Worlds on ESPN

[Tonichelle]

i especially loved it when peggy said she liked yuna's layback, and dick disagreed. dick then said he better put on his glasses, and peggy said, it would be hard.
lol. throwdown between peggy and dick?

that was great, she finally stood up to him... normally she just lets him berate her and then changes her mind and bows to him and says he's right. She needs to stick up for herself more often, the wimpy Peggy annoys me.

what got me was, IIRC, he never had a problem with Michelle Kwan's 'low leg' laybacks. Why the change now?

Dick's bias is just getting ridiculous.

 

[bekalc]

My feelings are Yu-na could work on pointing her toes/positions. Mao's positions are definetly better.

I think that Yu-na should stick with the types of spins she does in the long. She does those spins well, (and they have nice positions) The upside down camel especially is something special. Why not use it in every program? Plus not doing a Bielman and a Y- spin actually makes her look "special" funnily enough. Michelle Kwan was never the most flexible person either, and she did just fine.

As for her spiral. Aside quite frankly from one position, I think the other positions are fine. She's never going to be a Sasha flexiblity person. But she lands more jumps than Sasha anyways.

I will say that Mao definetly has better positions/better stretch. But I still think that musicality was/expression Yu-na's better. And really Yu-na does have lovely arms.

Still did Dick complain about Kostner's positions. Because I don't they are really better. Nor are Ashley's.

what got me was, IIRC, he never had a problem with Michelle Kwan's 'low leg' laybacks. Why the change now?

I think someone should mention it to him. Good ole Dick needs to remember as well that it's not like Yu-na (until recently) had access to the best coaches. I must say that I didn't even notice the leg position until it was mentioned. And yeah, that needs work, (I hope Orser works on it) But, you know what, Yu-na's arm positions in her lay back are quite lovely.

 

[gourry]

I must say that I didn't even notice the leg position until it was mentioned. And yeah, that needs work, (I hope Orser works on it) But, you know what, Yu-na's arm positions in her lay back are quite lovely.

That's the whole point! You didn't even notice it before but now it bugs you thanks for Dick.
When I hear his commentary on spins, I feel like leg position is the only and the most important thing that matters which is of course not true.

Some prefer Mao's spiral because it's more stretchy. Some prefer Yuna's because it is speedy and edgy. It should be the matter of personal taste. But he gives his preference of good position and good spiral as if it is the definition. And that affects people's perception. That really bugs me. Why doesn't he just let the viewers decide what is beautiful to them?

But then again, most of the people here probably have experienced Dick more years than I, and maybe that is the way he is. Well... Do they have any plan to have anyone else as a commentator?

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Was ESPN 360 used?

Joe

 

[fourclover]

That's the whole point! You didn't even notice it before but now it bugs you thanks for Dick.
When I hear his commentary on spins, I feel like leg position is the only and the most important thing that matters which is of course not true.

Some prefer Mao's spiral because it's more stretchy. Some prefer Yuna's because it is speedy and edgy. It should be the matter of personal taste. But he gives his preference of good position and good spiral as if it is the definition. And that affects people's perception. That really bugs me. Why doesn't he just let the viewers decide what is beautiful to them?

But then again, most of the people here probably have experienced Dick more years than I, and maybe that is the way he is. Well... Do they have any plan to have anyone else as a commentator?

Totally agree. I didn't know what he was talking about when I first saw Yu-na last year. Now, the one thing that stands out when I watch her is her "ugly" leg postion and lack of stretch in her spirals. From the way he talks you'd think Alyssa Czisny is the textbook - and I don't enjoy her staggering, stumbling skating style at all.

 

[Wrlmy]

Totally agree. I didn't know what he was talking about when I first saw Yu-na last year. Now, the one thing that stands out when I watch her is her "ugly" leg postion and lack of stretch in her spirals. From the way he talks you'd think Alyssa Czisny is the textbook - and I don't enjoy her staggering, stumbling skating style at all.

She does have the most ideal spins and spiral out of current ladies. Especially her spiral not only has great position but also has great speed. Usually many ladies lack either stretch or speed if not both. Also to be fair, Dick never praised her for falling

 

[fourclover]

She does have the most ideal spins and spiral out of current ladies. Especially her spiral not only has great position but also has great speed. Usually many ladies lack either stretch or speed if not both. Also to be fair, Dick never praised her for falling

But Alyssa has the worst transitions and skating abilities in my view. She doesn't "flow" like Yu-na; she "goes" then "stops", goes then stops, then she falls, stop, go a little, stop, fall, etc. It's really frustrating to watch her (and Caroline Zhang honestly - soooo slooooow) and meanwhile, I have to listen to old DICK gushing at how "beautiful" her stretch is and how "ethereal" (he's joking right?) Alyssa is AS IF that's what skating is ALL about. Really frustrating.

 

[SkatingAnalyst]

Yu-Na's free leg position in lay back spin is NATURAL and BEAUTIFUL. period

I don't agree to every thing OLD DICK says.

 

[turtle]

Yu-Na's free leg position in lay back spin is NATURAL and BEAUTIFUL. period

I don't agree to every thing OLD DICK says.

