David Blaine - Famed Failure

Illusionist David Blaine attempted to break a world record on live television. He planned to hold his breath for more than nine minutes. However, he came up short at seven minutes and eight seconds.

This article details his attempt and highlights some of his other feats, most notably his 44 day fast while living in a glass box suspended above London's Thames River. He also lived encased in ice for 62 hours in New York City. This guy will try anything.

While he has accomplished some amazing feats, he became famous in this latest failure. He "prepared" for the big record by living underwater for the previous seven days (assisted by breathing and food tubes). Doctors say this weakened him and lowered his blood pressure. Still, he tried. It's simply mind over matter, right?

A newscaster made this comment after reporting the story: "Doctors say he suffered liver damage. He probably lost a few brain cells, too." His co-newscaster replied, "He was probably short anyway to even consider attempting the stunt."

Personally, I had heard of David Blaine before all the propaganda leading up to "Drowned Alive." When he lived in ice, I only knew the character, not the name. What changed in that time? I watched the TV sitcom "Jake in Progress," where Rick Hoffman plays Patrick Van Dorn, a performance artist who calls David Blaine a fraud.