Evel Knievel Inspires Brethren of Fresh Generation

Imagine the hours ESPN would have devoted to Evel Knievel's daring attempt to jump Idaho's Snake River Canyon in 1974?

Certainly, the buildup would have been epic - a nonstop frenzy of guesswork, gossip and analysis. Chris Berman wouldn't have ceased talking for a solid week.

Though that stunt of yesteryear proved unsuccessful, the event was one of the most-watched events in the history of ABC's Wide World of Sports.

And Knievel, who died last Friday at 69, still has a magnetic pull on the motorcycle racing world all these decades later.

That was fully exhibited via sterling work from
Steve Master of the Daytona Beach News-Journal, who ferreted out heartfelt thoughts and comments at Daytona International Speedway from Knievel's younger brethren.

Photo of Evel Knievel circa 1970s by Hulton Archive/Getty Images

A few gems:

"He always had his coach parked here and my coach was always parked across from him," veteran rider Jamie Hacking said. "He'd always tell me to keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down and have a good one."

"We lost a legend." said rider Jason DiSalvo. "Evel Knievel means something to everybody."

Today's crop of self-centered professional athletes could glean several life lessons from Knievel. Ever the showman, he kept coming back from one near-death experience after another. He understood the power of marketing and branding perhaps more than any sports figure of his era.

"(Evel) had this saying, 'Every day I'm riding the bike I'm living. Every other day is just waiting,' " added rider Eric Bostrom. "Of course you want to live a long and fruitful life. But all the same, if you don't take those risks, what really makes you stand out as an individual?"

Refreshing indeed, especially from a venue such as Daytona Beach - a veritable shrine for the motorcycle world and host of the annual Biketoberfest celebration.