© USA TODAY via Imagn Content Services,
Deion Sanders pays respects to O.J. Simpson, drawn to his "professionalism and commitment"
Coach Prime listed 'Juice' in his latest book as one of his favorite athletes growing up
Deion Sanders named four Hall-of-Fame athletes he was inspired by in his latest book, 'Elevate and Dominate: 21 Ways to Win On and Off the Field'. All of them were idols in their own right, including O.J. Simpson. The NFL legend, who passed away at the age of 76 on Thursday, left a lasting impression on the Colorado Buffaloes football coach.
"Last, but not least, O.J. Simpson," Sanders wrote. "Not the O.J. you know, the other O.J. that I grew up on. In my era, Orenthal James Simpson was called "The Juice." And that's what he had. He had power, influence, success, likeability from all ethnicities. He has endorsements and you'd see him in TV commercials and movies. Most of all, his lineman believed in him. They went the extra mile for O.J."
Sanders put Julius Erving, Muhammad Ali, and Hank Aaron on the list with Simpson. True legends of their sports and fit outside as well.
"There were guys who looked the part," Sanders added. "They dressed well, They were well groomed and articulate. If you took them off the ball field, the court, or out of the boxing ring, they could fit right into any office or boardroom. "You would never picture (any of them) in a situation where they weren't dressed for success. They could fit into any situation and command the utmost respect from everyone."
Simpson died after a battle with prostate cancer. He'll always be remembered as one of the most high-profile figures in modern American history after standing trial for the double-murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, only to be acquitted.
'Juice' was also a trailblazer in the broadcast world after his playing career ended. His contributions were huge for a variety of reasons both good and bad. Simpson was beloved by millions and it started as USC's Heisman winner, and eventually the NFL's rushing champ for the Buffalo Bills. After his football career, he was Mr. Hollywood and embraced fame as an A-list star.