Favorite Dick Button Commentary Moments

[moonvine]

I thought we could share some of our favorites.

This one has it all. An underdog, trying to be the oldest men’s National champion in 70 years. In third place coming into the free, he skated flawlessly. An extended standing ovation, many tears, two perfect 6.0s and Dick Button positively beside himself with glee.

 

[JeanA]

"Peggy, will you marry me?"

 

[Weathergal]

Dick Button's commentary on this skate made it even more memorable. I was thinking of this skate when I watched Nationals the other day because sometimes the memorable skates - and skaters - aren't always the ones at the top of the standings but rather ones who are special in their own way. And I love that Dick, who was seen by some as being critical and demanding, saw the joy in skating and could appreciate an inventive "techno" program not just a "traditional skate to 'Swan Lake'." The video quality's not the greatest, but this is worth a watch for the skater and for Dick's comments.

Stephanie Rosenthal SP 2006 US Nationals: https://youtu.be/eENh7cMpktk?si=_OyMlMYfiELVNdTc

 

[rabidline]

I ended up knowing Dick's commentary for Michelle Kwan because it became an intro to The Runthrough podcast, but it's such an iconic line:

“... and then a FALL off the end of it, which was ABSOLUTELY unnecessary and uncalled for!”

 

[shyne]

“The problem for me is she carries her free leg like it has a mallet on the bottom. It's just clumpy.

 

[CoyoteChris]

Dick talked to us Friend of Figure skating at a breakfast one year. I will paraphrase him closely. "A fall is a fall. No points. Minus one. Anyone can throw themselves into the air and fall...."

 

[Lamente Ariane]

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I immediately thought of this video, which is full of classics (including "absolutely unnecessary and uncalled for")

Edit: and its counterpart, The Dick Button Seal Of Approval

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youtu.be

 

[TontoK]

Good for you, Lucinda Ruh!

 

[Arriba627]

I loved Dick's mocking, bored tone after seeing multiple pairs women grab their blade in an overhead lift. He said, "Gee, I wonder if she'll grab her blade." I think he wanted to be sure everyone knew he didn't like the direction pairs skating had gone.

Met him in Boston when he was signing copies of his book. He was very kind!

 

[theblade]

Always iconic: "He's BAMBOOZLING us - With His HANDS!!!"

 

[DancingCactus]

Since I'm not from the US, I only know snippets of his commentary from random Youtube videos, but of course the bamboozling Plushenko arms I know and love. I probably missed many other great one liners

 

[3T3T]

Good for you, Lucinda Ruh

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youtu.be

 

[iluvtodd]

"Good for you, Lucinda Ruh!"

"Good boy, good boy, good for you, Todd Eldredge" I don't remember which competition this was from (possibly 2002 US Nationals?), but he was always very appreciative of well centered spins and the skaters who did them. During one of the pro-Ams , he mentioned that taking the time to perform those well centered spins is just as hard as doing a triple axel (or something like that).

We got to talk to him @ 2014 National in Boston, MA. He autographed our copy of Push Dick's Button. I also bought some copies of the book for friends, which he happily autographed as well. We thanked him for educating us on so many aspects of the sport.

I can't help but notice that Johnny Weir is using his "stand in good stead" comment a lot while he is commentating this season.

May his memory be for a blessing.

 

[fishing]

Love this one but someone please help me with the context: She preformed right up to the 30th row in the rink. Sadly there were only 20 rows in the building.
I think of this one often when I see skaters go over the top in emoting, which is quite often.

 

[TallyT]

Dick talked to us Friend of Figure skating at a breakfast one year. I will paraphrase him closely. "A fall is a fall. No points. Minus one. Anyone can throw themselves into the air and fall...."

And yet, when nineteen-year-old Yuzuru was copping flak for falling in the 2014 free, Dick made a point to remind people that he had fallen in one of his Olympic wins too, so....

Man was obviously as honest about himself as others.

 

[Magill]

And yet, when nineteen-year-old Yuzuru was copping flak for falling in the 2014 free, Dick made a point to remind people that he had fallen in one of his Olympic wins too, so....

Man was obviously as honest about himself as others.

And can you think of a more noble comment from an athlete on his back to back 2xOGM record finally tied after standing for 66 years?
"Records are made to be tied or broken by other skaters [...] I am very pleased that it was broken by a skater of the quality and character of Yuzuru Hanyu"

 

[Seven Sisters]

Love this one but someone please help me with the context: She preformed right up to the 30th row in the rink. Sadly there were only 20 rows in the building.
I think of this one often when I see skaters go over the top in emoting, which is quite often.

I believe it was Anjelica Krylova that inspired the comment, but as you say, there are others equally deserving of it

 

[labgoat]

Love this one but someone please help me with the context: She preformed right up to the 30th row in the rink. Sadly there were only 20 rows in the building.
I think of this one often when I see skaters go over the top in emoting, which is quite often.

Angelika Krylova performing as Carmen at Worlds

 

[fishing]

Angelika Krylova performing as Carmen at Worlds

That was it! Thank you. Still memorable after all these years.

 

[midori green]

The first thing that pops into my head whenever I hear/think of Dick Button is, "If only she would point her toe." (Probably during a layback spin. His high standards and blunt delivery were amusing to me as a teen skater in the 90s.)