June 17, 1994 was one of the most infamous nights in history. It was the O.J. Simpson White Bronco chase that captured the imagination of the entire nation. Some 95 million people watched as the networks covered Simpson running from the law.
Just a little background. On June 13, Simpson’s estranged wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman were found murdered at her home. Suspicion began to surface that O.J. was responsible for both deaths.
Simpson’s lawyers told police that he would turn himself into police in the morning, but when he didn’t show up, his lawyers found a paper that appeared to be a suicide note.
At 6:20 p.m. PT, a driver saw Simpson riding in a white Ford Bronco driven by his friend, Al Cowlings. It led to a low-speed police chase on the highway that eventually ended at Simpson’s home in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles.
ABC News interrupted regular programming to cover the chase. Anchorman Peter Jennings was joined by Barbara Walters and then-ABC Sports announcer Al Michaels. As Simpson’s car was in the driveway, ABC received a phone call from a Howard Stern listener who identified himself as “Robert Higgins” and it led to one of funnier moments on television. He told Jennings “I see O.J., man and he looks scared…” He ended with “And Baba Booey to you all!” It was Michaels who realized that “Higgins” was a fake and Jennings had to quickly recover.
Here’s the footage.
30 for 30’s “June 17, 1994” looks at that crazy day that not only chronicled the O.J. White Bronco chase, but the beginning of the World Cup in the U.S. plus the NBA Finals on NBC that was interrupted by the Simpson coverage. It’s available on Netflix so if you haven’t seen it, now is a good opportunity to watch it.
