Daredevil Evel Knievel went from anonymity to fame when he attempted to jump the fountains in front of Caesars Palace on New Year’s Eve in 1967. He made up a corporation and three fake attorneys to get the attention of then-CEO Jay Sarno. He even called Sarno pretending to be Sports Illustrated and ABC to get him to let him make that long attempt on a motorcycle in a star-spangled red, white and blue jumpsuit.
That 141-foot jump, Knievel’s longest attempt ever, ended in a crash that broke his pelvis and femur, crushed his hip, ankles and wrists and gave him a concussion.