In addition to being a former football running back, broadcaster, and convicted felon, O.J. Simpson was one of the most famous people in the sports world. Over the course of his football career, he played for the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League. In today’s social media world, there is an interview from back in the day that is making waves. The interview was conducted by NBA legend Michael Jordan, who asked him some interesting questions. 

The veteran NFL player confided to Michael Jordan that he did not know his own first name once. Sports fans often give their favorite players nicknames and often call them by their last name after trying out different names for them. 

Simpson was asked about his name and the background story of the famous name in the interview, as well as what are the qualities and characteristics that are associated with it. This led Simpson to share a story from his third-grade class where he forgot his name while his teachers were calling it out.

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Because his aunt gave him the name Orenthal, he didn’t know his real name at the beginning of his life, as he was simply called O.J. by his family while growing up. 

O.J. Simpson shares with Michael Jordan an experience he had in third grade

Most nicknames are made when players display abilities that surprise people during their peak on the field or court. As a result, fans come up with a nickname for their favorite players. In some cases, players give themselves a nickname, which they carry with them throughout their lives. 

In the interview, Simpson mentioned the story, saying: “Well as a kid it was the only name I knew, you know as a matter of fact I was in third grade. I had transferred schools to San Francisco.” Simpson then referred to the incident where the teacher was calling children’s names for them to sit down, and he forgot his own first name.

Although he remembered his last name, his first name was a mystery to him. After returning home, he immediately went to his mother. He continued, “when I got home that day I said, ‘Mom what’s my name?’, all my life they called me O.J.” 

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For the remainder of his sporting career, fans called him a variety of names and nicknames throughout the years. There are some who call him O.J. and others who call him ‘Juice’.

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