Steve Irwin

[Ausie]

Sad to see this news, the guy had passion and was fun to watch.

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=2391796

[Fish_on]

The guy was a nutcase and a bad example. It was only a matter of time.

[Fish_on]

Before anyone accuses me of being heartless, of course I feel bad for his family and friends. But this is a guy who made millions by harassing wildlife, shocking people by taking stupid risks and attacking hunting. He had a double standard when it comes to wildlife and a huge following among people who he influenced in his way of thinking. He will be eulogized on the Discovery channel and Animal Planet as a great hero and conservationist but I do not see it that way at all.

[GF]

It is truly sad for his family, but I do agree he flirted with the most dangerous animals on the planet, it was a matter of time. I did enjoy his shows.

[mudpuppy]

Yes, it is sad for his family, friends, & fans. Yes, he was crazy. Yes, I didn't always agree with what he did & said. But I always respected his passion & enthusiasm. The news of his death is one of those things you were always expecting to hear about because he was always flirting with death. He lived his life on his own terms & died doing what he loved. R.I.P.

[Erie Drifter]

My girlfriend is gonna be bummed, she never missed a show, I thought the guy was a loon, but he was pretty entertaining, his daughter is a real cutiepie and smart as a whip, my heart goes out to her and "Baby Bob"

Bill W. (BFN)

[Mr.Seaguar]

Imagine what he was thinking, Crikey I just got done in by a bloomin fish! He was an important figure for AUstralia and crocodiles. I didnt care for his show or his personality.

[jarhead]

I've always said his last episode would be the most breathtaking.

[Dacotah Eye]

Someone once told me that you can't shoot at the same target all the time and expect to miss every time. I think it had something to do with getting a woman pregnant, but it seems to fit in this case also. I think the guy had nads that had to drag on the ground and I think he new it would get him at some time. He just liked to push it too much. The worst part is that you could see how much he loved his family.

[WaliWilhe]

He was an entertainer and like some boxers, race car drivers, daredevils and others who live for the danger they dont win every time.

[karpbuster]

I really enjoyed his show and I saw a program he made on the USA, very good, Steve was likeable and an enjoyable TV Personality. But more importantly he was a husband and father.

My prayers go out to his family and friends during this tough time.

karpbuster

[JBL]

Such sad news. Him being killed in this manner is like Evel Kneivel getting killed riding a 4 wheeler in his backyard. It just doesn't make sense. A real tragedy for his wife and two young children.

[Terroreyes]

:cheers: I second that. Shame on the people who hold their hunting/conservation views over a human life and family! :banging:

Same could be said for us in hindsight. Keep on fishing out on that water. It's just a matter of time. ;)




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[Juls_OH]

Amen!!!
Only 3 people in Australia have died from a Sting Ray stab. This was a FREAK accident. He only died from his wound, because it hit his heart.
He has done some good in this world, no matter what your views of him were. The money he made being a TV/Movie personality went towards helping animals. How can that be a bad thing?

Juls

[bigfish1965]

Steve helped demystify and un-demonize the croc. His knowledge of the animal kingdom should be the envy of every hunter.
The irnoy of his death by a fish is not unnoticed...I mean the guy wrestled crocodiles! He was much braver than I.

[RANGER]

I couldn't have said it better!!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't, always, agree with his ideaology (hunting) but he did "His Thing" and I admire him for it!

[Field Trialer]

How do you know his all his money went for animals Juls?????....Quote your sources before you before you say he is the MOTHER Therasa of the animal lovers. The chances of him spending ALL his money on animals is SLIM AND NONE. The guy made millions and you can bet all the Crown Royal you want that the vast majority of it went into his personal bank account and NOT to animal causes. The only person who cares how he died is the coroner. DEAD is DEAD no matter how you cut it, whether you die from a drug overdoese or a spider bite. YOU ARE DEAD. In this case the LOSERS are his family because he was doing something FOOLISH and it cost him his life for NO GOOD REASON. END OF STORY. This is NOT a tragic death. A tragic death is where a family is driving home and a drunk driver kills them ALL. Steve's death was a sad consequence of stupid behavior.

[Fish_on]

Juls it was no way a freak accident. He was taking stupid risks and acting in a way that people should not act around animals... that was his pattern and he made a lot of money shocking people by doing crazy, risky things. I still have the image in my mind of him holding his month-old son out over a crocodile. The guy showed a pattern of making bad coices regarding animals and by his enthusiasm he won over a lot of ignorant city people, and passed it off as being a conservationist. Think about how you would have to be harrassing a stingray in a manner that would get you stung in the chest! He did a lot of damage by manhandling creatures that should be treated with care and respect. That is doing good for animals like domestic violence is good for women.

He paid the ultimate price, but sadly his children and wife paid it too.

[rock2me]

It's sad to hear of Steve's untimely death. I loved his enthusiasm. I wish I loved my job as much as he did. I'm also sad for his entire family, I'm sure they all loved him very much.

That said, is this a surprise? No. If you take chances with wild animals, one day you will roll snake-eyes. I'm sure he has had other close calls where he did cheat death.

Recent stories I have read where people take chances with wild animals, concern me.

A black bear was going through the yards in a first-ring suburb. The wife goes outside to get a close-up picture that ends up being published in the paper. They ask her how she got so close. Her response, "I just knew he wouldn't hurt me." WHAT!?! How do YOU know?

A report of a cougar in northern MN (I have seen one in this area). The reporter asks the lady how she knows it was a cougar. She responds it was definitly a huge cat-like animal and was no house/barn cat. I got out of the car and said "Here kitty, kitty, kitty, to get a better look, but it streaked off into the woods." SHE WAS TRYING TO CALL A COUGAR!?! Was she expecting to pet it, maybe give it some milk?

