Evel Kneivel Days
Let me talk about the town I currently live in (until the end of the month anyway). For the past three years, the town of Butte America has decided to hold a celebration on the last weekend in July. The purpose of this celebration is to honor the achievements and heroism of Butte's favorite son, Evel Kneivel. If you didn't catch that, Butte holds a three-day celebration for Evel Knievel, the man who was made famous by jumping things (often unsuccessfully) with his motorcycle and not paying his taxes.
Here is how things play out. The locals and a posse of bikers (not cyclists) stand in the streets uptown and drink. I'm not sure how it always goes, but I think Evel himself drinks with them. I wonder if he gets his drink for free since it's his party. The first year they held a concert (I think it was Joan Jett, maybe Pat Benatar). The past two years they've done away with the big musical act and have focused strictly on drinking. That is until the last night of the festivities, when one of Evel's old cronies named Spanky performs some death-defying stunt. These stunts involve Spanky jumping off the tallest building in town or jumping a car over other cars. This year he mixed it up by jumping off the tallest building in town.... Are you ready for this?... WHILE ON FIRE!!!!! Way to mix it up Spanky. In the end, it's just a reason to stand in the streets uptown and drink.
However, I think the whole Evel Kneivel Days thing is catching on. As I was flipping through the channels this past weekend, I came across not once, not twice, but three times, a running of a made for TV movie about Evel's life. This thing is going nationwide. Before we all know it, Evel Knievel Days will be a national holiday and we'll all get off work (well, those of you who have jobs will get off work). I think every community needs a three day week-end devoted to drinking in the streets, culminated by some guy jumping off something or jumping over something. The only way I will vote for Bush is if he declares Evel Knievel Days a national holiday. Maybe he'll read this post.
15 Comments:
I love this holiday. Where else in the United States would they celebrate a dead beat, womanizing, half cripple, tax evading, burn out stuntman. I too lived in Butte at one time and highly recommend all of you to move there as soon as possible.
Nate, you know that bar that was near our house in Butte? The pork chop sandwich bar? Anyway i was talking to the guy that owned that bar one day and he was telling me that half the bars in Butte won't allow Evil into them because of not paying his bill or harassing customers.
i wonder if the town actually got together on this to really think about what they were doing. It might be a small spike in business for local bars and shops, but why this guy. I mean next thing you know there is going to be a Stevie BumperHead day. Now that I would go to see. Thousands of people crawling in and out of the mine shafts with their prostetic head attachment trying to shine eachothers shoes.
Ok, i am off to my camping trip before I say anymore. Peace out my people...........
Evel Kneivel Days sure does bring out the best that Butte has to offer, doesn't it? Here's a community that is so desperate for anything that reminds them of Butte's former glory that they've latched onto to a scumbag like Evel. And have you ever witnessed the spectacle that IS Evel Kneivel Days? It's like a 72-hour Jerry Springer episode. If you're in the market to see some good mullets, the hazards of inbreeding, and possibly some fistfights, this is the time and place. Look, I'm not judging (OK, maybe I am), but it is these types of displays that make me want to run screaming from this place.
Evel Kneivel days are about as inane as Miles City's Bucking Horse Sale. Nothing more than an excuse to gather in groups larger than seven, drink and hope some girl loses her top before the night is over.
But then again, who am I to complain...
Anyway welcome to the Montana blogosphere and check out the other Montana bloggers on my blogroll.
You mentioned leaving Butte, where are you headed off to?
Thanks for the comment, Randy. I'll probably be in Helena for a short while, then hopefully off to Missoula.
NT
Evel Kneivel Days is a great idea, however, please let it be known: I actually wrote an essay in FIRST GRADE on my "Greatest American Hero." The subject of that essay? None other than Evel Kneivel himself. The only thing I remember from the essay is that I bragged about how heroic he was in always starting fights at the local Butte Hockey games. I don't know why I chose him, or why my parents allowed it. Perhaps because my dad also hails from that shit-hole 60 miles south of Helena once known as "Butte America." Regardless of why, quite surprisingly, the judges of the contest were neither impressed nor amused...my essay was not a finalist. If only I still had it, I would proudly read it aloud at Evel Knievel days, just before Spanky did his thing. Surely greater appreciation could be had in uptown Butte, where true American Heros are properly recognized for their unique gifts to American culture.
All of you are a bunch of idiots. Evel Kneivel was no worse than the "heroes" of today. Today our youth look up to rapists, drug addicts and murderers and you condone it with great pride when your son scores a touchdown. At least Evel knew what he was and wasn't. Get your fat tails off the computer and on a bike to make a 90 foot jump, then you have the right to talk crap. Evel is still my hero, if there is such a thing!
Teaching
HELLO NT
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i live in missoula and happned to meet his daughter or grandaughter. i am not quite sure which. but she was increadably annoying, whearing an evil kneivel shirt and flaunting her id card. i have been to evil k days and it is a great time but i hear the guy is kinda a jerk. anyone see the interview with him and a pro skater? he got pissed and started yelling at the guy because he was trying to be posative and tell the kids at home that with some hard work anything is possible. it was kinda sad.
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