Evel Knievel, 69, Daredevil on a Motorcycle, Dies
source: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/01/us/01knievel.html?ex=1354165200&en=e67995cdeb230696&ei=508...
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- covelogibbs
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Evel Knievel, the hard-living, death-defying adventurer who went from stealing motorcycles to riding them in a series of spectacular airborne stunts in the 1960s and 70s that brought him worldwide fame as the quintessential daredevil performer, died yesterday in Clearwater, Fla. He was 69.
Evel Knievel once described himself as the last gladiator in the new Rome. Another time he said he was a conservative wildman.
I am a guy who is first of all a businessman, he said. Im not a stunt man. Im not a daredevil. Im he paused Im an explorer.
In 1966, he began touring alone, increasing the length of jumps until, on New Year's Day 1968, he was nearly killed when he jumped 151ft across the fountains in front of Caesar's Palace.
Knievel retired after a stunt in which he was again seriously injured, attempting to jump a tank full of live sharks in the Chicago Amphitheater.
Evel Knievel once described himself as the last gladiator in the new Rome. Another time he said he was a conservative wildman.
I am a guy who is first of all a businessman, he said. Im not a stunt man. Im not a daredevil. Im he paused Im an explorer.
In 1966, he began touring alone, increasing the length of jumps until, on New Year's Day 1968, he was nearly killed when he jumped 151ft across the fountains in front of Caesar's Palace.
Knievel retired after a stunt in which he was again seriously injured, attempting to jump a tank full of live sharks in the Chicago Amphitheater.
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