At Home With Evel Knievel Originally uploaded by cheesebikini

I saw this link on the CNN front page.  It goes to a story about a childhood hero I had by the name of Evel Knievel.  Now frequent readers may or may not know about Evel, but the story talks about how Evel is doing now and what a toll his stunts took.

I remember watching Evel on television and on film.  I think he was on ABC’s Wide World of Sports at times, and maybe even had some prime time specials.  I’m sure he was the inspiration for the Fonz (from Happy Days) jumping over garbage cans and a shark in separate episodes. I remember Evel with his motorcycle jumping over buses and the Snake River Canyon.  I think, if I recall correctly, watching films of him at my elementary school during the summer.  (But my favorite film during that time in my life was The Doberman Gang.  I wonder if it’s on DVD?)

Anyway, it’s tough to read about a guy - a daredevil - like this being in so much pain.  But he seems to be hanging in there:

"No king or prince has lived a better life," he says. "You're looking at a guy who's really done it all. And there are things I wish I had done better, not only for me but for the ones I loved."