We all feel betrayed when our heroes fall from grace. Yet, it’s so common these days that we’re constantly coping with the implosion of one of our idols. Our homerun heroes have embroiled themselves in steroid scandals. Our politicians get caught in sex trysts and human trafficking efforts. Apparently, Santa Claus manufactures his toys in Chinese sweat shops. I don’t take issue with their criminal lifestyle. Like many Americans, I merely resent a famous criminal that gets caught.

The last pillar of justice evasion, O.J. Simpson, was found guilty of 12 counts of various crimes—including kidnapping and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. This is the same guy that sped across 50 miles of a LA freeway according to the New York Times and eluded police. I remembered hoping he would get away the same way we hope Jason Voorhees kills all of the surprisingly well-figured counselors at Camp Crystal Lake. O.J. Simpson served as a model villain for aspiring criminals everywhere.

We love a villain. That explains the popularity of Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight. It explains why Daniel Day Lewis won an Oscar for There Will Be Blood. Unfortunately, in narrative, as in reality, villains must meet their demise in order to restore order to their world. We don’t like order though, which is why we pay $10.00 to see a movie. We like chaos.

Everyone watched the verdict in the first trial. My third grade teacher showed it on TV, interrupting our lesson on multiplication—hence a career in the creative arts. Thanks O.J., now I’m poor. I digress…most of us expected a big GUILTY. When the jury acquitted him, chaos erupted. It even outraged my class of nine year olds. If he were found guilty, though, we wouldn’t have had years of subsequent anarchy.

Post-trial, cameras filmed him playing golf far more than President Bush during Hurricane Katrina. Not that I can blame him. Then, he wanted to publish a book about how he didn’t kill his wife but how he would have killed his wife if he did kill his wife. You know you would have read that. On the fringe of total mental instability, O.J. kidnapped and robbed a sports memorabilia dealer, for items which he claimed ownership.

All due respect to O.J., his logic is a bit skewed. That’s like him robbing me for owning a DVD of The Naked Gun. And why reclaim some old dirty jerseys, or an autographed glossy? Have we placed no value on the integrity of our criminal activity? Is there no honor in robbing a bank any more?

I’m just glad he didn’t cry like his cohort when the jury read the verdict. He initially looked surprised. That look followed one of total recognition in which you could almost hear what he was saying in his head. “Oh, that’s right, the robbery,” he thought as he nodded in approval. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of personal loss.

I’d like to think—as an avid lawbreaker—that if O.J. could perpetually cheat the system that I could too. Now, I finally understand that justice prevails. That if, you beat jail the first time, you’ll get sentenced more harshly the second time.

I think I also understand his magic now, why he was able to elude the law all of these years, why he couldn’t do it this time, and why defendants may meet inevitable justice in the future. No more Johnny Cochrane.