LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 9) - The owner of an upscale steakhouse in Louisville said he asked O.J. Simpson to leave his restaurant the night before the Kentucky Derby because he is sickened by the attention Simpson still attracts.
"I didn't want to serve him because of my convictions of what he's done to those families," Jeff Ruby said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "The way he continues to torture the lives of those families ... with his behavior, attitude and conduct."
The nerve of a business owner refusing service to a murderer he finds personally repugnant. Where does he think he lives - America or something.
Ruby - who owns several restaurants - said Simpson came in with a group of about 12 Friday night. A customer came up to Ruby and was "giddy" about seeing Simpson, Ruby said.
Because Ruby didn't want that experience in his restaurant, he went to Simpson's table and said, "I'm not serving you." When Simpson didn't respond, he repeated himself and left.
Playing the race card, Simpson's attorney said the incident was racial and raised the possibility of going after the business' liquor license. "He screwed with the wrong guy...," said Yale Galanter.
Never mind that a photo of Simpson and Ruby used to be on display - that is until Ruby took it down after the killings.
After OJ left, Ruby said people in the restaurant started applauding him. He said he has received about 100 positive e-mails since the incident. Make that 101. Where sending ours as we speak!
Original story by Associated Press writer Beth Campbell