Dick Button Misses Point of | Golden Skate

Dick Button Misses Point of

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Ladskater

Guest
Dick Button Misses Point of

I watched the coverage of the Parade of Champions on both ABC and CTV and I have to say the ABC coverage paled in comparison to CTV's coverage. In particular, when Bourne and Kraatz did their program Dick Button and Peggy Flemming never said a word about their program nor did Dick mention anything about B&K's accomplishment in being the first North American ice dance couple to win the World title in ice dance. All he could muster was "how nice for them to end their career with the gold medal." Bourne and Kraatz not only won the gold medal they also broke the stronghold the Russian and European ice dancers have had on the ice dance discipline for years. They paved the way for other North American ice dance couples to be taken seriously by the judges. Anyway, I enjoyed CTV's coverage much better. Debbi Wilkes, Tracy Wilson and Rod Black were gracious to ALL the skaters. Sometimes Dick Button irks me!!

Ladskater


<img src="http://www.tsn.ca/images/stories/20030329/Bourne_kraatz_2200.jpg" style="border:0;"/>
 
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rgirl181

Guest
Re: Dick Button Misses Point of

Lads,
I agree. In this case, some serious gushing was warranted. B&K's accomplishment was huge and should have been acknowledged. I think the rather lackadaisical attitude is probably due to them being ice dancers and non-US skaters.
Rgirl
 
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Joesitz

Guest
Re: Dick Button Misses Point of

Trust me Ladd. The roar of the crowd at the Arena just blasted out when it was announced the Canadians had won the Dance. If ABC couldn't do it (do they ever?), the crowd loved B&K

Joe
 
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mike79

Guest
Re: Dick Button Misses Point of

Hi Lad

I've got a question. I missed the CTV coverage of the Parade of Champions. I was wondering if Elvis was doing commentary with the rest of the group, or was it just Rod, Tracy, and Debi?
 
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Verbalgirl77

Guest
Re: Dick Button Misses Point of

While there may not have been gushing at the Parade of Champions, there was some pretty major gushing after the free skate, at least there was by Susie Wynne on the ESPN rebroadcast last night.
 
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dizzydi7

Guest
Re: hmm

First off, I didn't care for B & K's programs. Not that they didn't deserve to win. I just didn't like their programs nor their costumes. Maybe Dick didn't like them either. So why would he gush?

Secondly, I did hear it mentioned more than once that if B & K won the World Championship they would be the first in North America, etc. Personally, I think it's a huge accomplishment for B & K.

There have been many dance couples from a variety of countries other than those from Russia, Ukraine, etc. over the years who have deserved, if not first place, certainly to stand on the podium at world events. The problem has been with the judging. So in my opinion, although a great accomplishment for B & K, the real breakthrough was the judging which for some strange reason worked in their favor, finally. I do believe with this current "secret" system, this was a lucky draw for B & K. I somehow find it hard to believe that the judging was actually "fair".

Fans of B & K do not read into this that I don't think they deserved first place. I absolutely believe they deserved to win. However, I think they have deserved to win at other events or at the very least place much higher than they were placed because of this block judging fiasco.

Dizzy
 
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mike79

Guest
Re: hmm

Trust me Shine. ABC's coverage pales in comparison to Canadian coverage and to Eurosport coverage.
 
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sk8m8

Guest
Re: hmm

If the thread is about B&K's skate, I think that case has been made.

As for Uncle Dick...
I have notice a marked decline in Mr. B's abilities to verbalize. On the weekend show, I kept wondering if they were editing out Button in the taped segments such as Ice Dance. I feel very sorry for him. He is as irrasible as ever, however his verbal skills aren't nearly as sharp as a few years ago. I know he suffered a head injury while skating. I wonder if it has effected his speech patterns?
 
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Ladskater

Guest
Re: Dick Button Misses Point of

SHINE2002:

I did not care for any of ABCs coverage of the skating. It was not just the B&K coverage; besides "gushing" is not the term I would use - I hate any kind of "gushing" over any skater. I just like to see credit given to an historic moment and Dick really missed this one. B&K are a class act and certainly have all the support of Canada behind them as well as many fans around the world. They certainly would be the last ones to worry about Dick Button and company "gushing" over them. However, it would have been nice for Dick to at least acknowldege the accomplishement.


Ladskater
 
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Ladskater

Guest
Re: Dick Button Misses Point of

dizzydi7:

They won this one fair and square. And yes, they have been "robbed" in the past - due to bad judging. I think this time the judging was right. I loved their OSP, it was beautiful especially when they performed it at the Canadians. One of their best ever. Their long program was not my favorite. I will always love Riverdance the best because I think it shows off their style better and it was a fresh idea. This program had more of a European or Russian feel to it to me. I have seen similar programs from Russian ice dancers; However, Shae and Vic put their own personalities into it and their own style that's what made it so powerful. Also, after years of trying to skate programs that the judges just did not get or like they finally found a formula that worked. It was great.

Ladskater
 
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BronzeisGolden02

Guest
Dick and B/K

Their freedance was lovely as usual, but certainly not B&K's best ever. Was it the best at Worlds? Definitely. Also, I don't believe ice dancing is really a speciality or favorite of Dick's, is it? I could be wrong, I've just never heard him voice much of an opinion when it comes to that discipline (well, besides the judging!). Poor Dick, he rubs so many the wrong way, but I find him to be unique and open. He is aging and has trouble with constructing certain phrases, but I get his point (usually, LOL!).
 
