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- Jun 3, 2008
The Best of Dick Button's Commentary
- Thread starter aftertherain
- Start date
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- Feb 16, 2010
What? We have gotten this far and no one has mentioned "rusty hoot"? ;-)
I still have "Olympic Ice" on a DVD somewhere. My favorite parts were when Dick kissed the female commentator (forgot her name - a tennis or basketball player?) and one segment where he started laughing so hard he couldn't stop.
I still have "Olympic Ice" on a DVD somewhere. My favorite parts were when Dick kissed the female commentator (forgot her name - a tennis or basketball player?) and one segment where he started laughing so hard he couldn't stop.
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- Jun 21, 2003
Isnt there a Marshals after 2006 Olys too? And thank you for all the info!
That was an exhibition. I guess the skaters weren't up to a competition, especially Michelle who did "A Song for You" with no jumps.
That was at 2003 Worlds, during the highlights of Michelle's long program. I kept waiting for it on the video, which had many other clips from that program.
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- Jul 26, 2003
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- Sep 27, 2005
I loved the commentary with Dick, Peggy & Terry Gannon. We were just watching something the other night & they played the same intro music. I got excited and felt like we were about to watch skating, its amazing the emotions/memories music brings out
yes Mary Carillo was the commentator. I loved Olympic Ice, its cracklin good tv
Rusty hoot is my favorite I believe, but the Harding spin is hilarious. Dick always had a great comment about just about everyone
yes Mary Carillo was the commentator. I loved Olympic Ice, its cracklin good tv
Rusty hoot is my favorite I believe, but the Harding spin is hilarious. Dick always had a great comment about just about everyone
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- Sep 14, 2008
This is the funniest one probably:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GklM1M5KnBQ&t=3m10s
Also, that was Miki's best choreographed LP ever if you watch the whole thing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GklM1M5KnBQ&t=3m10s
Also, that was Miki's best choreographed LP ever if you watch the whole thing.
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- Mar 25, 2010
For me this was the most memorable! Lu Meijia SP from the '96 worlds. Fast forward to her final element, the layback spin. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dd34b-Eh7Kk
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- Jul 26, 2003
Not mention of Plushenko, he has "zing" and "pizzazz"
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- Nov 13, 2012
I'll never forget when he explained that some skaters are "fridge break" skaters! I believe he was referring to Angela Nikidinov as she was skating her LP at U.S. Nationals (2000 I believe, but it could have been before that). My mouth hit the floor! Certainly, Angela hadn't developed into the lovely skater she would become by 2001 at that time, so there was some truth to it. I just couldn't believe he said it! Some will love or hate him, but I enjoyed his obvious passion for the sport and his knowledge base. He was like that eccentric/unpredictable grandfather so many of us have/have had.
Let's all remember a few things about good Old Dick Button, and then it will be clear that it is nearly impossible to be critical of him...
Firstly, he was the first person to do a double axel in competition, in 1948, in the Olympics, outside on crappy ice and in the rain, I believe. When he says a double axel is nice, or good, or bad, or whatever, I believe him.
Secondly, he is the first man to do a camel spin in competition. When he says a camel position is good, or bad, or whatever, I believe him.
Another thing, he and his spin coach, Gustav Lussi, invented the camel-hop over change-camel and the flying camel spins. When he says that a flying camel is nice, or bad, or whatever, I believe him.
Another thing, he was the first to do any type of triple, the loop. When he says that a triple loop is nice, or bad or whatever, I believe him.
In short, he is an expert via inventing or being the first to perform many of today's "modern" moves including jumps and spins, an expert from changing the sport and an expert from a life time of experience as a witness to skating history.
Dick Button is, indeed, a skating GOD. I leave you with these Dick comments, maybe a little paraphrased.....
"That's a very attractive layback position....with the exception of the free foot hanging down..."
"This layback ... simply not up to the level of the rest of her skating with a very unattractive free leg position....."
"See how high she is on that toe!!!! That's why that's not a good spin! See, that spin is rocking all over the place!"
"But not her skating ability! This is a posing session..... Carmen seems to fall when the poses occur....."
"The layback ... is in GOOD position ... we have seen so many sloppy ones ....."
Firstly, he was the first person to do a double axel in competition, in 1948, in the Olympics, outside on crappy ice and in the rain, I believe. When he says a double axel is nice, or good, or bad, or whatever, I believe him.
Secondly, he is the first man to do a camel spin in competition. When he says a camel position is good, or bad, or whatever, I believe him.
Another thing, he and his spin coach, Gustav Lussi, invented the camel-hop over change-camel and the flying camel spins. When he says that a flying camel is nice, or bad, or whatever, I believe him.
Another thing, he was the first to do any type of triple, the loop. When he says that a triple loop is nice, or bad or whatever, I believe him.
In short, he is an expert via inventing or being the first to perform many of today's "modern" moves including jumps and spins, an expert from changing the sport and an expert from a life time of experience as a witness to skating history.
Dick Button is, indeed, a skating GOD. I leave you with these Dick comments, maybe a little paraphrased.....
"That's a very attractive layback position....with the exception of the free foot hanging down..."
"This layback ... simply not up to the level of the rest of her skating with a very unattractive free leg position....."
"See how high she is on that toe!!!! That's why that's not a good spin! See, that spin is rocking all over the place!"
"But not her skating ability! This is a posing session..... Carmen seems to fall when the poses occur....."
"The layback ... is in GOOD position ... we have seen so many sloppy ones ....."
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2003
I just didn't like how in later years he became such a bully to his co-commentators. Not so much Terry, but he belittled Peggy. It was uncomfortable - and frustrating to listen to - the only one of the newer commentators who wouldn't just cowtow to it was Kurt who was still respectful but politely disagreed.
Not all the time! Once in response to Peggy being nice to a skater with an unfortunate layback position, Dick proposed marriage ....
And one time, at the 1980 US Nationals he said the following when Elaine Zayak was skating .... "Compare this layback spin to the one you performed Peggy .... there is no comparison ...."
Another time about Peggy in a documentary he said, "Peggy Fleming was unique in that while she was a master at figures, she also was able to combine athleticism and artistry that was unparalleled ..."
Funny, I thought of that one at once, too. I can't remember the skater, but it was someone who had an unfortunate skate, and Peggy came up with a diplomatic piece of supportive praise. It was a lovely moment.
If it was the one in 2005, Michelle did do jumps. That was the one where she did her Totentanz program for the first and only time and I know she did a double axel, at least. I don't remember what she did on the other program (You Raise Me Up, I think??). She may done doubles.
I stand corrected. Which year didn't she jump at all? Was it 2006? There was one year when that happened.
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