Roberto Duran and O.J. Simpson: two fiascos that set back U.S. race relations.

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

Now, I know Duran didn’t murder anyone.  But there are similarities between the two.  Both were the pride of their races.  Both were accomplished athletes.

And when they both imploded in disgraceful, yet quite different, ways - members of their respective races circled around them like they were Messiahs and victims of a racist society (which was especially strange in the case of OJ since he basically was loved by all Americans, regardless of race).

I remember when Duran quit with his infamous “No Mas!”, practically every Mexican in my school was defending him, and actually took pride in how he quit and still got paid.  Duran as even given a commercial for Miller Lite where he proudly repeated his “No Mas!” line, as if he were some Mexican hero for quiting.

And, of course, over 90% of blacks thought OJ was innocent.

Two very different cases, but the parallels are remarkable