Evel Knievel is pissed off at Kanye West for impersonating him in a video in which West dresses up like the stuntman and tries to jump Snake River Canyon in a rocket car. Knievel's suing him for "infringement on his trademark name and likeness," and "damage to his reputation."
But what's funny is Evel's grouchy critique of the video. The 68-year old stuntman said: "That video that Kanye West put out is the most worthless piece of crap I've ever seen in my life, and he uses my image to catapult himself on the public."
That's sooo Knievel.
This is a guy who doesn't suffer fools well. In 1977, a former promoter of Knievel wrote a book in which he claimed that the famous stuntman abused two things: drugs and his wife. To say Knievel didn't take this very well is understating things. Despite having both arms in casts after a motorcycle crash in Chicago, he flew to California and tracked down the author, confronting him in a parking lot. Never one to mince words, Evel pulled out an aluminum baseball bat and beat the holy shit out of the author. He whacked him in the head, shattered bones in his arms and wrists and ultimately knocked him unconscious -- all the time yelling "I'm going to kill you!"
He didn't end up actually killing him, but the author's mother did die of a heart attack upon hearing the news of the attack. And he did kill the author's semi-professional tennis career. For his outburst, Evel was fined and spent a few weeks in jail, but it apparently didn't do anything to soften him.
Note to Kanye: You don't want to piss this guy off, even if he is in failing health and is currently connected to an oxygen tank. If I know Evel, he'll just use that tank as a bludgeoning weapon.
Evel Knievel. Now that's gangsta.
3 comments:
But why didn't Liberace ever sue Knievel for ripping off HIS image?
(This comment has nothing to do about this article, but rather is an unsolicited commentary on your blog itself.)
I think you have one of the funniest and most well-written blogs that I have ever read. Your ability to take even the most mundane & often overlooked aspects in life and recreate them in such a humorous way is simply amazing.
I look forward to your next posting and wonder if you have ever thought about compiling a book of simple observations/life stories (ala David Sedaris "Naked"-style)...
Dan X.
(Mark & Jon's friend)
Thanks, Dan! I appreciate the kind words.
Sedaris is hilarious. I've read three of his books and catch him on "This American Life" occasionally. He sets the bar for funny, observational writing. He's like a cheerier, less gritty version of Augusten Burroughs (who I also like).
Hmmm, now I'm inspired to write more. But not here in the comments section.
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