civil suit would have been tried in the same jurisdiction as the criminal case and the press stopped saying OJ did it, I don’t think the Goldman’s would have gotten their blood money judgement. What did these people do for cash before OJ? Do any of them really have jobs? I would never buy this book.
By thetruthwillsyfree
September 7, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this
Oh yes, I will buy and read because I believe this is the real OJ. The absolute true narcissist that cannot help himself. How stupid for folks to believe that OJ could help himself. Does anybody really believe his oldest daugther did this book without his blessing? And the Goldman’s….oh I do not blame them. Their promising son/brother was butchered by this narcissist and the fine folks of California let him get away with it. If it had been in the South he would be in prison for life or about to meet his maker via the needle. So, the only choice of justice the Goldman’s could get was to sue him in Civil Court and they won big time. Then Mr. Smart OJ cannot be still and raise his children and fade off into the sunset. The true narcissist cannot be still and live off his NFL pension. No…he has got to be in the open, in the limelight and dare somebody to come get him. Well, he has been gotton. And if the book sounds like a 4th grade education, then that sounds about right. A smooth talking NFL player that did nothing with his life but play ball and murder 2 people.
By nurse&mother
September 7, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this
Jeff While a jury did acquit the man, lets be real. Why the police chase all over, was it LA? How many phone calls does someone need to hear of Nicole Brown Simpson saying,”He’s going to kill me” to see the truth? The OJ trial only shows that there are some damn good lawyers out there for the right price!
By WTF?
September 7, 2007 9:27 AM | Link to this
I would NEVER pay a dime of my hard earned money for this book.
The Goldmans are hypocites, they claimed OJ should not profit from their son’s & Nicole’s death, yet it is okay for them to profit from it. I hope these book sales will give them some comfort.
However, I did get the entire book for FREE from someone who had a PDFed copy. I read some of it but quickly lost interest. That’s the only reason I read one page of it, because it was free.
By Shirley B
September 7, 2007 9:27 AM | Link to this
I wouldn’t take it if they were giving them away!!!!
By Atlanta Pearl Girl
September 7, 2007 9:28 AM | Link to this
In the words of Whitney Houston “HELL TO THE NO!”
By Jay
September 7, 2007 9:28 AM | Link to this
No,I would not by the book or support what I think is morally wrong. OJ should have the decency not to have written this mess. It’s bad enough what happened, now it’s as if he’s trying to rub their face in it. I wouldn’t read it if it were free.
By Jeff
September 7, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this
nurse:
Just because person A BELIEVES person B will kill them and person A is eventually murdered does NOT mean that person B ACTUALLY killed person A.
A possible scenario: A friend of a friend needs drug money. Knows that Nicole is loaded - after all, she’s married to OJ. Through the friends, knows that OJ is a bad dude and has threatened to kill Nicole quite often. So one night, this friend of a friend strikes. No witnesses, he knows that OJ will be blamed. He gets away scot-free with TWO murders - Goldman happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. No one ever finds out, because EVERYONE forever assumes that OJ did it.
If the threats on Nicole’s life were made public in the media, EVERY SINGLE PERSON who knew about them is a possible suspect, and it could have been ANY of them, for the reasons listed above.
By sharon
September 7, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this
In the words of Whitney Houston, “Hell to the Naw”
By Lucky
September 7, 2007 9:43 AM | Link to this
I would’nt beat my dogs with that trash…….word to the wise.
By Sarah
September 7, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this
Had the jury been twelve people who could spell DNA, he’d be in jail now. OJ was lucky enough to be sat in front of what perhaps was the single dumbest jury in history; a group of uneducated people from the Compton ghetto who was more impressed with Cochrans tie and shoes than they were with the case. Try explaining DNA to a two year old. I rest my case.
By Mike
September 7, 2007 9:49 AM | Link to this
Not just “No” but, HELL NO.
By Rusty
September 7, 2007 9:56 AM | Link to this
I will probably read it.I read “Outrage” by former LA District Attorney Vincet Bugliosi that covered every reason why OJ was guilty.This case was open and shut.That jury Obviously ignored irrefutable facts just to let the “brother” walk. I’m curios to see how close OJ’s confession is to the scenario layed out in the Bugliosi book. BTW Bugliosi is the guy who prosecuted/convicted Manson.
By lrs
September 7, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this
No, it’s already circulating on the internet!!!!!!!
By brian
September 7, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this
i think many of you must have forgotten that this man was proven innocent. there seems to be so much hate for a guy who really doesnt even matter anymore. i wish many of you would channel that anger towards finding the killers of the thousands of black men, women, and children during the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. many of you same type of people just turned a blind eye to klansmen who raped and beat black women……….now wheres your anger?
By Mark
September 7, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this
I’d read the buybull before I would read that trash. Everyone knows he’s guilty except for some uneducated, racist blacks. Sarah 9:46 AM has hit the nail on the head.
By Smitty
September 7, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this
I won’t spend money on the book, so I’ll go check it out at the library for free, and no one gets my money.
By I Did it, not "If I did it".
September 7, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this
I would never buy or read his book. In my opinion the title itself has one too many words in it. The title “I Did It” rings more true for me.
