November 30, 2007
NOT HOW ANYONE EXPECTED HIM TO GO:
Evel Knievel Dies at 69 (MITCH STACY, 11/30/07, The Associated Press)
Immortalized in the Washington's Smithsonian Institution as "America's Legendary Daredevil," Knievel was best known for a failed 1974 attempt to jump Snake River Canyon on a rocket-powered cycle and a spectacular crash at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. He suffered nearly 40 broken bones before he retired in 1980.Although he dropped off the pop culture radar in the '80s, Knievel always had fans and enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in recent years. In later years he still made a good living selling his autographs and endorsing products. Thousands came to Butte, Mont., every year as his legend was celebrated during the "Evel Knievel Days" festival.
The Snake River jump was only available on closed circuit at local movie theaters and the many who didn't get to go took a certain satisfaction in its being a flop. Posted by Orrin Judd at November 30, 2007 4:42 PM
Just as Reggie Jackson's greatest cultural achievement was the Reggie Bar, so Evel Knievel's was inspiring one of the iconic toys of the 70s
Posted by: Jim in Chicago at November 30, 2007 5:33 PMYou're selling the guy short.
He's the PT Barnum of the late 20th Century, the only difference being he was, personally, the circus.
BTW oj, your closing comment, "the many who didn't get to go took a certain satisfaction in its being a flop", is somewhat akin to the Donks feelings about Iraq. Well, previous feelings anyway.
Kneviel will be greatly missed and fondly much remembered. Check out the tribute “Evel Knievel: Daredevil for Christ” at my site - “Necessary Therapy”.
Posted by: Pistol Pete at November 30, 2007 9:51 PMAnyone here who broke a rib trying to be Evel on his banana-seat Stingray, raise a glass now in toast to the man. Like Evel, I did have one or two magnificent jumps; the rest still make me cringe in pain.
Posted by: Qiao at December 1, 2007 1:01 AMThe thing about the Snake River jump is that he probably would have made it if he hadn't pulled the "escape" bar too soon (when the acceleration proved a bit much).
Posted by: jim hamlen at December 1, 2007 1:17 PMI'll raise my glass w/you Qiao. "To Life!"
Posted by: Dave W at December 2, 2007 7:20 AMI remember that toy always on the back cover advertisement of half the comics I had as a boy. It always seemed that Knievel was a superhero on par with what was between the covers.
I guess now we'll just have to be content with Super Dave Osborne.
Posted by: Chris Durnell at December 2, 2007 3:15 PM