Dick Button has passed away

[paskatefan]

May your memory be for a blessing,"Uncle" Dickie! Time to reread "Push Dick's Button."

 

[pollyanna]

So I thought I had cried all my tears yesterday, and then this news came. I watched Dick Button from the time he was a commentator in 1968-9 until he retired. He taught me almost everything I know about figure skating. There isn't a competition that I watch that I don't think of his commentary from the past. A true icon and great contributor to the sport of figure skating. He will be much missed. Thank you Dick Button, and may you RIP.

 

[snoopysnake]

More than anyone else, Mr. Button, YOU have left the sport different and better just because you were in it.

 

[Coco]

Once during commentary he shared that his farther told him (and I'm paraphrasing) "even if you're shoveling sand into the tide, do it well." The gist of the comment was that even if something was impossible, give it 110%. Don't stop trying even when you know the outcome will not be what you want.

It has always stuck with me.

 

[Vash01]

Dick Button was a hero in so many ways! Twice an Olympic champion, commentator for generations, and an inspiration to so many! He lived a good life. R.I.P.

 

[Sylvia]

Terry Gannon narrated a wonderful tribute to Dick Button during E!'s live broadcast of the Euros Women's free skates today:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFgGC68vZeY/

https://twitter.com/x/status/1885407818468987142

 

[JamieElena]

What an overwhelming two days it has been. I shared this on my FB yday and I may have shared this story here in the past, but I think many here will enjoy hearing it again. Some may have even been there and if my recollection doesn't precisely match yours, please feel free to correct as my memory ain't what used to be these days.

My favorite Dick Button story happened at my first Grand Prix event in 2006 - Skate America, held in Hartford, CT. Early in the week, during the women's SP practice, I was sitting in the section next to the kiss & cry, where the skaters enter & exit the ice. Besides me, there were a handful of other fans as well as the ABC/ESPN commentating team - Dick Button, Peggy Fleming & Terry Gannon - as well as their staffers who gather intel on the competitors. It was a small section and when there wasn't music playing, we could all hear each other's conversations. Michelle Cantu of Mexico skated by and Dick called her over & complimented her skating, she beamed. Emily Hughes was there and her short program was set to music from the opera 'Carmen' - a piece of music that many skating fans considered 'overused' in skating. Dick watched her for a bit and then commented something like, "why is she smiling? someone should tell her Carmen doesn't smile." His coworkers laughed and us fans in the section chuckled to ourselves. Then he said, "why does everyone choose Carmen? Hundreds of pieces of music out there and they still come back to Carmen? Didn't someone say that once?" And I kid you not, every one of us in that section, including the staffers, turned to him and collectively said, "Yes, YOU DID," and all busted out laughing so hard!

to all my fellow skating fans.

 

[Spiralgraph]

Dick was the best commentator ever truthful and occasionally hard to take when his critiques grew too harsh. I'll miss his commentary and his love for skating. I learned practically all I know about skating from him. RIP

 

[kedrin]

The skaters come and go, but Dick was everpresent.

 

[Johnny_Fever]

You know how there was always some non-skater doing commentary with Dick. On one occasion, the non-skater said, "I understand this couple is romantically involved as well." Dick's response was something like, "Oh really? I'm so happy to have that information."


Now that you mention it Dick, it is kind of interesting.

 

[SkateGuard]

A little trove of some of my favourite Buttonisms:

"Good for you, Lucinda Ruh!"

"If that doesn't put the fanizzle in her shanizzle, nothing will!"

"First rate, first rate!"

"I don't give a rusty hoot!"

"He bamboozled us with his hands!"

"Whatever that was supposed to be, it wasn't!"

"Well... that was adequate."

"Every skater goes through a thousand CDs until they find the music that they want... and all too often they end up with Carmen."

"I'm not quite sure about those arm movements."

"It was completed. It just wasn't completed well."

"I'm fine! I'm here and wreaking havoc as usual."

"Looking spiffy!"

"That will put them in good stead."

"Look at the swash in that swashbuckling!"

"They're doing the same moves over and over and over because that's what they get the points for. There isn't enough emphasis put on the performance level - the elegance level, the music, the interpretation."

"Try getting out there on an 8th of an inch wide blade doing 3 1/2 or 4 revolutions and landing all to the beat of the music, all in the eyes of the judges and in front of 10,000 people. It's a tough scene!"

"And then a fall on the end of it... which was absolutely unnecessary and uncalled for!"

"This layback is really almost a third-rate position!"

"Her back is so straight you could iron a shirt on it and it would come out perfectly every time!"

"If it's a sit spin, it should be in the sitting position... not sort of perching on the edge of the chair."

"Oh, good! Another catch foot!"

"That back inside edge is a very treacherous one!"

"Was there a program? No, there wasn't. There were jumps and arm movements."

"Turn your foot out, my dear!"

