Nickdfresh
10-21-2005, 11:07 AM
O.J. seen at 2 recent Bills games
Ex-star reportedly had to be escorted for his protection
By GENE WARNER
News Staff Reporter
10/21/2005
Click to view larger picture
O.J. Simpson gets "great reception" from fans, he says.
Yes, that was O.J. Simpson who went to the Bills-Jets game Sunday in Ralph Wilson Stadium, as well as the Bills-Miami game the previous Sunday.
Not only that, but Simpson also was escorted out of the stands during last Sunday's game, apparently for his own protection, several sources confirmed.
Authorities have not accused the Hall of Fame running back of doing anything wrong, several people said.
"He was at the Miami game, and he was at the Jets game," said Scott Berchtold, the team's vice president for communications. "He's a fan. It had nothing to do with us."
Berchtold also confirmed that Contemporary Services Corp., the Bills' security firm, escorted Simpson from the stands Sunday.
"From what we have been told, he was not escorted for any violations of our fan game-day policy," he added.
The Bills official, though, couldn't confirm or deny broadcast reports from some fans that beer was poured or spilled on Simpson.
A spokesman for Contemporary Services did not return a call asking for comments.
Bills officials have been told that Simpson has been a guest of someone in a Ralph Wilson Stadium luxury box, for the two games this year and at least one game last season. They don't know how Simpson got into the stands, in the corner of the end zone at the tunnel end of the stadium, for Sunday's game.
Last season, Simpson attended the Bills-Miami game here in October.
"I'm a little surprised that it's been so long since I've been back," Simpson told The Buffalo News last October. "My whole point to my friends was that I was going to be under the radar. I came here to watch a football game, and that's that. That's what I'm doing."
Simpson claimed he got a great reception here last season.
"When people saw me they were like, "Hey, Juice,' " Simpson told The News then. "It was very nice, a very good feeling. Everywhere I go, the reception is great."
Simpson was acquitted on murder charges but found responsible in a civil trial for the 1994 killings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ronald Goldman.
The Bills organization has had to walk a tricky tightrope since Simpson's arrest and ballyhooed trial, seemingly not eager to embrace or reject the former Bills running back.
"He's like any other fan," Berchtold said. "He purchases a ticket, and he can sit in the stands, or he can come as a guest of someone."
Simpson remains on the team's Wall of Fame, as well as in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
"What are we going to do about O.J.'s presence here?" a Pro Football Hall of Fame official told The Buffalo News after Simpson's 1994 arrest. "Absolutely nothing.
"None of his exhibits have been removed. His bust is still there. His role in pro football has not changed one iota."
And he still remains a fan.
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20051021/1018954.asp
e-mail: gwarner@buffnews.com
Ex-star reportedly had to be escorted for his protection
By GENE WARNER
News Staff Reporter
10/21/2005
Click to view larger picture
O.J. Simpson gets "great reception" from fans, he says.
Yes, that was O.J. Simpson who went to the Bills-Jets game Sunday in Ralph Wilson Stadium, as well as the Bills-Miami game the previous Sunday.
Not only that, but Simpson also was escorted out of the stands during last Sunday's game, apparently for his own protection, several sources confirmed.
Authorities have not accused the Hall of Fame running back of doing anything wrong, several people said.
"He was at the Miami game, and he was at the Jets game," said Scott Berchtold, the team's vice president for communications. "He's a fan. It had nothing to do with us."
Berchtold also confirmed that Contemporary Services Corp., the Bills' security firm, escorted Simpson from the stands Sunday.
"From what we have been told, he was not escorted for any violations of our fan game-day policy," he added.
The Bills official, though, couldn't confirm or deny broadcast reports from some fans that beer was poured or spilled on Simpson.
A spokesman for Contemporary Services did not return a call asking for comments.
Bills officials have been told that Simpson has been a guest of someone in a Ralph Wilson Stadium luxury box, for the two games this year and at least one game last season. They don't know how Simpson got into the stands, in the corner of the end zone at the tunnel end of the stadium, for Sunday's game.
Last season, Simpson attended the Bills-Miami game here in October.
"I'm a little surprised that it's been so long since I've been back," Simpson told The Buffalo News last October. "My whole point to my friends was that I was going to be under the radar. I came here to watch a football game, and that's that. That's what I'm doing."
Simpson claimed he got a great reception here last season.
"When people saw me they were like, "Hey, Juice,' " Simpson told The News then. "It was very nice, a very good feeling. Everywhere I go, the reception is great."
Simpson was acquitted on murder charges but found responsible in a civil trial for the 1994 killings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ronald Goldman.
The Bills organization has had to walk a tricky tightrope since Simpson's arrest and ballyhooed trial, seemingly not eager to embrace or reject the former Bills running back.
"He's like any other fan," Berchtold said. "He purchases a ticket, and he can sit in the stands, or he can come as a guest of someone."
Simpson remains on the team's Wall of Fame, as well as in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
"What are we going to do about O.J.'s presence here?" a Pro Football Hall of Fame official told The Buffalo News after Simpson's 1994 arrest. "Absolutely nothing.
"None of his exhibits have been removed. His bust is still there. His role in pro football has not changed one iota."
And he still remains a fan.
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20051021/1018954.asp
e-mail: gwarner@buffnews.com