Dick Button has passed away

[Karina1974]

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

Just ran across this in chapter 3:

Since everyone wants figure skating to he considered a "sport, " why can't skaters wear something skimpy as competitors do in swimming, where the costuming would make a G-string look fat?

 

[Karina1974]

His commentary throughout Rudy's FS was FIRST RATE

Rudy's LP from 1996 Nats is one of my favorite feel-good videos.

 

[Karina1974]

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.

Terry: There's no one in their seats at this point.

DB: INCLUDING ME!!

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[Simone411]

What will be everlasting for me was Dick Button's commentary during Michelle Kwan's LP at 2003 Worlds. He was so excited, and I remember thinking about how much I loved Michelle, too, but he needed to calm down! lol! What really got me was when he said, "I don't give a rusty hoot!" At least I thought he said "rusty hoot". It could have been something else!

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He will definitely be missed. RIP, Dick Buttons. You are a legend.

ETA: Had to change videos. The other one was muted.

 

[nlloyd]

If I recall correctly, he would also talk about a skater's score as "standing them in good stead."

 

[Cachoo]

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

Loved reading and watching all the material about him. Terry Gannon seems ageless. How many years has he been involved? He should write a book about his experiences and the people in figure skating including Uncle Dick.

 

[tony]

Loved reading and watching all the material about him. Terry Gannon seems ageless. How many years has he been involved? He should write a book about his experiences and the people in figure skating including Uncle Dick.

Pretty sure he started in the fall of 1994, but maybe before. He was at the Challenge of Champions at the least.

So quite possibly he just celebrated his 30 years in the sport.

 

[tony]

Looking through my collection, I thought some people may be interested in this 1989 documentary on Gustave Lussi, who was Dick Button's coach (and just about every other champion from the 50s to 70s, as well!). Lots of comments here from Button, Hamill, and others about how Lussi shaped skating to what it now is.

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[SkateGuard]

If I recall correctly, he would also talk about a skater's score as "standing them in good stead."

All of the time ... and still saying it after he retired from commentating:

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[DORISPULASKI]

It is a colder, sadder world today with no Uncle Dick in it.

 

[annie720]

Button's commentary is 100% responsible for my love of figure skating, beginning shortly after Grenoble. How I lived for those maybe three times a year when we in the U.S. were blessed with skating on Wide World of Sports, including North Americans, and it was Dick and Jim McKay in the booth. My memories of his comments mostly had to do with a skater's lines and presentation, or lack thereof. Janet Lynn was so "special" in so many ways, as was Charlie Tickner who could grab your attention with a single axel. Tai and Randy's moves were exceptional due to the fact that they were of a similar size, and such moves were harder for them. Nobody could do pull Arabians like they could. Spirals were everything. Poor Jan Hoffman didn't stand a chance in those days. Dick's comments strongly influenced my opinions on skating for decades, and still do.

RIP, Dick. You were so special.

 

[viennese]

A great skater and legendary sports commentator - he made it cool to love figure skating, to care about the history and progress of the sport, to be a scholar-athlete, and to be smart on TV.

I admire him more for all he did for skating and I'm grateful for every Scrabble word or crossword puzzle answer that I learned listening to his commentary (Cattywampus for the win!)

 

[skateycat]

I loved his commentating on Stephanie Rosenthal's Rockit short program

 

[overedge]

I loved his commentating on Stephanie Rosenthal's Rockit short program

I was just thinking about this today. I remember expecting him to be horrified by something so unusual, but he loved it and said that more skaters should do different things like this.

Here's the link. Everyone should watch this, especially those who weren't old enough to be watching then!

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[Aceon6]

He liked Jill Frost, too. Something we agreed on.

 

[ross_hy]

I watched this video last night and alternated between laughing and feeling sad:

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I also enjoyed this one - a crossover between skating and one of my favorite cartoons:

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I'll also always remember Dick and Tenley Albright leading a reunion of all the American gold medalists at St. Louis Nationals in 2006. I didn't realize at the time how special that moment was.

 

[MaryJo]

If it was mentioned I missed it, but Candid Productions, as well as all the other wonderful thing that were said, is one of the things Dick Button contributed that I am grateful for. The professional skating of the 90s brought me much pleasure and allowed me to meet some wonderful friends in the process. God Speed dear man

 

[Sylvia]

Peggy Fleming has posted her tribute+3 photos on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFmCYdaJhwj

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Vera Wang: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFf4pF1vh0F/

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[freeskate]

Sad news. I enjoyed his skating coverage.

 

[tony]

I've been uploading a lot of stuff lately and while going through '07 Nationals, they went a new direction and included a lot of interactive stuff between segments. One of those was Push Dick's Button, and here he is answering questions from Boitano, Sumners, and Hamilton.

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[LeafOnTheWind]

I'm trying to remember which Olympics had Push Dick's Button along with Moskvina. That was a great add. I still think it was one of the best figure skating fluff additions of all time. I'm pretty sure they got the idea from this. I could be wrong.

 

[tony]

I'm trying to remember which Olympics had Push Dick's Button along with Moskvina. That was a great add. I still think it was one of the best figure skating fluff additions of all time. I'm pretty sure they got the idea from this. I could be wrong.

It was 2006, and yes I think ABC/ESPN saw how well it was received and then reformatted their coverage completely (right before it all went to NBC, sadly).

The ABC production team (all the way down to Doug Wilson directing) added so much more to the coverage than NBC was (and still is) ever able to do IMO.

 

[Sparks]

I'm trying to remember which Olympics had Push Dick's Button along with Moskvina. That was a great add. I still think it was one of the best figure skating fluff additions of all time. I'm pretty sure they got the idea from this. I could be wrong.

2006 "Olympic Ice" was on every afternoon. I never missed it.

 

[Lanie]

I downloaded every episode of Olympic Ice. It was the best. My dad, who worked at ABC involved with broadcasting the 1984 Summer Olympics, raved about it. We'd watch it together every day