Favorite Dick Button Commentary Moments
- Thread starter moonvine
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2025
Someone on another site posted this fun montage of Dick quotes. I also seem to remember him saying some skater was a "pre-Raphaelite beauty"
youtu.be
- YouTube
Profitez des vidéos et de la musique que vous aimez, mettez en ligne des contenus originaux, et partagez-les avec vos amis, vos proches et le monde entier.
youtu.be
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2007
who was he referring to here?
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2017
The quote was more like "She (Krylova) performs up to the 70th row of the arena, sadly there's only 30 rows."
Always loved Uncle Dick's blunt honesty about the sport.
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
Uncle Dick did not mean it in an offensive way, but he famously referred to a flat performance by Angela Nikidinov as, "a refrigerator break..." 
TSL posted a YouTube video compilation some years ago of Dick Button's greatest quips and enthusiastic moments, which I believe has already been shared above.
My favorite Dick Button moments were some of his Michelle Kwan commentaries; his insistence on proper positioning of the free leg in the layback spin (he always praised Nikidinov's and Sarah Hughes' gorgeous laybacks); his fiery speech against the ISU in 2003 during the failed attempt to separate figure skating from speedskating; and a memorable moment when he became excited about a transcendent skating performance that moved him to make ballet and opera cultural references.
TSL posted a YouTube video compilation some years ago of Dick Button's greatest quips and enthusiastic moments, which I believe has already been shared above.
My favorite Dick Button moments were some of his Michelle Kwan commentaries; his insistence on proper positioning of the free leg in the layback spin (he always praised Nikidinov's and Sarah Hughes' gorgeous laybacks); his fiery speech against the ISU in 2003 during the failed attempt to separate figure skating from speedskating; and a memorable moment when he became excited about a transcendent skating performance that moved him to make ballet and opera cultural references.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2010
My favorite was during an Olympics, I think. He was commentating with his co-host (possibly a female former basketball player? Mary something?). He started giggling and couldn't stop! He was laughing so hard he could barely speak. You couldn't help but laugh, too. I have it somewhere, on videotape or DVD....
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
Oh, I just remembered when Dick commentated one of Johnny Weir's Otonal performances, he compared the way Johnny moved to that of a gazelle and another elegant animal, a lynx, I believe. I don't recall Dick's exact words. Anyway, for some reason, Johnny wasn't thrilled when he heard about it, maybe because he was often unfairly criticized by skating officials for his 'Russian-looking' costumes, etc. Johnny reacted to Dick's comments by expressing his dislike of being compared to animals. 
Perhaps at some point over the years, Dick spoke to Johnny directly to elaborate. In any case, Dick often praised Johnny's performances, so I think Johnny began to appreciate Dick's compliments as well as his critiques. And now, as a broadcaster himself, Johnny surely recognizes even more Dick's overall intentions and enthusiasms as a skating commentator.
Perhaps at some point over the years, Dick spoke to Johnny directly to elaborate. In any case, Dick often praised Johnny's performances, so I think Johnny began to appreciate Dick's compliments as well as his critiques. And now, as a broadcaster himself, Johnny surely recognizes even more Dick's overall intentions and enthusiasms as a skating commentator.
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2007
It was when Totmianina & Marinin skated. His sleeve got caught on her skate and the Lycra stretched and stretched and poor Dick started laughing and could not stop at the embarrassing, yet hilarious problem that ensued. You can see it in video in the first link of post 7
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2013
I think you're thinking of 2006 when he appeared on "Olympic Ice" a daily figure skating show on USA Network hosted by Mary Carillo, a retired tennis player (most notably John McEnroe's mixed doubles partner) turned commentator known for her dry sense of humor.
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2014
Many times, I heard Button complain that he didn't understand [the purpose of or reason for] the pairs move the Death Spiral. Couple of weeks ago I finally learned from Dr. Binocs ( youtube series I watch with my favorite 5-year-old) why it's called that. It's named after a loop ants sometimes get into when following the line of ants. The loop continues, to the doom of the spiralers ... and darned if the cartoon didn't look just like a pairs death spiral!
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
I don't think he deserves a pass on that one. It was a rude comment.Uncle Dick did not mean it in an offensive way, but he famously referred to a flat performance by Angela Nikidinov as, "a refrigerator break..."
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2007
I loved that show.
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2012
One comment I remember vividly because it made me wonder if maybe Uncle Dick was past his time as a technical commentator and should just be a color commentator: "a beautiful spiral is worth more any day than a triple jump!" Gives one pause for thought.
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2007
I'm sure he meant it figuratively. Not everyone can do a spiral like Sasha Cohen.
- Joined
- May 25, 2014
To me it makes sense, since Dick often talked about how spins and step sequences can be just as difficult as jumps. So I take the comment as saying they're just as difficult and just as important - not necessarily that IJS has them valued that way.
One of my favorite Dick Buttonisms is when he would talk about something a skater did as being "first rate." You knew from him it was coming from genuine respect and not "commentator fluff."
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2020
Japanese media and social media are also full of Dick Button's memorials today, partly sparked by Yuzuru's RIP message, and partly because their names are tied together by the double Olympic golds. Dick Button was very enthusiastic about Yuzu since Sochi, and he saw him as someone truly special and different from the rest of the field, and many of his quotes are being reposted today in Japan. On this wave, someone reposted a piece of handwritten advice given by Dick to Yuzu via Japanese journalists as the latter was preparing to his second Olympics and an attempt to win the gold again. What did the great champion of the past say to the young and reigning one?
"To Yuzuru. Enjoy the Olympic experience! Relax and have fun!"
"To Yuzuru. Enjoy the Olympic experience! Relax and have fun!"
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2008
I miss his commentary so much. He brought eloquence, excitement, bravery, and honesty. All things we get basically none of anymore. Although there isn't much to comment on these days, since it's futile to constantly talk about how soulless the programs have become.
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2022
I hate the relentless negativity of the German commentator and usually watch the ISU stream, but yesterday Chris' hyper positive politeness also got on my nerves. You'd have thought you were watching one Michelle Kwan after another. A bit of Dick Button honesty and personality wouldn't go amiss...
