Mike Gilbert

{{short description|American sports agent}}

{{for|the rugby player|Mike Gilbert (rugby)}}

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{{notability|Biographies|date=May 2011}}

{{BLP sources|date=May 2011}}

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{{use American English|date=April 2024}}

{{use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}

Mike Gilbert is an American retired sports agent, most notable for representing O. J. Simpson. Following Simpson's trial and acquittal for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, Gilbert wrote How I Helped O. J. Get Away with Murder: The Shocking Inside Story of Violence, Loyalty, Regret and Remorse. The book was published by Regnery Publishing in May 2008, and discusses Gilbert's 18-year-long relationship with Simpson, including the influence of their personal and professional relationship in the lead up to, during, and following the trial.{{cite news |last=Van Susteren |first=Greta |date=May 13, 2008 |title=Former Sports Manager: How I Helped O.J. Get Away With Murder |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/former-sports-manager-how-i-helped-o-j-get-away-with-murder |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517035854/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C355380%2C00.html |archive-date=May 17, 2008 |access-date=April 14, 2024 |work=Fox News}} Gilbert claims that the gloves did not fit because, on his advice, Simpson stopped taking his arthritis medicine, which made his hands swell.{{cite news |last=Grace |first=Nancy |date=May 12, 2008 |title=Former Agent Says Simpson Confessed to Murders |url=https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/ng/date/2008-05-12/segment/01 |access-date=April 14, 2024 |work=CNN}} This is disputed by records of the trial when it was noted Simpson "has arthritis and we looked at the medication he takes and some of it is anti-inflammatory and we are told he has not taken the stuff for a day and it caused swelling in the joints and inflammation in his hands".{{cite web |url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/167051-did-oj-simpson-stop-taking-arthritis-medication-before-trying-on-the-gloves-his-former-agent-made |title=O.J.'s ex-agent makes a big claim about the gloves |website=Bustle |date=June 18, 2016 |access-date=December 29, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-06-23-mn-16337-story.html |title=The O.J. Simpson murder trial: Prosecutors say Simpson trick thwarted glove test |date=June 23, 1995 |newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |access-date=December 29, 2019}} The Los Angeles County Jail doctor confirmed Simpson was taking his arthritis medication every day and that the jail's medical records verified this.{{cite web |title=Los Angeles California; Friday, June 23, 1995 9:00 am |url=https://simpson.walraven.org/jun23.html|website=simpson.walraven.org|access-date=September 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909222055/https://simpson.walraven.org/jun23.html|archive-date=September 9, 2018|url-status=dead}} Gilbert's book also details Simpson confessing to the killings.{{cite news |last=Leon |first=Neyfakh |date=February 11, 2008 |title=O. J. Simpson's Former Agent to Publish Book: How I Helped O. J. Get Away With Murder |url=http://www.observer.com/2008/o-j-simpsons-former-agent-publish-book-how-i-helped-o-j-get-away-murder |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110803085627/http://www.observer.com/2008/o-j-simpsons-former-agent-publish-book-how-i-helped-o-j-get-away-murder |archive-date=August 3, 2011 |access-date=April 14, 2024 |work=The New York Observer |issn=1052-2948}} Gilbert describes how Simpson, having smoked marijuana, taken a sleeping pill, and while drinking beer, confided to him at his Brentwood home weeks after his trial what happened the night of the murders. Simpson said, "If she hadn't opened that door with a knife in her hand... she'd still be alive."{{cite news |date=May 10, 2008 |title=Report: OJ Simpson confessed |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2008/05/10/report-oj-simpson-confessed/ |access-date=April 14, 2024 |work=The Denver Post |issn=1930-2193}} Gilbert said that this confirmed his belief that Simpson had confessed.

Gilbert was alleged to be the source of some of the memorabilia items that Simpson tried to recover from two memorabilia dealers at the Palace Station Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.{{cite web |date=September 18, 2007 |title=Man accusing Simpson of robbery now 'on O.J.'s side' |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/news/story?id=3021717 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823082333/http://www.espn.com/espn/news/story?id=3021717 |archive-date=August 23, 2018 |access-date=April 14, 2024 |website=ESPN}} Simpson was later convicted of all charges and sentenced to serve 9 to 33 years in a Nevada State prison.{{cite news |date=June 12, 2009 |title=O.J. suit sought by Goldmans may be fake |url=http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/06/12/OJ-suit-sought-by-Goldmans-may-be-fake/UPI-87861244839801/ |access-date=April 14, 2024 |work=United Press International}}{{cite news |last=Dillon |first=Nancy |date=June 16, 2009 |title='Lucky suit' ends in suit for O. J. Simpson attorney |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-06-16/gossip/17925266_1_ronald-goldman-fred-goldman-nicole-brown-simpson |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515224835/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-06-16/gossip/17925266_1_ronald-goldman-fred-goldman-nicole-brown-simpson |archive-date=May 15, 2012 |access-date=April 14, 2024 |issn=2692-1251}} Gilbert was featured in Ezra Edelman's 2016 documentary, O.J.: Made in America, in which he expresses his friendship and working relationship with Simpson, and the role he played in the murder trial.{{cite news |last=McFadden |first=Robert D. |date=April 11, 2024 |title=O.J. Simpson, Football Star Whose Trial Riveted the Nation, Dies at 76 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/11/sports/oj-simpson-dead.html |access-date=April 14, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}