As we can all see by reading the headlines in newspapers around the world each day, the global economy is not in very good shape. Daily, we can read about banks that need more bailout money, the ever-increasing U.S. national debt, China's recently raised concerns about America's credit and the ceaseless bickering within the Jennifer Aniston-Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie love triangle. Each of these contributes to uncertainty among investors about the future of global markets and restricts the credit and capital flow to job-producing businesses. It seems that 2009 thus far is just offering one major bummer after another, seemingly with no end in sight or ray of hope to illuminate our dreary lives, if only for a fleeting instant.

In trying to find a topic for this column, not wanting to write about anything so gloomy or overdone as the economy or the federal budget, I scoured several news sources looking for an inspiring story of redemption and selfless charity. It took me a while, but I found that story, a story that shines like the most brilliant rainbow during a midsummer thunderstorm. It is a story of a lone crusader riding a magnificent steed of charity and benevolence to save a poor soul who has faced some of life's ups and downs and now finds himself at the end of his rope (mixing three metaphors in one sentence is a new personal best!).

That unfortunate creature is none other than OJ Simpson, perhaps best known for his Heisman Trophy-winning collegiate exploits at Southern Cal, his Hall-of-Fame career with the Buffalo Bills and his immortal role as Nordberg in the Naked Gun film series. Also, you may remember in the mid-1990s, following a low-key trial in Los Angeles, he was acquitted of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. After being found liable for Ron Goldman's death in a civil trial, Simpson moved to beautiful Florida, renowned its subtropical climate, world-class golf courses and generous homestead exemption. In Florida, it seemed Simpson's life would finally get back on track as he relentlessly pursued his ex-wife's real killer at many of the state's finest golf resorts.

The OJ Simpson story took an unexpected turn, however, beginning in 2006 when a publisher canceled the release of his novel, If I Did It, and the rights were turned over to the Goldman family. The book was an entirely fictional account of the aforementioned murders, told through the eyes of the murderer from a first-person perspective. Had Simpson been able to release the book as he originally envisioned, some accounts suggest he surely would have been lauded for his creativity and imaginative storytelling.

By the end of 2008, life had gone from bad to worse for Simpson as he was convicted in Nevada for armed robbery and kidnapping, among other charges, stemming from an incident when, according to the Associated Press, Simpson "(led) five other men into a Las Vegas hotel room to retrieve what he said were personal items and family mementos from two sports collectibles dealers." Thus, Simpson was sentenced to a maximum of 33 years in prison.

Against all odds, someone has finally stood up for poor OJ: Barrett Prody, whose sister dated Simpson for more than a decade and lived to tell the tale. Prody has started a non-profit group known as the Society Against Legal Injustice to raise money for the OJ Simpson cause. The group's Web site exclusively features Simpson and his valiant battle against the wicked, craven Las Vegas authorities who tried OJ for committing a crime.

The Web site goes on to accuse the Las Vegas authorities of exploiting Simpson and asked any "friend, fan or admirer of OJ Simpson to make a modest contribution" to the society to aid in the payment of Simpson's mounting legal fees. AP reports Simpson's lawyers met the news of the society's founding with enthusiasm, saying "whatever (Prody)'s doing is on a separate track with what we're doing" and "Simpson's trial fees and costs (are) fully paid, and his appellate fees and costs (are) 'basically paid.'" I believe kudos are in order for Prody for his fearless efforts to make sure Simpson's name is not exploited.

I hope, dear readers, this story of the courageous fight to save OJ Simpson from the rule of law brightens your grayscale day. Next time you read about failed CEOs receiving millions of dollars in severance, remember OJ Simpson also has someone to look out for him and then cry yourself to sleep.