# The OJ Bronco Chase Anniversary Thread: What Were You Doing 19 Years Ago Today? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 17, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184 "2013-06-17T15:26:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184/41 "2013-06-17T18:18:46Z")
I was at the campus pub drinking beer, playing cards, and watching on the bigscreen. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184/42 "2013-06-17T18:19:46Z")
Hanging out with a friend in her apartment near UCLA. We could see the helicopters over the 405. I’d spent the previous two weeks driving cross country and camping out, so I hadn’t even heard about the murders. I was like “Wait, why are the police chasing O. J. Simpson?” ---
**Author:** ![Clare\_de\_Loone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/clare_de_loone/32/3407_2.png) [@Clare\_de\_Loone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clare_de_Loone)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184/43 "2013-06-17T18:23:54Z")
I was on staff at Camp Juniper Knoll, in southern Wisconsin. I think it was still pre-camp staff training. I was outside in paradise, not watching TV. Funny, for an event I really don’t care about, I remember where I was when the verdict was announced, too. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184/44 "2013-06-17T19:41:24Z")
The ordeal started while I was at work (part time at a mall anchor store) with people sneaking off to the breakroom to see what was going on, continued on to ruin my basketball game watching plans at home. At least I got a few bucks extra in commissions because of so many employees neglecting the sales floor. I had beer. Evening wasn’t a total wash. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184/45 "2013-06-17T19:42:00Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It was game five of the NBA finals against the Rockets, and I was watching that game when the chase happened. The Knicks won the game but lost the series. I was watching the NBA finals. They put the chase in the lower corner so we could follow it live. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184/46 "2013-06-17T19:56:03Z")
A buddy’s girlfriend was bartender at a small country club and she got us on to play golf there. We had just finished playing a round of golf (which was about as momentous as the OJ chase for me) and were having drinks at the bar, saw it on TV. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184/47 "2013-06-17T19:57:44Z")
I was driving home north on I5 when I noticed two things 1. Traffic was lighter than normal 2. There was a black and white at every on ramp blocking it. WTF? Found out about the chase when I got home. Apparently I was in front of it. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184/48 "2013-06-17T20:04:04Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > I was driving home north on I5 when I noticed two things > > 1. Traffic was lighter than normal > 2. There was a black and white at every on ramp blocking it. > WTF? > Found out about the chase when I got home. Apparently I was in front of it. Were you able to get off the freeway when you needed to? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184/49 "2013-06-17T20:18:37Z")
I was having cake for my 24th birthday and playing Battletech with my friends while it was on in the background. It was a good cake. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184/50 "2013-06-17T20:27:03Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I was watching the NBA finals. They put the chase in the lower corner so we could follow it live. I believe you are misremembering it. The chase got top billing. I was pissed. [QUOTE=wiki with cites] While NBC continued coverage of Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden, the game appeared in a small box in the corner while Tom Brokaw as anchorman covered the chase.[18]:23[20] [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184/51 "2013-06-17T20:47:26Z")
I was bowling and we’d check out the TV whenever one of us went to the bathroom or to the bar. There was no context at all, just the Bronco and a bunch of police cars–I don’t think they even had a screen crawl in those days. “Where are they? Where are they going? Why don’t they just block the Bronco or shoot out the tires?” Then some random guy at the bar would say something that was usually wrong. God life back then sucked. When we left to go home the cars were parked at his home, which was even duller and more confusing. “ **Still** nothing is happening? Have people been watching this shit all night? I’m going to bed.” It never occurred to me until now that Watergate Day and Bronco Chase Day were both June 17. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184/52 "2013-06-17T20:59:22Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > It never occurred to me until now that Watergate Day and Bronco Chase Day were both June 17. Should we blame Nixon? Why not? Lots of nasty things happen on June 17. [Look at the 2nd item for 1992](http://www.brainyhistory.com/days/june_17.html) ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184/53 "2013-06-17T21:04:23Z")
I was driving slowly around LA in my white Ford Bronco with my friend Oranthal because he was really upset over the passing of his ex-wife a few days earlier. Or maybe I watched that on TV, I am not quite sure. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184/54 "2013-06-17T21:05:16Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > I was driving slowly around LA in my white Ford Bronco with my friend Oranthal because he was really upset over the passing of his ex-wife a few days earlier. Who is this? ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184/55 "2013-06-17T21:11:23Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I believe you are misremembering it. The chase got top billing. I was pissed. Could it have varied by market? I was watching in NYC, and to my recollection, the coverage was of the chase with the game in the box, and then eventually they realized the Bronco was going to keep driving indefinitely, and flipped it. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184/56 "2013-06-17T21:31:46Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > Could it have varied by market? I was watching in NYC, and to my recollection, the coverage was of the chase with the game in the box, and then eventually they realized the Bronco was going to keep driving indefinitely, and flipped it. It must have. I was watching in southern Illinois and my memory has the inset with the car chase in the upper right of the screen. There were some patches of “we’re going live now” and the chase took over for a few minutes. I was in college and had stayed on campus as a student worker and also an RA for the student worker dorm. Our school didn’t have a regular summer session but there were continuing ed and alumni events. I had negotiated hard to be allowed to take a group into one of the air conditioned dorms to watch the game. (Besides not having so many computers, there weren’t TVs everywhere either) ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184/57 "2013-06-17T22:11:22Z")
I was watching the 2nd half of the game (in OKC), on the phone with my brother in Houston. I remember we were both frustrated, but that may have been because of Ewing getting all those no calls for his charging and those posting-up elbow throws. Thankfully the Rockets won the series, and then Sweepeated the next year against Shaq and the wishtheyhad Magic. Take advantage of no Jordan, that’s what we all said. And, of course, all those OJ can still cut and run jokes… ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184/58 "2013-06-17T22:16:33Z")
That was one tough series. Wasn’t it the lowest scoring all 7 games played NBA finals of the modern era (after eating the ABA)? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184/59 "2013-06-17T22:20:23Z")
> **[1994 NBA Finals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_NBA_Finals#Telecast_interrupted_by_O.J._Simpson_car_chase)** > > The 1994 NBA Finals was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1993–94 season, and the culmination of the season's playoffs. The Western Conference champion Houston Rockets played the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks for the championship, with the Rockets holding home-court advantage in the best-of-seven series. The Rockets defeated the Knicks 4 games to 3 to win the team's first NBA championship. > This matchup was Hakeem Olajuwon's second NBA Finals ap... Partly answers the split screen question ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184/60 "2013-06-17T22:58:32Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > It’s been a while but I think I was trying to watch the X-Files and was pissed that they were showing the chase live. You know, Krisna and I were probably trying to watch it as well, I know I tended to like watching it when it was first run. > [@Marley23](#): > > Who is this? Oranthal is OJ’s firt name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oj-bronco-chase-anniversary-thread-what-were-you-doing-19-years-ago-today/661184.md?page=4)