More than any other figure from my youth, I wanted to be Evel Knievel. Well, Portland Trailblazer star center Bill Walton was my first choice, but I quickly figured that I would never grow to be 7 feet tall. Knievel's exploits as a daredevil and stuntman in the 1970s corresponded with the carefree days of my youth. I had the toys, the collectors cards, the comic book, the lunch box. I never missed a broadcast of one of his stunts.
At home I would race down the hall with a cape and pretend to jump my motorcycle over my toy busses just like Knievel. At times I would crash and burn, but thankfully, my falls never resulted in a single broken bone. Knievel was said to have broken every one of his. Each of his spectacular jumps was like taking a mortgage out on the rest of his life. So the fact that he made it to 69 must have seemed like a gift to him and his family. That's not to say his death was welcome. No, he deserved a long healthy life like everyone. But we all make our choices.
Of late, Knievel was known for his run in with hiphop star Kanye West. A lawsuit was settled just a few days ago. Both were quoted to be quite chummy with each other. Sad to think that's how many of todays youth will know of Knievel's exploits.
Here's a great story I heard about Knievel concerning the ultimate stunt of jumping out of an airplane without a parachute. Knievel said he had figured out how to do it and survive. It would have to be over the grand canyon, or similar area with a high cliff. The stunt would be to fall in parabolic swings that would result in moments of weightlessness at the top of each side of the swing before you fell back down again. At that moment, your effective momentum would be zero. If you could time the last of your swings to dip you into the grand canyon and end with you just above the rim of the highest cliff, then you could just fall down onto a well placed cushion of straw and literally walk away from the scene. Now that's the ultimate stunt.
Just a few years ago when a Knievel themed restaurant was scheduled to open up outside of Las Vegas, I thrilled over seeing the few bits of memorabilia that were on display in the preview window and possibly meeting my childhood idol at the grand opening. Knievel won't get to see that restaurant now, should it ever be built. But I hope his spirit and desire for the thrill of the dare will continue to inspire people to push their own limits.
Evel Knievel, (real name Robert Craig Knievel Jr) off to ride final the rocket to the sky, at 69.
(Photo of Evel Knievel and Kanye West courtesy of user brandawg via flickr creative commons license)