Fiery protest
Bidder burns $16,000 in Simpson memorabilia won at auction
Posted: Saturday February 20, 1999 09:15 AM
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Matt Shaw raises a burning certificate to the Pro Football Hall of Fame that was once property of O.J. Simpson. AP |
LOS ANGELES (AP) - O.J. Simpson memorabilia went up in flames to a chorus
of cheers and boos Wednesday, a day after it was sold at auction to help
pay off the $33.5 million judgment he owes in the deaths of ex-wife Nicole
Brown Simpson and her friend. Two No. 32 football jerseys and a
Professional Football Hall of Fame induction certificate were burned and
two trophies were smashed outside the Criminal Courts Building in a protest
organized by a Christian radio talk show host who purchased $16,000 worth
of items.
The auction Tuesday raised $430,000, including $255,500 for Simpson's
Heisman Trophy.
"We are destroying O.J. Simpson's property in front of the L.A.
courthouse because the criminal justice system is destroying justice before
our very eyes," protest organizer Bob Enyart of Denver said.
The destruction was criticized by some spectators at the downtown
courthouse and by Simpson, who said it was a waste.
"I wonder about the mentality involved in this," Simpson told The
Associated Press. "The guy's burning up $16,000 he could use to fight AIDS
or help kids with cancer or even donate to battered (women's) homes."
Several hundred spectators booed and cheered at the destruction of the
items, which included Simpson's USC and Buffalo Bills jerseys and
two 1973 "Lifesaver" trophies apparently given for charity contributions.
The Heisman was the auction's big item and was not part of Wednesday's
demonstration. The winning bid of $255,500 came from an anonymous East
Coast collector.
Money raised by the court-ordered auction goes to the estate of Ms.
Simpson and Ronald Goldman's family. A jury made the award in a wrongful
death lawsuit that followed Simpson's acquittal on charges in the 1994
killings. Simpson is appealing the judgment.
Also auctioned off were football awards, artwork, Tiffany-style lamps
and a fox fur coat that belonged to Simpson's first wife, Marguerite.
The prices surprised some collectors because Simpson sports
memorabilia hasn't been selling well.
"Most people don't want to have anything to do with O.J. Simpson.
There's a real sour taste in their mouths," said Scott Welkowsky, owner of
Out of This World Memorabilia in Orange County.
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