Evel Knievel dies at 69 »
Posted by: TomBiro 9 months agoEvel Knievel, the longtime daredevil, died on Friday. He was 69.
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Alexia9 months ago
Being a child of the 70s, I have to admit having had a bit of a crush on Evel. I was truly awed by what he did, and why. On the one hand I thought it was insane to do the stunts he did, on the other I couldn't look away. And it wasn't morbid curiosity, hoping he'd get hurt. Quite the opposite: I hoped he'd succeed. Maybe it was about adrenaline-rush-by-proxy. Anyway, I enjoyed his entertainment.
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libsRfunny9 months ago
Weekends on ABC's Wild World of Sports and Evel with that 750cc Harley. Being an avid motorcyclist who grew up spending weekends at local dirt tracks, it truly amazing what Evel did with the lousy suspensions on the bikes he used for his jumps.
If you watch the Caesar's Palace jump, you notice he made it, but his suspension bottomed out and threw him over the handle bars (High sides are the WORST kinds of cycle accidents - damn bike FOLLOWS you instead of other way around, making for a VERY hard landing when you stop and it comes crashing into you).
Ohhh how I wish I still had my wind-up Evel Knievel stunt bike!!
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aceofspades19 months ago
Evel had plenty of faults - pompouus, self-indulged, violent(remember the assault?) fathering problems , but overall he was human & took chances most only dream of doing. WTG Evel - well done
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slate9 months ago
Awww, he was a real piece of work but man what a great piece of work he was. He was a real man that was a true American who lived his life to the fullest.
I hope you rest in peace, may the jump ramps be tall and your landings true.
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aceofspades19 months ago
When I saw his pic the other day with Kenye West he didn't look like he had a long future - guess he didn't.
From a purely selfish point I hate to see people who I knew or were heroes of my youth look like he did because I never picture myself aging & it gives me a dose of reality that can be hard to handle at times
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Tcaros9 months ago
Evel represented that foolishness of youth. The first time you realized you could build a ramp in your driveway and jump over a few friends. The time you road the wheelie all the way down the street. Most people tuned in to see "that nut" try and kill himself. There was no doubt he was viewed as a potential blue collar beer boozler who decided "what the heck" and "if I die poor or die on a motorcylce the only difference is I have a chance at making it big if it's on the motorcycle."
The biographies depict a man who enjoyed games of chance, booze, and women. Eventually, he makes the right decisions in seeking God first. He left the snake river canyon for the rest of us to ponder; if we give it enough throttle can we make it.
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ConquerorWyrm9 months ago
A child of the '70s, I had so many of his branded toys. I so wish I had even one today.
Only the good die young yet legends live forever.
Odd, I always thought he would rest in pieces...now I just pray he rests in peace.
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Mutainia9 months ago
This pioneer of jumping cars got me doing dare devil stuff myself when I was a kid. Luckilly I didn't break anything.
My brother wanted a motorcycle because of this guy. When my dad asked my brother what he wanted for his birthday, my brother put out his hands, moved his right hand back and forth like he was gunning a bike, and, made "rooming" sounds. My dad, who DIDN'T want to GET him a bike, asked, "What? You mean, you want the PALSY!?!" I laughed my head off and my brother was too embarrassed to ask any further.
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jdhatl9 months ago
I saw a great movie bio of him in the early 80's on TV- Not too many true life movies take place in Butte
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SOAPBOX9 months ago
Evel Knievel was a true icon! HE WAS THE TRUE STUNT MAN THAT WAS REAL. He didn't fake it like most of the cotton handed fakes today. "HE" was the real thing! He stood for what was real and didn't need a stunt man to show he was the best. He fought for what was right and showed us to stand up for what we believe in.
He was the first of the true sportsman. People today just follow what he has already done.
EVERYONE JUST ROAD ON HIS COAT TAIL, HE WAS THE FIRST TO JUMP OVER ANYTHING!!
KNIEVEL WAS THE FIRST TRUE ACTION HERO
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GWHayduke9 months ago
Many fond childhood memories of Evil K!
Wish I still had that wind-up Harley riding/jumping doll; that thing must be worth a fortune now.
Thanks for the memories EK! RIP.
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chevydog9 months ago
Seemed like a fairly normal guy who did outlandish things for a living. It was sort of ghoulish watching him--waiting for something to happen. But through all the mishaps I don't think he ever lost his sense of humor or self-promotion.
From a cultural standpoint, it might be worth asking why he was such a big deal. But he was.
RIP Evel.
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stardawg9 months ago
I wish I still had the motorcycle toy with the pull thing that made it go. That toy was the best ! RIP Evel
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TomBiro
Tom Biro has been blogging in various places since around 2000, including the soon-to-be-revamped tombiro.com, The Media Drop, and AdJab, a site he was ...
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