Soon-to-be-freed O.J. Simpson: If he does it …

It has been alleged that O.J. Simpson is pretty dangerous with a weapon in his hand.

After being granted parole on Thursday, another perilous tool potentially awaits “The Juice” when he is released as soon as Oct. 1.

And it’s perfectly legal.

It’s a little thing called Twitter.

If you think his “If I Did It” book – in which many believe he admits to killing his ex-wife, Nicole Simpson, and Ronald Goldman, charges he overcame in a courtroom during what was billed “The Trial of the Century” long before it was written – imagine the kinds of 140-character-or-less messages he’ll be able to churn out from anywhere in the world.

We’ve seen like never before what the possession of social media can do, good or bad. Just follow President Donald J. Trump.

As is the president, Simpson is bold. At certain times during his parole hearing, the former football star and actor – even now at 70 years old – showed his fiery nature while balancing it out with his charm and sense of humor. He even had the gall to say he’s lived a “conflict-free life.”

Aside from being charged with murder – a case he later lost in civil court, leaving him indebted to both the Brown and Goldman families – and being imprisoned for robbery and other charges, Simpson had previously been accused of domestic violence by Nicole Simpson.

He sounds pretty conflict-prone to me.

Simpson said at the hearing that he’s had offers to do media during his nine years in prison, but declined. He’s made it seem his agenda when getting out will be simply to spend time with his children and friends rather than jumping back into the public eye.

I find that hard to believe. His ego – and hunger for the spotlight – is too big to just go into “hiding.”

However, with Twitter, you can have the best of both worlds.

You no longer have to be interviewed by news outlets nor do you need to have a reality show to reach the masses.

All you have to do is get a smartphone, set up a Twitter account and tap away at the keys to convey a message to a large audience. And boy, would his following be big.

Based on a Google search, Katy Perry has the most followers on Twitter, with Justin Bieber and former President Barack Obama second and third. If he does it … O.J. Simpson could give them a run for their money.

In this day and age of social media and having everything at your fingertips, there likely would be few who are so disgusted by the alleged murderer – who finally made it to prison via a robbery that involved sports memorabilia – that they would refuse to follow him.

Just think of what goes viral these days. More often than not, it’s something with negative connotation.

Locally, the June shooting on Ocean Boulevard that was broadcast on Facebook Live became one of the most publicized stories I remember in over a decade working here. Others that come to mind are the unsolved cases of Brittanee Drexel and Heather Elvis.

However, having a social media attachment seems to trump all these days.

Therefore, putting the world at the fingertips of a man who many believe committed a murder that captivated the nation – via celebrity, tragedy and a racial divide – could potentially be a spectacle.

Few would be able to look away. And he would thrive on all the attention.

The kicker is that it can all be done conspicuously.

Well, if the glove fits … right?

On tap

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans open a three-game series against the Carolina Mudcats Monday through Wednesday (all 7:05 p.m. starts) before heading to Potomac for a four-game series with the Nationals from Thursday through Sunday (7:05 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 6:35 p.m. Saturday and 1:05 p.m. Sunday). … The NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series heads to Pocono Raceway for the Overton’s 400 at 3 p.m. Sunday. … The PGA Tour heads to Oakville, Ontario, Canada for the RBC Canadian Open from Thursday through Sunday. … In tennis, the men begin play in the ATP Credit Agricole Suisse Open Gstaad, ATP BB&T Atlanta Open and ATP Bet-at-home Open German Tennis Championships on Monday. The women begin play in the WTA Collector Swedish Open and WTA Jiangxi Open on Monday. … MLB trade action will likely heat up this week as the deadline looms Monday, July 31.

This story was originally published July 23, 2017 at 5:16 PM with the headline "Soon-to-be-freed O.J. Simpson: If he does it …."