By melodie
September 7, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this
No. I love reading too much to waste my time reading garbage. I am hooked on great literature.
By DB
September 7, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this
Legally, he may be innocent. Morally, he’s beneath contempt. I don’t care what the State of California says. I don’t need the State of California to tell me something is “red” if I can look right at it and see that it’s “blue”. And just because a jury refused to convict one of their own culture’s icons, doesn’t mean that he didn’t do it. It just means that he wasn’t CONVICTED.
Brian, yes, I am still as angry about this as the day they read the verdict. I can’t do anything about the actions of a bunch of ignorant white yahoos 50 years ago, but I sure can refuse to buy the book of a guy who coyly says, “IF I did it …” that the black community rallied around just because he was black and it was only a white chick and her dude that he knifed.
By mark
September 7, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this
Why read how he would do it. We already know how he did it.
By Amanda
September 7, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this
I would NOT buy the book. The Goldman’s own the rights due to the judgement against O.J. so buying the book would only be paying O.J.’s settlement to the Goldman’s using our dollars and O.J. walks away free and clear yet again from having to pay what he owes!
By LEGALLY BLOND
September 7, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this
When the legal system goes the way you want it it’s kudos, but when the tables are turned the other way everyone want to disown the legal system. Stop being so hypocritical!!! Have you actually READ every detail of the case? It’s open to the public at the court house. Before you judge you should read the evidence at hand. Unfortunately we are to quick to get on the band wagon to crucify people before all of the evidence has been seen or heard. It’s unfortunate. I’m not for OJ or against OJ. If you have never sat on a jury ever in your life shut the f### up! If you have before you state he did it or didn’t do it read the court records of evidence. these murders were so brutally described in the transcripts that it’s not possible for one person alone to have committed. If he did do it he had help. Now, have a great weekend.
By LEGALLY BLOND
September 7, 2007 10:47 AM | Link to this
Oh, I forgot if I stated if I would read it. NO way. I got my own life and issues to worry about and to worry about someone else’s life is not on my agenda. Especially something that happened 12 years ago. Who cares.
By Becky
September 7, 2007 10:49 AM | Link to this
No way, no how
By lizzylove
September 7, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this
KC*
What an idiodic comment. Mr. Goldman has spent his life trying to find JUSTICE for his son’s lost life!
By Just Lookin In
September 7, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this
So whites can’t “let this go,” but are asking blacks to let hundreds of years of PROVEN murders/lynchings and the lasting effects go? Interesting.
“NOT GUILTY!” - Man, I still have the newspaper with the huge headline.
Just consider it a little payback, get over it, and sleep well at night.
By Just Lookin In
September 7, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this
Oh, and I won’t buy the book… not interested AND I think it’s tasteless. That however, is a different issue altogether.
By teri
September 7, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this
NO way would i read this, to glorify murder, he did he should have admitted it and done his time. His life is miserable now, and Goldman, needs to let it go, forgive the guy already, to free up his own life. unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. Embrace God man.
By Mark
September 7, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this
Just Lookin In
Small payback. We’re still ahead by thousands…..
By HAHAHA
September 7, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this
You all are funny!!! The racist whites calling the blacks racist because this man was found innocent!!! When in fact, you weren’t there, so you don’t KNOW anything for sure. All that matters is that he should have been guilty because he was black and she was white (a white tramp at that)……is what you all think. Life is funny………and I don’t care whether he actually did it or not…………but we all get to see what we think of each other when a black man does something vs. a white one. No one has to play the race card, society does it for us. Thanks for proving that racism is nowhere near dead. And on the book, wouldn’t read that crap for free (and I read A LOT!!!). Now go and get lives and leave OJ (and Vick) alone. One more note, if you want something to be outraged about, get outraged at our ridiculously ignorant president who is the single-handed cause for over 3000 deaths! Now get outraged over that!!!! But of course y’all think Bushey can do no wrong!!! Bet you dumb azzes wouldn’t feel that way if he was a black president……..or even a democratic president Just stupid……..I’m out! Peace!
By Just Lookin In
September 7, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this
By Mark - Small payback. We’re still ahead by thousands…
I couldn’t agree with you more.
By Sarah
September 7, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this
I don’t understand why the black community takes up for OJ so. He won’t even date a black woman, he is always seen with old white men yet the black community will lick his rear end clean when he needs it. OJ ONLY likes blondes with blue eyes, yet you all just fall over someone who is obviously asahmed of his own race. What a total confederacy of dunces some of you are!
By Atlanta Pearl Girl
September 7, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
I guess all the ones who are saying OJ didn’t do it…… what about his BIZARRO behaviour post murder? Driving around in his bronco? About to skip town? PUHLEESE
I feel sorry for the kids.
By Atlanta Pearl Girl
September 7, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this
And also……HOW IGNORANT of OJ to even come up with “If I did it…this is how I did it”. IGNORANT!!! Has nothing to do with the man’s color….it’s his MENTALITY.
By Mark
September 7, 2007 11:56 AM | Link to this
Right on Sarah
It’s just the nature of the animal.
By HLWaters
September 7, 2007 1:04 PM | Link to this
By Sarah - I don’t understand why the black community takes up for OJ so.
You wouldn’t.