A huge cultural phenomenon, that encompasses a tremendous segment of my '90s kid memories, wouldn't have happened without two people being brutally hacked to death.

In sad news this week, OJ Simpson, one of the greatest running backs in the history of football, died of cancer at the age of 76. In a statement, the Simpson family expressed gratitude that their father was able to go peacefully at the end, unlike his ex-wife and a waiter who he violently murdered.

Oj Simpson didn't (probably) get away with murder because of money, celebrity culture, sports worship, bad feelings about LAPD, etc etc. What seems to be missing from the narrative I've been seeing is the historical fact that OJ Simpson got away with it because the first cop on the scene, the one who entered without a warrant and, who found much of the physical evidence, perjured himself extravagantly in front of the jury.

F Lee Bailey got Detective Mark Fuhrman to say under oath that he had not uttered the N WORD even once in the last ten years. It was no surprise that he was lying, but no one expected to hear him saying the word on a tape he'd sent to an agent, trying to pitch his idea for an undoubtedly horrible screenplay.

The Jury did the right thing. It took me years to admit it. I hope the LAPD got the message.

Now at 66, I have finally reached the age when, no matter the context, I am always more comfortable using "the N word", than actually using the N word.

Dave Chapelle can come onto SNL and say "n××××er" over and over if he likes. (Fuck Dave Chapelle, BTW.) I have decided that I don't have that right, not ever. And so I crawl, unbuttoned toward death...