Let's start out at the beginning of the two dramas. Othello is a Moor, or very dark Eastern man, in Venice, Italy. Venice of the sixteenth century is all white, just like Beverly Hills. Othello is an older man who has reached the pinnacle of his career as a soldier. Despite prejudices against the Moors, he has manged to carve out a niche for himself in Venetian society.

OJ is black in Beverly Hills. OJ is an older man who has reached the pinnacle of his career as a celebrity. Despite prejudices against blacks, he has manged to carve a deep niche in Californian society. So far so good.

Othello meets a young blonde woman, Desdemona. He is smitten with her beauty and marries her in secret because of the latent (and not so latent) prejudices against Moors and Venitians marrying. Even though he loves his new bride, Othello realizes that he has won her love because of his constant hype about himself, from the very beginning he has some doubts about the permanence of their relationship.

OJ meets a young blonde woman, Nicole Brown. He is smitten with her beauty and marries her quietly after his divorce. Even though he loves his new bride, OJ realizes that he won her love because his image had been hyped for years, from the very beginning he has his doubts about his ability to keep Nicole's love. In divorce prone California, this could mean the death of their relationship.

Unbeknownst to Othello, Iago is his sworn enemy. He has thought of every method to take Othello down. However, Othello remains impervious to Iago's schemes. Until Othello marries Desdemona then Iago has the perfect plan. Ruin Othello by making him repudiate (divorce) his wife, who is the daughter of a powerful Venitian senator. He begins by planting the suggestion of adultery in Othello's head. Othello shrugs him off, but he is still worried.

Even though OJ has no sworn enemy, the prejudices of the US run deep. He cannot believe that this beautiful white woman would marry a black man unless he had fame and fortune. This starts to gnaw at him. He begins to abuse his bride in order to keep her from seeing other men.

Iago knows that to make the newly wedded Othello really jealous he would have to pick a lover who would rouse all of Othello's insecurities. So he picks Micheal Cassio who is young, strong, and white. He tricks Desdemona into believing that Othello was angry at Cassio and to plead on his behalf. Iago then hints to Othello about Desdemona's feelings for Cassio. This makes Othello extremely jealous.

Because of his abuse Nicole leaves OJ but continues her relationship with him. The divorce heightens his jealousy because he knows that she is seeing other men. She is no longer under his thumb.

But Othello is not convinced to take action yet. Until Iago gives him a handkerchief that Iago's wife has stolen from Desdemona. Iago claims that he took it from Cassio. Since Othello knows that Desdemona was in possesion of this handkerchief last, he believes that Desdemona is cheating on him. Othello goes to confront them.

Nicole Brown's mother loses a pair of glasses. Ron Goldman starts his fatal journey to return them. An innocent reason to be there, but not one which would have been believed by the pathologically jealous OJ.

Othello confronts Desdemona and Cassio. They are innocent and have know idea that Othello believes them to be lovers. In rage and frustration, Othello strangles them both. Desdemona's father finds Othello standing over the bodies. Othello makes a confession and kills himself. Iago, seeing all the destruction that he has wrought confesses and then kills himself. Remember that in the sixteenth century, Shapiro and Johnny Cochran haven't been born yet.

OJ confronts Nicole and Ron. They have no idea that they are supposed to be lovers. Out of rage and frustration OJ stabs them both to death (alledgedly). Because OJ knew that he could hire some sharp lawyers, he didn't confess. And we all know the rest of the story.

So that's my theory behind we were so entranced by what was the most mind numbing procedures in history. Because behind all the rhetoric was a story of love, lust, and destruction as old as mankind.

Now that all the hoopla is over, crack open a copy of Othello and read a really great play. And it's more interesting too.