Evel Knievel passed

[huckinfog]

The wire services are reporting he died this afternoon, no other details at this writing. A true American Hero.

"They started out watching me bust my ass, and I became part of their lives," Knievel said. "People wanted to associate with a winner, not a loser. They wanted to associate with someone who kept trying to be a winner."

A pretty good bio on him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evel_Knievel

[hoosierhog88]

He was only 69 years old.

A sad day for his fans.

[1bdBagr]

What a life he LIVED. I saw him jump at Ontario Motor Speedway forget the date. RIP.

[ed gray]

By MITCH STACY, Associated Press Writer
10 minutes ago



CLEARWATER, Fla. - Evel Knievel, the hard-living motorcycle daredevil whose jumps over Greyhound buses, live sharks and Idaho's Snake River Canyon made him an international icon in the 1970s, died Friday. He was 69.

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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.

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.

"They started out watching me bust my ass, and I became part of their lives," Knievel said. "People wanted to associate with a winner, not a loser. They wanted to associate with someone who kept trying to be a winner."

His death came just two days after it was announced that he and rapper Kanye West had settled a federal lawsuit over the use of Knievel's trademarked image in a popular West music video.

[Hog Wild]

He Is A True American Hero !!! RIP Evil...

[rick8728]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...show_article=1

[baggersport]

Remember his stunts like it was yesterday. RIP






.

[skippy49]

http://www.nhor.org/visitor/obituary...ed-id=80951734

[nvsteve]

Saw him jump at the Cow Palace near SF many years ago.
Major fight with an MC that night.
No matter what you think about him, he had major league balls.

[oh1deuce]

For sure one of my heros!

Where ever he ends up, I hope he gives em hell!

[roofeditor]

have a minor crash once, shook his hand and sort of liked his in your face attitude.

[mtairy biker]

It is cirtinly SAD he will be missed. I also remember him like it was yesterday.

[BVBOB]

He was a very brash, no BS, get what you see kind of guy, less and less of those around every day. Still remeber him being a hero to us when we were young.

[Admin]

I'll never forget his jumps and the intensity he had. I also recall recently when he was speaking of his past and shared some very intimate regrets about his life...a rare glimpse behind the mask of fame, but hardly a surprise from a guy who was as real as he. He was a hero for what he did and an inspiration for who he was.

He will not be forgotten.

[Peacekeeper]

RIP, I saw hime twice as a kid, he was awesome.