O.J. Simpson Treated like Home-town Hero During Minnesota Vacation in Ottertail County

This week, O.J. Simpson is taking a week long vacation in northern Minnesota to do some golfing and to escape the heat of Miami.

The media coverage of his trip has been filled with uplifting reports about his golf game and the pleasant temperatures he's experiencing in Minnesota.

According to the Fergus Falls Daily Journal, O.J. Simpson had one of the best cigars he's ever had in Fargo, North Dakota. Are North Dakotans supposed to feel a sense of pride because O.J. likes their cigars?

From the videos and news reports of his visit, you would think O.J. Simpson is a home-town hero. People are standing in long lines for his autograph, and posing next to him with giddy smiles on their faces.

I'm surprised they didn't have an impromptu parade with small children standing along the parade route waving the American flag. Maybe that's on tomorrow's schedule.

So that makes me wonder . . . What the heck is going on? Has everyone forgotten that a civil jury found Simpson liable for the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman?

Have they forgotten that O.J. Simpson is being charged with kidnapping and orchestrating the armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers in Las Vegas?

Oh sure, O.J. Simpson was a big football and movie star. But that was before all this happened. Why are the people and press of Minnesota still treating him like a hero?

Another reason O.J. Simpson is visiting the area is to finally meet the parents of his girlfriend, Christine Prody.

Is it just me, or does Christine Prody look eerily similar to Nicole Brown Simpson?

In the Fergus Falls Daily Journal, O.J. Simpson says, "I've been dating Christine for about 12 years now and have never met her father. After 12 years I thought it was about time I meet the parents."

Perhaps it took twelve years before Christine's father would agree to get within five feet of him?

Can you imagine the conversation Christine must have had with her Dad when she started dating O.J.?

"Dad, I met this really nice guy."

"Great, honey, what is his name?"

"O.J. Simpson, you know, the football star?"

"O.J. SIMPSON? Christine, you mean to tell me you are dating the man who killed his ex-wife and that other young fellow?"

"Oh, Dad, he was acquitted for that. He's really a nice guy. I just know you'll love him."

"LOVE HIM? More like I'd love to take him around back and show him what I think of him."

"Dad, you're so mean! How can you say that? Why can't you treat me as nicely as O.J. does? You both would have so much in common if you just took the time to get to know him."

"So much in common? The only thing we have in common is the year we were born! If he ever steps a single foot into this house I'll get a bunch of my hunting buddies together and he'll wish he was rotting in jail!"

I think it would be very interesting to find out what happens when Clair Prody and O.J. Simpson finally meet. Maybe I would stand in line for that, but definitely not for an O.J. Simpson autograph.

Most Minnesotans are not excited by O.J. Simpson's visit. They are especially upset by the positive press coverage O.J. Simpson has received. Some Internet posters from Minnesota are saying the following:

"O.J., it gets pretty cold up north so make sure you have gloves that fit."

"Hide the cutlery, O.J. is in town!"

"Since Christine's father is the Executive Director at the Lakeland Mental Health Center, maybe he can finally have O.J. committed."

"What will O.J. catch first, a walleye or the real killers?"

"Congrats, O.J., you got away with murder. Can I have your autograph?"

"I wonder if O.J. will be responsible for cleaning the fish since he's really good at using the fillet knife?"

I'm just hoping O.J. Simpson gets introduced to our wonderful state bird: the mosquito. Perhaps that will be enough to keep him from ever returning to Minnesota.

Source:
O.J. Simpson hits greens at Thumper Pond, by Jeff Hage, The Fergus Falls Daily Journal, June 25, 2008