RIP Evel Knievel

[George Hayduke]

He should of died tons and tons of times before while entertaining people. I guess all the abuse his body took finally caught up with him. RIP

Iconic Daredevil Evel Knievel Dies at 69
By MITCH STACY – 57 minutes ago

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Evel Knievel, the red-white-and-blue-spangled motorcycle daredevil whose jumps over crazy obstacles including Greyhound buses, live sharks and Idaho's Snake River Canyon made him an international icon in the 1970s, died Friday. He was 69.

Knievel's death was confirmed by his granddaughter, Krysten Knievel. He had been in failing health for years, suffering from diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable condition that scarred his lungs.

Knievel had undergone a liver transplant in 1999 after nearly dying of hepatitis C, likely contracted through a blood transfusion after one of his bone-shattering spills.

Longtime friend and promoter Billy Rundel said Knievel had trouble breathing at his Clearwater condominium and died before an ambulance could get him to a hospital.

"It's been coming for years, but you just don't expect it. Superman just doesn't die, right?" Rundel said.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iWWuZ0wDGsiJxYa_PFQLAH5qe-AwD8T88H600

 

[LEGI0N]

Superman rides a harley?

RIP you crazy fer!~

 

[gizmo]

RIP to the man who inspired a lot of folks
my personel memorie of the man is the Snake River Canyon in Idaho rocket bike jump
unsuccessful but memorable
its a sad day

heaven will reverbate to the sound of a harley

 

[NOKUY]

just saw that too....man I thought he couldent die.

I don't give a f u c k about most celebrities, but Evel was forerunner...the entire freestyle MX community owes it all to that man.

some of his crashes should have def killed him many times over

we just lost a good one

this bowl is for evel

 

[cooked cook]

ride on, Evel!

ride on, Evel!

This guy was one o my heroes growing up.and yeah, I know his personal life was a trainwreck....but I didn't care, since he did SO MUCH to entertain us.
Always tuned in to watch his jumps, My brother and I has ALL the collectibles(wow, wish I STILL had em) and just always dug the flash, the style, and the sheer balls of this guy. Ride on, Evel...you'll be missed!
Hmmm, just so happens I have a pic of him in the gallery.I'll tack it on here later. gotta scram.
cc


whoop...there it is!

 

[George Hayduke]

yeah i grew up watching him thats what this is so sad. normally i don't give a **** about celebs. either but this man was so fearless and willing to put his body on the line for what he loved to do. his jump at the ceasers palace should had killed him. in fact he should of died a few times. i never thought it would happen either. the man was able to survive anything.

 

[497.5FeetOfRope]

He should of died tons and tons of times before while entertaining people. I guess all the abuse his body took finally caught up with him. RIP

The alcohol abuse over the years didn't help either...even sadder is that he pretty much partied the money away he made over his career. About 9 years ago my business was contacted by his family looking for donations for his health problems. It seemed so strange, here's the guy I idolized as a kid and now his family is asking ME for money.
One of my favorite Evel moments was on the now cancelled Comedy Central show Viva Variety, when the character Johnny Bluejeans jumped Evel on a bicycle.
Snake River Canyon, Caesars Palace, .....great memories from a great nut...RIP Evel !

-497 and a Half Feet of Rope

 

[FallenBuddha]

rip Evel, now you get to jump the pearly gates.

peace -fb

 

[masterlow37]

Its Already Been Said

Its Already Been Said

 

[NOKUY]

funny real evel quote:

"Next year the Ideal Toy Company is going to make a lot of Evel Knievel toys. ... One toy I'd like them to make is my own idea.
I think it's the most super toy in the world:
You wind it up, it goes like a little bugger, goes across the floor, grabs this little Barbie doll, throws her on the floor, gives her a little lovin', jumps back on the motorcycle and goes whizzing out the door screaming, 'G.I. Joe is a faggot!' " -- Evel Knievel

 

[George Hayduke]

The alcohol abuse over the years didn't help either...even sadder is that he pretty much partied the money away he made over his career. About 9 years ago my business was contacted by his family looking for donations for his health problems. It seemed so strange, here's the guy I idolized as a kid and now his family is asking ME for money.

i'm not really surprised he turned to the bottle. especially with all he's been through. he was probably in a lot of pain... plus god knows how much his doctor bills took from him. what a shame. only good thing about all this is you know he isnt in pain anymore. the man did break like 50 bones afterall. you know he was hurting at 69.

 

[pipeline]

RIP Evil! He was a true pioneer! Has definately given me inspiration jumping those big ol harley cycles!

 

[Chiefsmokingbud]

Atleast he was around long enough to leave a legacy. He was my idol when i was a kid, not to show my age.

Ps. i got more enjoyment out of my Evel stunt cycle with the pull cord......those were the days

 

[George Hayduke]

awesome pics pipeline. i doubt without knievel dirt biking wouldn't be what it is today. he definetely paved the way for things like the x-games and stuff

 

[Classyathome]

He was Superman when I was a kid...

That Caesars Palace Fountain jump is crazy - the slow mo crash looks like a dummy is bouncin' around.

He's not hurtin' anymore, so that's a good thing.

 

[LEGI0N]

o yeah, he was a drinker alright.. he's been kicked out of my local bar a time or two not to mention getting arrested outside a local strip bar with a laser mounted Desert Eagle in his trunk.

 

[Joe Hawkins]

Atleast he was around long enough to leave a legacy. He was my idol when i was a kid, not to show my age.

Ps. i got more enjoyment out of my Evel stunt cycle with the pull cord......those were the days

I was just about to mention the old Evil Knieval Cycle I had one too man , He was my Fuggin Idol when I was a nipper.

 

[Joe Hawkins]

o yeah, he was a drinker alright.. he's been kicked out of my local bar a time or two not to mention getting arrested outside a local strip bar with a laser mounted Desert Eagle in his trunk.

thats why they call him "Evil"

Chuck aint got shit on Evil

 

[Verite]

Thats what was great about him when I was growing up. We had comic book and TV show heroes but he was someone real that was doing stuff no one else was doing. You couldnt help but be amazed.

I remember the snake canyon jump all that prep time seemed to last forever until launch. Then when the chute deployed almost right after it left the pad I remember thinking that couldnt be good.

 

[The_Leader]

i saw evil jump sharks....

my friend got an email yesterday about 3pm from his death watch group (yeah, creepy). We took 5 and smoked a bowl or 1O then ran head long into the boss in his B.(bentley) He wasnt even driving? wtf...lucky ass security guy.



secretly. i wanted to see him in that shark tank. then i could say, " i saw evil get eaten".