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Ladskater

Guest
Re: Dick Button Misses Point of

BronzieisGolden02:

As a former skater, I have always loved ice dance - not that I was a great ice dancer myself - I actually loved free skating more. I guess I forget there are others who do not get as enthusiastic about ice dance! Neither Peggy nor Dick were ice dancers so I guess it would not have as much meaning to them. My apologies for overreacting.

Ladskater
 
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DORISPULASKI

Guest
Re: Dick Button Misses Point of

I have been rewatching the coverage of the 88 Olympics, which was done by ABC. The ice dance was Dick by himself along with Jim McKay (predecessor in the Terry Gannon role.)
Dick was gushing away about the concept of ice dance in general. He made the point that at the level of the CD's, it just made him want to get out on the ice with a partner and participate.

dpp
 
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rgirl181

Guest
Re: Dick's Verbal Skills

Sk8m8,
I think you have a good point, though an unfortunate one. I've noticed Dick fumphering a lot this year too. Between the head injury and age, I think it's understandable, but it's still frustrating--though probably far more for him than any of us. The guy still has so much to give to the sport, this age and injury is tough for any professional, especially one who has been in the businesss as long as Dick Button. I agree with Mike, though. From the little I've seen of Canadian and European coverage of figure skating, the US has a ways to go.

Lad,
I meant "gush" in a "give sufficient credit and have the proper amount of excitement about it" kind of way. It probably was the wrong word to use though since it tends to have a negative connotation.
Rgirl
 
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Joesitz

Guest
Re: Dick Button Misses Point of

Having been to the Worlds, I could never praise ABC in any department let alone Dance. What they omit from the programming is their belief in viewer interest.is limited to the top well known skaters. Even Ryan was not shown in his LP, but Sarah was. She is a well known skater, obviously. It probably all has to do with revenues for ABC. They more than likely marketed the field on what to show.

I don't know if the Canadian TV showed Joannie Rochet. I should hope so. She skated super and received a super acknowledlgement from the audience. And yes, the audience booed the judges marks - not Joannie!

As for Dick, I do think he is getting a bit long in the tooth. He had a week's work behind him, and I believe he was tired. He did praise B&K profusely during the competition if not during the exhibition. I'm not at all sure we will see him in the 2006 Olys and I wonder about his replacement. Peter just doesn't do it for me -nor Scott - nor Roz - nor other skaters. I don't think Peggy could handle it alone. I do like Terry. He knows sports but he would have problems with the intracies of figure skating.

Maybe when the Ice Channel arrives we will have the coverage we want and hopefully commentators who are up to the job.

By the way, I believe the big difference between LIVE viewing v. TV viewing is that TV is bigger than life but LIVE has the whole scope of the skate. One can watch them cover the ice much better. Notice speed and edges much better, etc.

I'm getting carried away on another topic.

Ladd - If you want to start a B&K Fan Club, we will all join.

Joe
 
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tazban

Guest
Dick Button Misses Point of

As has already been mentioned, it was said several time over the broadcast that B&K was the first N. American team to win dance.

Actually, I think Dick loves dance. He's always gushed about it - about how it's the most beautiful of the disciplines. I think the reason he doesn't talk a lot about it is because he probably doesn't really know the finer technical details.
 
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dizzydi7

Guest
Re: Dick Button Misses Point of

Ladskater,

I also believe B & K won the World title fair and square. My apologies if gave a contrary impression.

Apparently I didn't explain my point well enough regarding the judging. It seems to me that "luck" plays a bigger part than it should in the secret judging system in place. Since a computer randomly selects the scores which are counted, the skaters are subjected to a lottery system of judging. If the computer selects high scores you are lucky, if however, it's your unlucky day, any given skater could get stuck with the low scores. This just doesn't seem a fair judging system to me. And as it has been said, so many times before, does nothing to correct the real judging problem and that is ridding the system of the unethical judges themselves.

Apparently, B & K had luck on their side at this World Championship. Personally, I think the scores were closer than should have been between first and second place. That's what I meant about the "fair" comment. L & A should not have been scored so high, in my opinion.

I hope this explains my comments more clearly.

Dizzy
 
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BronzeisGolden02

Guest
Re: Dick Button Misses Point of

Ladskater,

I don't think you overreacted at all. You love ice dance and I enjoy reading posts from people that know something about that discipline (I know very little about ice dancing). In my mind it seems that Dick was never that interested in ice dancing, and I wanted to be sure I wasn't living in my own little world by thinking that, LOL! But, I agree with you. The fact that they are the first North American team to win this title in the fifty years of it's existence is certainly worth noting.
 
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sarahmistral

Guest
Re: Dick Button Misses Point of

re B&K's skate and placement, I have to say that I get rather bored with ice dance, not because of what is happening on the ice, but rather because teams just climb up the judges' placements year after year. The only way certain teams can get on the podium is by having the team "ahead" of them retire; it just appears set in stone. That said, I enjoy many of the teams who have medaled, Russians or otherwise, but it just seems that B&K were next up for gold--I take the standings as predetermined.; not to say that I don't think they've had several World gold-worthy performances (my favorite was Riverdance), but frankly, there doesn't seem to be much chance of an upset in ice dance in general (please jump in and correct me if I'm mistaken due to not having been watching recently)
 
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