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SAM KINISON was without a doubt the funniest stand-up comedian I ever saw. He was a boy evangelist and used to shout fire and damnation! But when he grew up he saw the world in a different light. He became a stand-up comedian and later started appearing in movies and on TV.

The first time I ever heard of Sam Kinison was one night as I was watching HBO and they had a young comedians special. He gruffly marched out wearing a long trench coat, his hair was long on both sides and he was wearing a beret to cover his balding head.

The first words out of his mouth were, "I'd a been here 30 minutes ago, but I was stuck in a 7-11, screaming, MARLBORO! MARLBORO! , don't you speak * English? He'd you get this * job? I should have shot your ass in DANANG!"

What an opening! I was roaring with laughter! Who was this obnoxious fellow? I was on the edge of my seat and listening to every word from that point on. I watched Sam every time I had the chance and followed his career.

Sam lived hard, just like so many other people who wake up one day and have wealth, fame and success. He partied with best of them, alcohol, drugs, sex, all of it!

But Sam never lost his sense of humor and he could crack me up like no other stand-up comedian ever could. I don't believe that profanity is particularly funny in itself, and it's a reality that modern stand-up comedians do over use profanity in their routines.

Sam could definitely be profane at times, but his comedy touched me at a much deeper level, I would remark, "Yeah I know exactly what he's talking about."

Sam was on top of the world! He was appearing in movies. He was a household name. He had a video on MTV!

Sam was engaged to be married to a beautiful lady, and had finally gotten a handle on his drinking and partying. He was in Vegas and was driving home to California in his Corvette.

A couple of young, drunk, rednecks in a pickup truck struck his car head on traveling at excessive speed, the fiber glass corvette was completely destroyed and Sam was killed! But they survived.

What a waste. He was the ultimate comedian. His own life at times had been a complete mess. Nobody is as hilarious as a person who can examine their own life and mistakes and laugh their ass off at their own stupidity. He was magic! The world was a much better, and funnier place with Sam in it.

Learn more about this author, Jim Osborn.
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