"That's certainly not Christopher Dean's work!"

"Skating is also blessed with being the only form of movement where you can move without moving."

"There's jump in that jump. Where is the jump? The jump is there!"

"Her soufflé unsouffléd!"

"See how high she is on that toe? That's not a good spin! Look where is up there, that spin is rocking all over the place!"

"Now, isn't she the quintessential Pre-Raphaelite heroine?"

"Oh, she popped her triple into a single and had trouble on her Axel landing but who cares? Isn't she wonderful?"

"Like the fashion guru Diana Vreeland once said: 'A little bit of bad taste is like a splash of paprika.'"

"Puccini cries out for spirals... but really good ones."

"I do find some of the costumes over the top. You almost feel you've been trapped in the Metropolitan Opera House Costume Department."

"See that sitting position? That's terrible! If she sticks her can out as if she's (pardon the expression) going to the toilet, that's really terrible!"

"Now that... was an angry tango!"

"See? That's not beautiful. That's just cut-cut-back. You have to be kind to the ice. You have to caress the ice. Skating is all about flow, edging, the beauty of the motion."

"He has a wonderful kind of flair, very much in the style of the 19th-Century Romantic poet Byron might have been. He's kind of Byronic, isn't he?"

"I think a composer like Tchaikovsky has a better idea what the natural length of a piece should be than some doctor or accountant sitting on the ISU board."

 

[dewey]

I have his book on my tablet. High time I got to reading it.

It’s fun. It’s written like you’re hanging out with him chatting.

 

[LilJen]

The Dick Button Seal of Approval

Appreciating everyone's stories and comments. Someone posted USFS's instagram post upthread, and there were several comments to the effect that the young skaters who were tragically lost in the plane crash needed a new coach to guide them.

 

[kwanette]

The Dick Button Seal of Approval

Appreciating everyone's stories and comments. Someone posted USFS's instagram post upthread, and there were several comments to the effect that the young skaters who were tragically lost in the plane crash needed a new coach to guide them.

TY for posting the video..It made me smile..

 

[Johnny_Fever]

I attended a Nationals back in the '70s, and Dick did a little "routine" with one of the male champions of the day. Charlie Tickner maybe? I don't remember. Dick was on the arena PA system and Charlie was on the ice. Dick said something like, "If skaters want to do something interesting, they might do an axel." Charlie would then demonstrate a nice big delayed axel. Dick said, "Now if you want to really challenge yourself, you can do a double axel." Charlie would then do a double axel. Dick said, "Now if you want to be a bloody fool, you might try a triple axel." Charlie would then, after some drama and hesitation, do a triple axel. All of this got lots of laughs and applause from the audience.

Keep in mind, triple axels were still a big deal in the '70s. Hell, I could barely do a double.

 

[skateboy]

As a skater, Dick Button was a pioneer and a trailblazer.

As a commentator, he had a peculiar yet likeable way about him, very intelligent, always describing things in succinct detail. It was always fun to watch him get really excited about something i.e., Tonya Harding's triple axel, Rudy Galindo's winning Nats program. And it was equally fun when he got snarky about skaters he did NOT like.

Dick Button was never boring. RIP.

 

[Johnny_Fever]

As a skater, Dick Button was a pioneer and a trailblazer.

As a commentator, he had a peculiar yet likeable way about him, very intelligent, always describing things in succinct detail. It was always fun to watch him get really excited about something i.e., Tonya Harding's triple axel, Rudy Galindo's winning Nats program. And it was equally fun when he got snarky about skaters he did NOT like.

Dick Button was never boring. RIP.

Fleming, by comparison, would say generic things that could apply to any skater. She didn't do her homework.

 

[Sparks]

We've come here to celebrate Dick Button, not to bash Peggy

 

[Vagabond]

"Those were very harsh marks. They were the correct marks, but harsh."

"He’s always been a skater who tried different moves, different positions, different entrances, different -- Different is what he's always done, and that's really refreshing to see."

"Midori Ito has been compared to a Duracell battery -- unlimited energy -- a high-beamed smile -- simply an extraordinary jumper."

"Now look at the entrance to this double axel: it's apparent that she is going to do a double lutz but doesn't!"

 

[Johnny_Fever]

In Halifax I listened to some of Toller Cranston's commentary, when I wasn't actually in the arena. Like Dick, Toller could be refreshingly outspoken. Oops! Changed the subject again.

 

[overedge]

In Halifax I listened to some of Toller Cranston's commentary, when I wasn't actually in the arena. Like Dick, Toller could be refreshingly outspoken. Oops! Changed the subject again.

If you know you're derailing the discussion, then don't do it.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

A little trove of some of my favourite Buttonisms:

"Good for you, Lucinda Ruh!"

"If that doesn't put the fanizzle in her shanizzle, nothing will!"

"First rate, first rate!"

