Allen Cowlings, a longtime friend of O.J. Simpson, appeared as a witness in two civil-trial direct examinations: by John Kelly on December 3, 1996, and by Robert Baker on February 4, 1997. In his December testimony, Cowlings said Simpson had been his closest and dearest friend since childhood, that they had played high school, college, and professional football together, and that he had stood up for Simpson at his wedding to Nicole Brown.