O.J. to parole board: 'I've been the best prisoner they've ever had'

O.J. Simpson met with his parole board Thursday and pleaded to reduce his prison sentence after serving almost five years, telling them he deeply regretted robbing two sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room.

"I just wish I never went to that room," he said. "I wish I just said keep it."

The 66-year-old was handed down a maximim 33-year sentence for kidnapping, armed robbery and other charges in relation to the 2008 incident.

He made an emotional plea to two Nevada parole board members via CCTV yesterday, saying he believes he has been a model inmate.

"I missed my two younger kids who worked hard getting through high school, I missed their college graduations. I missed my sister's funeral. I missed all the birthdays.

"I promised prison officials I would be the best prisoner they have ever had here, (and) I think, for the most part, I've kept my word on that."

The former NFL star and movie actor will learn in two weeks whether or not he will have his sentence reduced. If a majority of the seven-person parole board vote in his favor, he could be given a lesser sentence but will not be freed immediately from prison.

"My intent was not to rob from anybody. I knew both of these guys who had my stuff. I was a little upset with them, and I think I wasn't as civil as I should have been."

A final decision is expected next week.

The best chance for The Juice get cut loose early lies with a pending decision by a Las Vegas judge on whether to grant him a new trial based on claims that his trial lawyer botched his defense and had a conflict of interest in the case.

O.J. Simpson comes to the defense of Paula Deen

None other than O.J. Simpson has come to the defense of disgraced chef and cooking show star Paula Deen in the wake of her racism scandal, saying, "Leave Paula alone!" and "Everyone deserves a second chance."

It's not surprising considering Simpson serving a 33-year prison sentence for armed robbery and recently had a failed hearing to get that sentence reduced.  Simpson — who met Deen when she cooked him a Southern feast in 2002 at her Georgia restaurant even though it was closed— felt compelled to stick up for Deen from his jail cell.

"O.J. was deeply touched by Paula's friendliness," his manager Norman Pardo told the National Enquirer.  "That's why he's so disturbed about what's happening to her now."

Simpson — who looks like he's put on a few pounds since his incarceration — was found not guilty of killing his ex-wife and her friend in 1994 before his armed robbery arrest in 2007, said that he felt "everybody should have a second chance."

"I'd like one myself," the 66-year-old Simpson added, according to Pardo.

Deen found herself in stew-pot of controversy after it emerged she used the N-word and spoke of her desire to throw a Southern wedding with waiting staff emulating slaves.

The Southern chef was dumped by her television network and numerous companies and sponsors have severed ties with Deen's brand name since the story broke.

Deen met Simpson in 2002 when he visited her restaurant in Savannah, Georgia before making an appearance at a nearby nightclub, the Enquirer reported. At the time, she was not the celebrity she is today.

He arrived with four friends an hour before the restaurant opened but Deen told them to sit down — and ignore the sounds of the vacuum cleaner.

She ended up serving the party a feast of southern fried chicken, string beans, peas, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn bread, biscuits, potato casserole and fried okra, the Enquirer reported.

A source added that Paula told Simpson she didn't think he was guilty of killing his ex-wife.

"When she saw that, O.J.'s face lit up," the source said. "He knew he was on friendly ground, so he relaxed and enjoyed the food."

Maybe she'll bring Juice a file pie the next time she's out in Las Vegas. You know ... for his support.