I'm not afraid of any wild animals, but I give them the distance that they deserve. They are wild and the results are unpredicatable.

[Juls_OH]

Where exactly did I say "all" his money???? Read carefully before you scream at people.

Have a nice day.

Juls

[Juls_OH]

FishOn,
I don't think the public has seen footage of him swimming near the Sting Ray yet (have you?), so there is no way to know that it wasn't a freak accident. I am quoting his crew, who were right there when it happened BTW, because I wasn't there either.

Update:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14675529/

The story says the police have viewed the footage of his encounter with the Ray, and said there was nothing suspicious and that he did nothing to provoke the attack.

The story also states that Steve told a "mate" that if he were ever going to die doing this work, that it would be in the ocean where he had less control.

Juls

[Dacotah Eye]

I liked watching his shows on the tube. I new his death would be somehow connected to the way acted around dangerous animals and reptiles. I just hope that he didn't influence some people to think that they can go around picking up poisonous snakes. I watched so many close calls on his tv show that it actually bothered me. I had real problems when he would pick up a 6 foot Diamondback and say that they are actually a gentle creature if you don't bother them.

[Un logged FishN2Dmax]

Not matter what you thought of the Steve's zanny tactic's you have to admire someone with that much passion for life!!! Ironically, it was his combination of zanny personality, dangerous stunts and passion for wildlife preservation that made him so popular - it also was the perfect combination for an early death.

My kids grew up watching Steve's shows and he's passion for wildlife rubbed on off on them. Yes, he did some crazy things, but there is no question he was a great guy, caring person, a loving father and husband. Our prayers and thoughts go out to his family.

[Nick(Ia)]

Juls, This was and is a tragic circumstance and great sorrow will be endured by his family and fans. However...Fish On is not completely "off the deap end" when he laments the fact that Irwin made a career from being irresponsible around dangerous animals and this is what people were attracted to and paid to see. It fostered the unfortunate mind-set that wild animals aren't "wild" and can be treated like a domesticated animal. Further, Irwin's work and his many contributions to preserve wild animals are wonderful reflections of the man's character but it should be noted that we as consumptive users of wildlife would have a direct conflict with many of the organizations that his money was directed to. World Wildlife Fund, Fund for Animals, etc., are committed to the elimination of sport hunting and fishing. This is one of the most difficult issues we face as sportsmen and women. How do we resolve the conflict between our desire to conserve and protect the resources we love and the desire of others in the conservation/protectionist field that believe the resource should be protected from us? Tough questions that don't have easy answers. Again, this is a tragedy for the life lost and lives impacted by the loss. It also drives home a point that many of us are very aware of...wild animals are wild, they should be viewed and treated as such.

As far as Juls point that he didn't do anything wrong: "The story says the police have viewed the footage of his encounter with the Ray, and said there was nothing suspicious and that he did nothing to provoke the attack."

From the stories I've seen it appears it was the camera man swimming in front of the ray that spooked the critter and started the problem, not Irwin himself. Have you seen how close they put cameras to these animals? Have you ever felt uncomfortable when viewing these "close-ups" and wonder how many people see it and then believe it is acceptable behavior?

Terroreyes...we may have to agree to disagree on this one. I don't think anyone holds their views above Steve Irwin's life but there certainly are views about the actions of this man that could be debated. I think that was the point made.

Sorry for the long-winded diatribe...Here is to Steve "Crikey" Irwin, may he rest in peace.

[perchjerker]

I dont really feel that bad for the guy. He had it coming.

I do feel bad for the kids and family, but only so much.

I lost my dad too when I was 8. He died of Lieukiemia. He wasnt famous or rich and didnt set up his family for the rest of thier lives like Im sure this guy did. He didnt die doing what he loved. We got by, we had to live in my grandparents basement. But we got by. Thats life.

it may sound callous but that my opinion.

[Apple Guy]

I liked the guy, his passion for life was great to watch. He was the same off the air too. It was not an act. Sounds like some of you don't care for his personality. That's too bad. Sad to see a great guy and from what I have heard, a great Dad lose his life in a weird accident.

[perchjerker]

I didnt mean it that way. He was fun and entertaining.

But when you play with fire you are gonna get burned.

[Terroreyes]

We agree actually. No doubt the man was crazy, but in an entertaining way. He flirted with death for a living. Life would be really boring without his kind. People risk their lives for our entertainment every day. Pro football players, boxers, circus entertainers, air show pilots, NASCAR drivers, TV big game hunters, and on and on. Do all them have it coming(not your comment)?

I don't feel any more sorry for him than anyone else. No less either. Some sound like they value his life less because they disagree with his views. Not just here. To say he deserved it or "had it coming" is a little harsh.

[WAeyes]

A great Dad??? Are you kidding me??? Did you not see the video of him holding his baby kid out in front of a croc's nose just to get the big "wow" effect from the crowd? Entertaining, yes but no...not a great Dad!

[Juls_OH]

You were able to say, very well by the way, what I couldn't put into words.

Thanks for taking the time to do so.

Juls

[Repo]

according to cnn since 1992 when he made it big he gave away a total of 25% of all his profits to animale causes such as zoos sanctuarys and the like he also had many many organasations set up in his name where all the profits from sales and his apperances went to the same thing so if you think about it 25% + more of all the money he made has done alot of good for many many many animals

[Apple Guy]

Yep, So that. Excluding the idiot move with his son.;-)

[Apple Guy]

Oops, saw that

[Waypoint Willie]

Yea, what makes him a great dad?

How much time does he really spend with his kids? He is always on location someplace filming something. I thought a good dad was one who was around to help thier kids with growing up, not globetrotting around the world showing everyone how he can spit in an alligators face and get away with it. I really doubt he spends that much time at home. Thats what a good dad is. Someone who is there for thier kids.