Newspaper columnist Jason Whitlock is a bit miffed about NBC’s recent hire of former Detroit Lions general manager Matt Millen as their lead studio analyst for the NFL playoffs. And he wondered if O.J. Simpson was available from his Las Vegas jail cell.

Seriously, O.J. on “Football Night in America” is the only thing that could top Millen’s inclusion. And NBC is promising to foist Millen on its Super Bowl audience. If this happens, I will confront Millen and NBC executives at the Super Bowl and go Rob Parker-Rod Marinelli on the responsible parties.

Look, the Lions haven’t won a NFL championship in over 50 years, and Millen was in charge for only eight seasons. Though under his leadership, the Lions did own the NFL’s worst winning percentage (31-81, .277) and became the first team in league history not to win a road game in three consecutive seasons (2001-2003). And, of course, there was the whole 0-16 thing. At the core of this failure are some pretty bad drafts that included guys like quarterback Joey Harrington, and wide receivers Charles Rogers and Mike Williams.

Lion fans surely grew tired of Millen’s time as the team’s CEO, but I can’t imagine them longing for the Eric Hipple years.

O.J. Simpson is heading to prison for at least 15 years after robbing a couple of sports memorabilia dealers at gun point in their Las Vegas hotel room in September of last year.

O.J. Simpson was sentenced Friday to a minimum of 15 years in prison for the gunpoint robbery and kidnapping of two sports memorabilia dealers.

Simpson, 61, will not be eligible for parole for five years.

A jury on Oct. 3 convicted Simpson and Clarence “C.J” Stewart of a multitude of charges against them in the Sept. 13, 2007, confrontation with the dealers at a Las Vegas casino hotel room.

In handing down her decision, Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass said the evidence against Simpson — all of which was presented on tape to a jury — was “overwhelming.”

Simpson, his voice quivering at times, apologized to the court prior to his sentencing and said his only intention that night was to retrieve personal items, family photos and sports mementos that he said had been stolen from him years earlier.

“I didn’t mean to steal from everybody,” Simpson said.

He didn’t mean to steal from everybody…just those two sports memorabilia dealers.

Amazing. The man skates on double-murder (ahem, allegedly) but gets 15 years for stealing his own sports crap.

LARRY BROWN SPORTS notes that O.J. Simpson is apparently concerned over his well-being after he was convicted of robbing a sports memorabilia dealer. The Juice is apparently worried that a White Aryan Warrior Gang will kill him while he’s in the slammer

[O.J.] is said to be a “target” for the brutal Aryan Warriors at Ely State Prison, Nevada. An insider said: “They”re a deadly prison gang whose members want to finally deliver OJ fatal justice. It”ll be like tossing meat to wolves. He”ll be dead within weeks.”…

Guards have put him in an isolation cell at his current Las Vegas jail after he told pals: “I”m a dead man.” He is also on suicide watch.

Suicide. I’m sure that’s exactly what the American public wants from the guy. At least the way O.J.’s going he’ll wind up in prison for a healthy sentence. I’m not so sure death by Aryan Warrior gangs would be proper justice; that’s just too savage for my taste.

And people were worried that justice wouldn’t be served for the Juice. Somewhere right now an Aryan Warrior gang is detailing a plan to get O.J. in the showers and everything is right in the world.

In the wake of O.J. Simpson being convicted for robbing a sports memorabilia dealer over the weekend, Real Clear Sports.com ranks the 10 most infamous sports criminals.

#1 O.J. Simpson
Was there any question about who would be number one on this list?

His career was the most successful of anyone that earned this dubious distinction; his celebrity status the largest; and his crimes among the most heinous…

#2 Tonya Harding
Tonya Harding became infamous in the minds of America on January 6, 1994. It was on that day when fellow-skater and competitor Nancy Kerrigan was attacked following a practice section at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Kerrigan was struck in the knee with a metal baton by Shane Stant, who was hired by Harding’s ex-husband Jeff Gillooly and friend, Shawn Eckardt…

#4 Michael Vick
By 2007, after being linked to a marijuana distribution incident, carrying marijuana hidden in a water bottle through airport security, holding up both middle fingers to a home crowd in 2006 and taking on the unfortunate nickname of Ron Mexico, Michael Vick’s image as the most electrifying player in football was just starting to wane. But in 2007, the former number one overall pick in the NFL draft was indicted on charges that would change his public image, possibly forever…

#8 Maurice Clarett
At one time, Maurice Clarett was a promising freshmen running back at Ohio State who led his team to a surprising national championship victory over an “unbeatable” Miami team. Unfortunately, that would be the highlight of Clarett’s football career…

It’s absolutely amazing how some athletes have so much and yet still find ways to commit the most brutal crimes. Just goes to show you that even though we think we do because we watch them on the field, ice or diamond, we have no idea who these athletes really are as people.

Remember back in September of last year when O.J. Simpson was busted for breaking into a hotel room with a couple of buddies he met at a wedding and robbing two memorabilia dealers? Well, he was finally convicted.

Thirteen years to the day after being acquitted of killing his wife and her friend in Los Angeles, O.J. Simpson was found guilty of robbing two sports-memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel room.

The 61-year-old former football star was convicted of all 12 counts late Friday after jurors deliberated for more than 13 hours. He released a heavy sigh as the charges were read and was immediately taken into custody.

Simpson, who went from American sports idol to celebrity-in-exile after his murder acquittal, could spend the rest of his life in prison.

His attorney said he would appeal.

What I wrote last year about this story still applies: He skates on double murder, but could get life in prison for robbing a sports memorabilia dealer. Sounds about right.