Saturday Morning Cup O’Chiefs

Karma’s a bitch.

Just ask O.J. Simpson.

In another sad chapter to what has become a tragic life story, the former Heisman Trophy winner was sentenced to at least nine years in prison for an armed robbery in a Las Vegas hotel room.

The Juice is no longer loose.

Legal eagles in Vegas were so confounded by the sentencing handed down by Judge Jackie Glass on a dozen criminal charges against Simpson that they weren’t sure how long he will be in the pokey. But the judge’s clerk said the Pro Football Hall of Famer was sentenced to 33 years for an incident that happened in September 2007 in Las Vegas. He could be eligible for parole after nine years.

If Simpson’s expected appeals do not overturn the decisions, he would be 70 years old before being eligible for parole.

So it took 13 years and two months for karma to get its work done. On October 3, 1995, a Los Angeles jury decided Simpson was not guilty of killing his estranged wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. In one of the most notorious murder cases in American history, Simpson was accused of killing Brown-Simpson and Goldman on June 12, 1994 at his former wife’s home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Brentwood.

It led to the now famous low-speed chase in the white Bronco around southern California freeways until Simpson was arrested. It brought names like Johnny Cochran, Marcia Clark, Robert Shaprio, Kato Kaelin, Judge Lance Ito and Mark Fuhrman into the public spotlight. Who can forget Cochran’s line “if the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit.”

That’s what the jury did in one of the most controversial court decisions in American jurisprudence. DNA evidence linked Simpson to the scene and both victims. But his dream team of lawyers was able to shake the credibility of the Los Angeles police.

The Goldman family filed a wrongful death civil suit against Simpson. A California jury ruled in 1997 that Simpson pay $33.5 million. Unable to gain access to Simpson’s pension, the Goldman family collected about $500,000 in a sale of Simpson memorabilia, including his Heisman Trophy.

It was more memorabilia that got Simpson into trouble in Las Vegas. He says he went with friends to regain family mementos that had been stolen from him. Somehow, this visit went very wrong, with a gun being drawn and kidnapping charges filed. Amazingly, the planning and the confrontation was recorded on both audio and videotapes.

Simpson spoke for approximately five minutes before the judge handed down her sentence. His rambling plea was typical of Simpson: an apology for being involved, along with justification of his actions. The judge was unimpressed and handed down her decisions.

It’s another chapter in what now seems like a tragic-comic life written by Shakespere. The best player in college football in 1968 at Southern Cal, he was the first player selected in the 1969 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. During his career, he became the first running back to gain 2,000 yards in a season, as he went for 2,003 yards in 1973. Over his career, Simpson gained 11,236 rushing yards, placing him 2nd on the NFL’s all-time rushing list at the time. Simpson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

But his presence was not limited just to the football field. Simpson was famous for his Hertz Rental Car commercials where he ran through airports. He was an actor and appeared in the Towering Inferno, the famous TV mini-series Roots and many other TV shows and movies, including the Naked Gun movies where he was Officer Nordberg. Simpson also worked in the booth on ABC’s Monday Night Football telecast (1983-85) and he once was a guest host on Saturday Night Live (third season, February 1978.)

Once one of the biggest names in America, he’s now a 61-year old inmate with a private cell and little else.

Yeah, that karma is a bitch.

FROM THE PAGES OF CHIEFS HISTORY

On December 6, 1971, the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 26-17 in a Monday night game at Candlestick Park. Before a crowd of 45,306 and a national television audience, WR Otis Taylor scored both touchdowns for the Chiefs. He caught a 46-yard pass from QB Len Dawson and then he scored on a 25-yard end-around run. K Jan Stenerud kicked four FGs, including a 54-yarder. Dawson was 16 of 28 for 263 yards with a touchdown. CB Emmitt Thomas had an interception of San Francisco QB John Brodie.

On December 6, 1998, the Chiefs lost to the Denver Broncos 35-31 at Mile High Stadium. In typical Broncos fashion when John Elway was the quarterback, Denver scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to make up a deficit and win the game. It was Elway’s 24-yard TD pass to TE Shannon Sharpe that proved to be the winning points. Just before that, RB Terrell Davis scored on a one-yard run. The Chiefs had three TD passes from QB Rich Gannon, as he threw 26 yards to WR Andre Rison, 11 yards to FB Kimble Anders and 26 yards to WR Joe Horn. Elway threw for 400 yards with WRs Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey both going over 100 yards.

SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO …

A couple of Pro Football Hall of Famers who were born on this day, including the late Otto Graham, one of the greatest winning quarterbacks in football history. He was born in 1921. Over 10 seasons with the Cleveland Browns, Graham threw 174 TDs against 135 INTs and the Browns won either a division or league championship all 10 years. He passed away in 2003.

Also born on this day in 1925 was New York Giants DE Andy Robustelli, who played 14 seasons was the defensive anchor for a team that played in eight NFL Championship games.

Born on December 6, 1959 was C Mike Babb, who played three games with the Chiefs in 1992.

OPPONENT NEXT/DENVER BRONCOS

Denver WR Brandon Marshall has big numbers, but he’s unhappy with the quality of his performance.

The Broncos are now saying CB Champ Bailey’s availability to play on Sunday will be a game-time decision.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

A Minnesota federal judge keeps suspended players on the field for this weekend, saying he needs more time to look at the issues.

Giants LB Antonio Pierce spoke with investigators on Friday afternoon about his involvement in Plaxico Burress’ shooting last week.

On Wednesday, Junior Seau went surfing. On Thursday he flew to New England. On Friday, he signed with the Patriots. On Sunday, he may play against the Seahawks in Seattle. Amazing.

AROUND THE REST OF THE AFC WEST

In San Diego, they beat the Raiders with Marty Ball on Thursday night.

Things in Oakland are going downhill fast as not even losing on national TV to the Chargers seems to bother some of the Raiders.