Steve Irwin was neither crazy nor reckless, and the one thing he stressed in each and every one of his programs was to never take wild animals for granted, always assume they have the potential to harm or kill you, and not to take unnecessary risks.
He spent his life learning about nature and the creatures within, and he knew that constituted greater risk than the average person will ever know. We've all seen more than a few clips of him interacting with (and sometimes jumping away from) crocodiles, deadly snakes, you name it, and while there was always the element of showmanship about him, he always exercised the maximum amount of caution and in my view, acted responsibly at all times.
Steve Irwin was a good and decent man who loved his family and loved to bring nature into the homes of everyone who saw his programs. He was a credit to every Australian, from all reports he lived an honorable life, and he will be remembered that way, while the snide comments from some regarding his death will be quickly forgotten as swiftly as the writers of those sneers.
Rest in Peace Steve.
Well said, my friend. I truly felt sadness when I heard this on TV this morning.