By MITCH STACY, Associated Press Writer 15 minutes ago

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Evel Knievel, the red-white-and-blue-spangled motorcycle daredevil whose jumps over crazy obstacles including Greyhound buses, live sharks and Idaho's Snake River Canyon made him an international icon in the 1970s, died Friday. He was 69.

Knievel's death was confirmed by his granddaughter, Krysten Knievel. He had been in failing health for years, suffering from diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable condition that scarred his lungs.

Too bad he couldn't die while doing a stunt. Not that it would make it any less sad, but at least he would have died doing what he loved.

I remember my younger brother dressing up in white pants and a white t-shirt pretending to be Evil Knievel. I think he almost broke his leg once trying to drive his bicycle off the top of my dad's Oldsmobile.