O.J. Simpson has been running his entire life.

	Everyone admired Simpson's athletic prowess.

An All-American at USC, Simpson set numerous rushing records and earned Heisman Trophy honors in 1968. A Hall of Famer, he remains among the NFL's all-time leading rushers, recording 11,235 yards in his eight-year career.

And who can forget 1973, when Simpson became the first to amass more than 2,000 yards in a 14-game season? Simply by running through airports as an endorser for Hertz, Simpson became one of the most identifiable personalities in America.

Wealth, good looks, notoriety -- little eluded Simpson. He was living the American dream. A beautiful home, beautiful family and lots of friends. Simpson was the life of the party.

But despite enormous popularity, an illustrious football career and numerous on-the-field accolades, Simpson is perhaps most remembered for the longest rushing pursuit of his life: a historic slow-speed chase in a white Ford Bronco down the freeways of Southern California on June 17, 1994.

Helicopters hovered and allowed America to watch in amazement as a hero fell from grace.

Party over.

Now, eight years removed from the still-unsolved murders of ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend, Ron Goldman, Simpson's life has returned to some semblance of normalcy. Currently living in Miami, Fla. -- far from the California home at which the murders took place -- he spends his days mainly golfing and raising his children (who are well-adjusted, athletic, honor students).

Initially, when asked to interview Simpson, I voiced some trepidation. But I have to admit to a morbid curiosity inside of me regarding what makes him tick.

I was intrigued by the opportunity to find out more about him and what's become of him since the murder trial and his acquittal. For me, there's an unsettled curiosity. I want to better understand how he thinks and how he rationalizes some of his life choices.

What I found was a man who's moved on with his life, albeit somewhat removed from reality. Simpson insists that little in his life has changed. And don't tell him that he's in denial, because he's not buying that theory either.

Simpson keeps himself somewhat insulated from public opinion and scrutiny. So he may not hear everything around him. He hears what he wants to hear; sees what he wants to see. And, for the most part, he doesn't concern himself with what others think.

I was particularly curious about the day-to-day idiosyncrasies that may arise from fatherhood. Specifically, how is Simpson received by other parents? My son is just a few years younger than Simpson's 14-year-old son. And like all parents, I'm curious about where my child goes and who he hangs out with -- regardless of who he's going to see.

Simpson said he knows his past concerns many parents, and he will comply with questioning. Inevitably, he added, the conversation turns to questions about the trial. But he also insists that, for the most part, people still love him and cheer him on and mostly want to talk about his football career.

Following the trial, Simpson was found liable in a civil suit and ordered to pay $33.5 million in damages. Most of his worldly possessions were confiscated, including his Rockingham estate and his coveted Heisman Trophy. But Simpson seems relatively unfazed.

Simpson continues to take his own Heisman vote very seriously. It's one piece of his history that hasn't been taken away.

In fact, Simpson has had two opportunities to get the trophy back, but has refused offers. In this matter, he's adamant that there are better uses for the kind of money required to regain possession of it. To him, the honor of winning is all that matters. And he continues to take his own Heisman vote very seriously. It's one piece of his history that hasn't been taken away.

Simpson has distanced himself from many of his old friends and teammates. Or perhaps they've distanced themselves from him. Either way, his life is certainly not what it used to be.

Personally, I have my own opinions, but I didn't walk away from this interview feeling one way or the other about Simpson or the trial verdict. And it was certainly not my intention to retry the case. My job is to ask thought-provoking questions that allow viewers to form their own opinions.

But while we try to figure out whether he committed the crimes and to put in perspective where he fits in the history of American sport, keep in mind that it's easy to put people on a pedestal. It's tougher to justify why they're there in the first place.