Is O.J. Simpson the Next Al Capone?

Former Sports great O.J. Simpson seems to love it in the limelight and who can blame him, but his choice of attention leaves a lot to be desired. Who doesn't remember the big media Circus of 1994 when O.J. Simpson's ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman were found brutally murdered in her Los Angeles home in Brentwood? If that wasn't sad enough to see the images of the stabbing and slashing, we were further entertained by his "catch me if you dare" approach in his white Ford Bronco on the freeway, with the cops giving chase. We were kept abreast of this delightful chase via media coverage on just about every station. What followed then was a three ring circus with the Goldman Family on one side and Simpson with his Dream Team of defense lawyers on the other. Most American families stayed clued to the gavel to gavel televised process of the proceedings and more then once did millions of us shake their heads at yet another miracle "what the heck did that have to do with anything" defense of the now dead Johnny Cochran. It is this writer's personal opinion that only Johnny was able to turn an open and shut case into an acquittal which was handed down after grueling month of televised drama and Emmy Award winning performances on all part. Oct 1995, showed Mr. Simpson as a "wrongfully accused" victim. Of course this was a major victory for the black community out there; one of their own had beaten the system. It is every ones own judgment if they want to believe in his innocence or not. A short while after, the family got a small measure of retribution in by the victory in their civil lawsuit against Simpson which awarded them 33.5 million dollars in damages. Which are still to be paid in full. Besides claims and accusations of domestic violence in the following years against the very "gentle" O.J., he further decided to slab everyone in the face with this new Book. "If I Did It," which includes a hypothetical first-person account of the 1994 murders. The Book was released on Friday, the same day police reported questioning Simpson about the hotel break-in. Now, I personally must wonder if this was a publicity stunt gone wrong, another one of his me against the legal system attempts or if he has finally gone over the edge. What we do know for a fact is that he now is out on Bail for his charges of kidnapping, conspiracy and armed robbery on Tuesday in what authorities say was the theft at gunpoint of his sports memorabilia at a Las Vegas hotel. The Bail is set an extremely low $125,000. He is said to return to his Florida home and expected to be back in Las Vegas in October. Poor O.J., who will defend him now in the grand style as Johnny Cochran?

So why compare O.J.'s newest venture into the "screw you people" scene and his lovely way of showing us all just how much a human life means to him or respect of someone else besides him-self?

Here is a quick history lesson. Alphonse Gabriel Capone also lovingly known as Al Capone was one of the most notorious and well known Gangsters during the Prohibition Era of the 1920's and 1930's. He led a syndication dedicated to bootlegging of liquor, smuggling and other illigal activities. He soon rose to the position of Crime Boss and soon held the honor of being on the public enemies list. He was responsible for murders, robberies which could never be linked to him or proven, and was several times brought up for racketeering charges but could never be convicted due to fancy defense lawyers and very persuasive measures of his associates. His Career found an end in 1931 when they finally convicted him for the lesser charge of tax evasion.

As with the ones famous and doubtlessly beloved by many Criminal that still has motion pictures made about him to this day, will O.J. gain notority finally for receiving his justice for a minor offense? We will find out in due time, let us just hope that this time "justice" isn't blind.