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The Craziest Things O.J. Simpson Said At His Parole Hearing

by Tara Merrigan
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On Thursday, the jailed football star O.J. Simpson attended his parole hearing in hopes that he could shorten his prison sentence, and during the hearing, he said some rather interesting things about himself. "I've basically spent a conflict-free life," the former NFL player said, for example. The parole board ultimately decided to let Simpson off from his lengthy sentence, and he will walk free as soon as this fall.

In 2008, Simpson was found guilty of having robbed another man in an incident Simpson described as an attempt to reclaim personal items that had been taken from him. This wasn't Simpson's first entanglement with the law. In 1995, he was tried but found not guilty of killing his ex-wife, Nicole, and her friend Ron Goldman.

At his parole hearing, the former football pro said: "I’ve come here and spent nine years making no excuses about anything. I am sorry things turned out the way they did. … I tell inmates all the time ‘Don’t complain about your grind. Do your time.’ … I believe in the jury system. I will honor the decision. … I have done my time and I’d like to get back to my friends. And believe it or not I do have some friends. I don’t think anyone could have honored this institution better. … I’m sorry it happened.”

Here are some more examples from what was said in front of the parole board on Thursday:

On The 2007 Armed Robbery Charges

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"I've never been accused of pulling a gun on anybody."

On Prison Life And Prison Friends

“I’ve been asked many, many times here [in prison] to mediate conflict between individuals and groups."

On How He Describes Himself

"I had some problems with fidelity in my life, but I've always been a guy that pretty much got along with everybody."

On His Own Generous Spirit

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"I've always been a giving guy."

On The Positive Aspects Of His Own Personality

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"My reputation has always been ... that I'm open to everybody."

On How He Isn't A Criminal

"I'm not a guy who has lived a criminal life."

On Plans For The Future

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"Who knows! You may even see a webcast or blog in my name in the future."

As of right now, Simpson intends to live his post-jail life in Florida, as he confirmed during the parole hearing. On his way out of the parole board hearing room, he expressed his gratitude: "Thank you, thank you, thank you," he said.