"I don't give a rusty hoot!"

"He bamboozled us with his hands!"

"Whatever that was supposed to be, it wasn't!"

"Well... that was adequate."

"Every skater goes through a thousand CDs until they find the music that they want... and all too often they end up with Carmen."

"I'm not quite sure about those arm movements."

"It was completed. It just wasn't completed well."

"I'm fine! I'm here and wreaking havoc as usual."

"Looking spiffy!"

"That will put them in good stead."

"Look at the swash in that swashbuckling!"

"They're doing the same moves over and over and over because that's what they get the points for. There isn't enough emphasis put on the performance level - the elegance level, the music, the interpretation."

"Try getting out there on an 8th of an inch wide blade doing 3 1/2 or 4 revolutions and landing all to the beat of the music, all in the eyes of the judges and in front of 10,000 people. It's a tough scene!"

"And then a fall on the end of it... which was absolutely unnecessary and uncalled for!"

"This layback is really almost a third-rate position!"

"Her back is so straight you could iron a shirt on it and it would come out perfectly every time!"

"If it's a sit spin, it should be in the sitting position... not sort of perching on the edge of the chair."

"Oh, good! Another catch foot!"

"That back inside edge is a very treacherous one!"

"Was there a program? No, there wasn't. There were jumps and arm movements."

"Turn your foot out, my dear!"

"That's certainly not Christopher Dean's work!"

"Skating is also blessed with being the only form of movement where you can move without moving."

"There's jump in that jump. Where is the jump? The jump is there!"

"Her soufflé unsouffléd!"

"See how high she is on that toe? That's not a good spin! Look where is up there, that spin is rocking all over the place!"

"Now, isn't she the quintessential Pre-Raphaelite heroine?"

"Oh, she popped her triple into a single and had trouble on her Axel landing but who cares? Isn't she wonderful?"

"Like the fashion guru Diana Vreeland once said: 'A little bit of bad taste is like a splash of paprika.'"

"Puccini cries out for spirals... but really good ones."

"I do find some of the costumes over the top. You almost feel you've been trapped in the Metropolitan Opera House Costume Department."

"See that sitting position? That's terrible! If she sticks her can out as if she's (pardon the expression) going to the toilet, that's really terrible!"

"Now that... was an angry tango!"

"See? That's not beautiful. That's just cut-cut-back. You have to be kind to the ice. You have to caress the ice. Skating is all about flow, edging, the beauty of the motion."

"He has a wonderful kind of flair, very much in the style of the 19th-Century Romantic poet Byron might have been. He's kind of Byronic, isn't he?"

"I think a composer like Tchaikovsky has a better idea what the natural length of a piece should be than some doctor or accountant sitting on the ISU board."

What about her arms are flailing

Set about many skaters, but particularly Irina.

 

[Johnny_Fever]

If you know you're derailing the discussion, then don't do it.

What's wrong overedge? Your real life is lacking, so you want to lord over others on a message board?

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I don’t know how Peggy is doing these days, but I was thinking how wonderful it would be if NBC invited her up to the broadcast booth and she was able to do it and also willing to … and see her back with Terry and comment one more time in memory of Dick on the women’s figure skating event.

 

[overedge]

What's wrong overedge? Your real life is lacking, so you want to lord over others on a message board?

Maybe you should ask yourself why you need to continually post irrelevant and demeaning comments.

 

[peibeck]

With all the insanityvI have going on at work right now I somehow missed this news.

RIP legend and the original king of ice skating snark. We are not worthy!!!

 

[Prancer]

What's wrong overedge? Your real life is lacking, so you want to lord over others on a message board?

What is lacking in YOUR "real" life that you think this kind of thing is fun?

 

[AYS]

Why would someone feel the need to troll a thread that’s in remembrance of Dick Button? Wtf Like we need that right now

 

[livetoskate]

As a skater, Dick Button was a pioneer and a trailblazer.

As a commentator, he had a peculiar yet likeable way about him, very intelligent, always describing things in succinct detail. It was always fun to watch him get really excited about something i.e., Tonya Harding's triple axel, Rudy Galindo's winning Nats program. And it was equally fun when he got snarky about skaters he did NOT like.

Dick Button was never boring. RIP.

One of Dick's funniest moments was when he went bonkers over Rudy Galindo doing a triple axel-triple toe in his winning 1996 free skate. I still remember Dick yelling some noise like, "ARGAHH! That-that's the best move!" It was great hearing his enthusiasm throughout Rudy's performance.

 

[Sparks]

One of Dick's funniest moments was when he went bonkers over Rudy Galindo doing a triple axel-triple toe in his winning 1996 free skate. I still remember Dick yelling some noise like, "ARGAHH! That-that's the best move!" It was great hearing his enthusiasm throughout Rudy's performance.

His commentary throughout Rudy's FS was FIRST RATE