Reliving June 17, 1994, when OJ Simpson's car chase interrupted the NBA Finals in an already wild sports day

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

A Pro Football Hall of Famer turned controversial American figure, O.J. Simpson died Tuesday at the age of 76 following a battle with cancer.

Simpson was a household in the United States long before the 1990s, and it all began when he won the Heisman Trophy in 1968. 

He went on to have one of the most storied NFL careers, becoming the first player to rush for 2,000 yards in 1973 (that was in a 14-game season, and his 143.1 rushing yards per game that year remains an NFL record), and then going into Canton in 1985.

But less than a decade later, Simpson was the subject of what would be known as the trial of the century. He was on trial accused of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman. The two were killed on June 12, 1994, but five days later, one of the oddest events in American history would unfold. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

OJ Simpson's car chase interrupted the 1994 NBA Finals (Getty Images)

June 17, 1994, marked the day Simpson was in the back of the infamous white Ford Bronco, driven by Al Cowlings, in a low-speed chase with authorities that was viewed by nearly 100 million people.

But, that wasn't the only major sporting event happening that day.

It was a Friday - it was also U.S. Open weekend. Arnold Palmer, aged 64 and playing in the tournament for the first time in 11 years, was on the outside looking in at the cut line at Oakmont Country Club in western Pennsylvania. All signs pointed to it being his final round in the U.S. Open, which became the case - he received a rousing standing ovation walking up to the 18th green.

During that round, though, there was a