They don’t make ‘em like Evel Knievel anymore.

That’s because they kept breaking…

I’m sorry to see another 70s icon pass, too. Do you think we’ve been lawyered out of another one like him?

i won’t forget that movie since i was thinking of him (and to a lesser extent, Super Dave) while watching it.

here’s to you, Evel. there are plenty of clouds to jump in heaven. God Speed.

Not surprisingly, I have very mixed emotions about Evel Knievel. But he was absolutely tailor-made for the craptacular pop culture of the 1970s, and it speaks volumes about television that whatever lofty goals and ideals the ABC network’s sports divis…

Trooper on December 1, 2007 at 2:40 PM

Ditto

Trooper on December 1, 2007 at 2:40 PM

.
’sniff’.
Me too, really, on all accounts.
.
oh well, off to play bingo . /heh/

It was funny, I read the paper this morning and saw EK had passed and I couldn’t help from getting tears in my eyes.

I had to leave the breakfast table. I was totally unprepared for my reaction.

I think his passing also indicates I’m older and have forever lost a cherished part of my childhood. I think in a way I’m grieving for the old days.

My friends and I destroyed so many bike parts and a couple of bikes trying to jump everything in the neighborhood.
deadbackpacker on December 1, 2007 at 11:32 AM

Heh, me too, we used to build ramps and had contests on how far we could jump. I once landed so hard I bent the front forks of my bike so that they were “U” shaped.

Yeah, great guy.

Personally, I think that people who go after others with baseball bats should spend much more time in jail. Much more.

progressoverpeace on December 1, 2007 at 10:44 AM

As for the above quote and as SitRep responded, there used to be a day when one was able to defend their honor when others sullied it. In fact is wasn’t uncommon for people to duel to the death over honor.

Now I’m not saying we should go back to pistols at 10 paces but when someone makes such claims as Saltman did Evel had every right to defend his reputation and honor, and he did in a manner that was common in the era Evel was raised and not what is common today, which is to settle such disputes in court. I’m certain Evel gave Saltman every opportunity to make it right and come clean about the truth and when Saltman didn’t (out of greed for money he’d make on his book) Evel settled the matter and defended his honor the old fashioned way.

If there were more people with Evel’s character where honor and your word meant everything there wouldn’t be as much controversy in regard to the overall WOT and our nation would be standing united against the threats we currently face, but alas such character and people are a dwindling resource in our nation and culture.

I too grew up with Evel and will miss not only the man but what he represented and the good things of his era.

RIP Evel, wishing you soft landings on your final jump.

RIP in Christ’s arms Evel.

I would lauch it down the stairs (12 of em) at a bunch of pillows (ok one small pillow). It would hit the pillow about 35% of the time the remaing 65% of the time it would take a chuck of paint out of the base boards…my mom loved that.

Prof, you are definitely on a roll, my friend. ;)

Mike H on December 1, 2007 at 12:07 PM

Prof, I emphatically second what Mike H said – someone should get you to write the eulogy!! Great posts!

Man, that crank-up Evel motorcycle figure & bike toy back in the 70’s was pure fun out on the playground…watching him attempt those stunts on TV back then was also quite surreal as a kid.

I seem to remember my toy Evel motorbike having a ripcord.

When I was in fifth grade, my school somehow got this George Hamilton movie on reel-to-reel. Every kid in that school was brought into the cafeteria one afternoon, and we all watched George Hamilton ham it up as Evel Knievel. The very last scene in that movie strongly implied that Evel was planning on jumping over the Grand Canyon on his motorbike. Talk about legend building!!

I guess God needed a headliner for his Christmas show.

Professor Blather on December 1, 2007 at 10:18 AM

Professor Blather, you are hitting on all cylinders this morning. Thank You.
Most of you had very nice comments also, God bless you.
May God comfort Evel’s family.

Prof, you are definitely on a roll, my friend. ;)

Mike H on December 1, 2007 at 12:07 PM

Yes indeed. The Prof’s waxing eloquent in this thread is the perfect bittersweet eulogy for EK. Made me smile.

RIP Evel. And well said Professor.

Professor Blather on December 1, 2007 at 10:18 AM
&
Professor Blather on December 1, 2007 at 12:02 PM

Damn, if I didn’t know better, I’d say we rode together…you and I.
I truly can’t remember all the great moments Evel gave me and my buddies, how many boards we broke ( after searching for hours for ‘ramp materials’) with our mini-bikes. This was before we could even ride a real motorcycle (like a HUGE 125 or something).
Evel did break more bones than any other human being alive. Hell, I broke 4 just trying to be Evel. And my bud’s…many more and that was just our neighborhood.
A HERO DIED , A REAL HERO. Say it ain’t so.
.
There is a good special on one of those TV channels, maybe the History Channel? or something…2 hours of EVEL. His life, Howard, England, Snake River, VEGAS, and yes, the batting of a weasly journalist…
It can’t do justice to EVEL but it’s a great 2 hours.
.
Prof, keep writing today…it’s been fun.

Personally I think if more people had the Malkins to whip someone’s ass when needed this would be a better, less litigious and more gentlemanly world.

TheSitRep on December 1, 2007 at 11:41 AM

What he said.

By the way … start your bidding.

It’s already over $70.00.

Personally, I think that people who go after others with baseball bats should spend much more time in jail. Much more.

progressoverpeace on December 1, 2007 at 10:44 AM

It’s funny. I suppose I could be annoyed at poor (but aptly named) “ProgressOverPeace,” who apparently has neither the class nor the maturity to respect those mourning the recently deceased.

But – although you’re free to ban the childish little punk – I was glad he posted his infantile little attack … because it really made me smile.

I’d forgotten that story completely! And now I do remember it. When a coward – a person sort of like ProgressOverPeace, in fact – Evel Kneivel didn’t cry about it, he didn’t go to therapy, and he didn’t hire a lawyer.

Instead, he went and dealt with it the way men of honor dealt with insults to that honor for most our recorded history. He dealt with it exactly the same way a medieval knight or a Roman noble would have dealt with the cowardly lies.

On his own. Like a man.

Such a rare thing today, in our world of lawsuits and politically correct lunacy.

And no … I don’t condone beating people with bats – well, mostly. That isn’t the point. The point is that when he was slandered … he chose to handle it himself. Like real men have done throughout history. Like every hero you ever had as a boy would have done.

I love that he lived up to his legend. I absolutely love that. And I thank our resident coward for reminding me.

Of course – of course! – you don’t like or respect the iconic legend, son. Someone like you isn’t even capable of understanding him. Or why the rest of us looked up to him.

God bless you for reminding us how small people like you are, and how magnificent people like EK are in comparison.

Broken bones imitating Evel on my motorcycle – Check.

Strong sense of growing older – Check.

-

RIP.

One of the first memories of TV was that Wembly jump.