Diabetic daredevil Evel Knievel living in pain

We write so often about athletes and stars who are winning their fight with diabetes and other illnesses, but sometimes the stories don’t necessarily have happy ending. And so it is with former motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel.

The former stunt legend and icon of the 1970s is now 67 and suffers from more than just the effects of the many wild crashes he endured during his career, In addition to diabetes, Knievel suffers from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable condition that is scarring and hardening his lungs. He has also suffered a stroke. Not surprisingly, he has broken about forty bones and has a number of plates and titanium parts in his body. Repeated concussions have damaged his short-term memory, and he is constantly in pain. He takes fifty pills a day and sucks on lollipops that deliver painkillers.

“People think I’ve been through something in my life from what they’ve seen on national television, my accident at Caesars Palace for instance,” Knievel says. “Look at what the hell I’m going through now. How much can the human body endure?”

Despite his physical decline, Evel Knievel is still a vital part of the pop culture scene. The Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle, one of the top selling toys during the 1970s, is once again being sold by Ideal Toys. Hundreds of Evel Knievel items are listed on eBay, an Evel Knievel rock opera is being developed, and the Country Music Television channel will present a program on his life on May 28.

For his part, Knievel isn’t afraid of the end.

“I can’t wait to meet God,” he says, “and ask why he didn’t make me go faster on some of those jumps, why he put me through all this pain. He knows I’m not evil.”

Confession: There are two reasons I wanted to post this that have nothing to do with diabetes. First of all, when I was a kid, I was a huge fan of Evel Knievel. I remember when I found out that he and I have the same name (Robert Craig). I thought I was destined to ride motorcycles over buses after that. I still remember the rocket car. I wanted one.

The second reason? I wanted an excuse to post that photo.

(via Sports Illustrated)