I don't see what value he adds to the broadcasting as a commentator He is full of double standards in several different ways. He is partial to skaters from the US and his very few other favorites of non-US nationality (Even though I dearly loved Irina Slutskaya I was tired of Dick repetitively commenting on her cheeks) (I know everybody is partial to his/her favorites but you should try to keep it to yourself if you're a commentator). As another poster pointed out, he is also not consistent in his criticism. Besides, although I appreciate and enjoy the artistic aspect of figure skating, this is after all sports and they shouldn't apply different rules to men and ladies. I don't see people talking about pointing toes regarding male skaters. Many times I can't help but think that female skaters gifted with a good look and a pretty body (mind you not necessarily an athletic body) seem to receive more favorable judging than others who, otherwise, have a comparable level of skating skills. That seems to apply more to ladies than men. But then, it is well documented that people with a good look have lots of advantages in life (promotion, job offer, etc.).

 

[Ms.Anthrope]

Dick definitely has his favorites, and the older he gets the worse he gets at hiding it. He's always drooled over skaters with "balletic" style with pointed toes with extreme flexibility. Who cares if she she can't jump as long as the leg on the layback spin is to his liking and she can show off her flexibility.

I live in the same town that Peggy lives in and occasionally run into her around town. Earlier last year after the Worlds, I was standing next to her at the deli section of the grocery store, and I just couldn't resist asking her a question. "So, what is the deal with Dick Button & his obsession over pointed toes, leg position on layback spin and flexibility?" I didn't quite put it like that, but to Peggy's credit, she just chuckled and said something like everyone has his preference and you just can't argue with some people. She was very nice & diplomatic about it, but I was hoping for her to go off on Dick.

 

[bekalc]

In fairness, Dick was a lot nicer about Yu-na today. Enjoying her performance, flow, and he loved her jumps. He thought she should have beaten Kostner. Apparently, he loves Yu-na's jumps.

The Eurosport people also didn't care for Yu-na's spins in the short. I suspect with Yu-na being in pain, that she wasn't her best at all in that short. I also think that Yu-na is better off, sticking with the types of spins she does in her long.

 

[zephyrskates]

i had tears in my eyes when terry brought up the 46th, not sure when the 47th yaer of coverage will be.
my heart was breaking when the commentators were saying their goodbye.
it's just sad to think that ABC (or ESPN) will not be broadcasting figure skating anymore.
i hate to admit it, but i will miss peggy, terry, peter and even dick.

 

[CalebsMom]

I think it's definitely about time for ESPN/ABC to lose Dick Burton as they honored, ironically enough, his 46 years of work with them today. (Or he's gotta unlearn and relearn how to read protocols at the very least.) On top of that, I'm so sick of his "pointed-foot" fetish. It's so blah~~~

 

[bekalc]

I think it's definitely about time for ESPN/ABC to lose Dick Burton as they honored, ironically enough, his 46 years of work with them today. (Or he's gotta unlearn and relearn how to read protocols at the very least.) On top of that, I'm so sick of his "pointed-foot" fetish. It's so blah~~~

True, but I agree with him about Kostner. Those jumps were terrible. And honestly it was messy. I'll take one fall like Mao's and one popped jump like Yu-na's over a mess of a program like that.

 

[Ms.Anthrope]

The Eurosport people also didn't care for Yu-na's spins in the short. I suspect with Yu-na being in pain, that she wasn't her best at all in that short. I also think that Yu-na is better off, sticking with the types of spins she does in her long.

Didn't someone say that Yu-Na felt pain right after her 3T-3T combo in her SP? I've been a Mao fan until this year when I really started to appreciate Yu-Na's technique. I'm impressed that she skated the way she did with her hip injury and really look forward to her skating HOPEFULLY healthy next year.

 

[mizu_iro]

I am SO SAD that ESPN/ABC will no longer be carrying Worlds...you may all complain about Dick's obsession with pointed toes, but he is much, much better than Scott Hamilton and Sandra Bezic, and at least he's not afraid to say what he means.

Especially after the scores came out for Yu-Na and Yukari and he discovered they hadn't beaten Carolina's hot mess of a program

 

[fourclover]

Just finished watching ladies LP on ESPN and Dick said, "point your toe my dear" when Yu-na was doing her spirals. I hadn't really seen Carolina's skating or Yukari's until now and I see why everyone's bashing judges' placements. I mean even nice Peggy was pointing out mistakes Caro made. And Yukari, I thought her LP scores should have been somewhere between Yu-na and Mao. Dick did mention at the end about the points given to Carolina Kostner that stopped Yukari's medaling. Maybe it should have been Mao, Yu-na and Yukari, I don't know. I thought Caro actually did the best program she's ever done with that number - remember her disastrous falls at CoC.

 

[Ms.Anthrope]

I am SO SAD that ESPN/ABC will no longer be carrying Worlds...you may all complain about Dick's obsession with pointed toes, but he is much, much better than Scott Hamilton and Sandra Bezic, and at least he's not afraid to say what he means.

Especially after the scores came out for Yu-Na and Yukari and he discovered they hadn't beaten Carolina's hot mess of a program

I agree with you. I do like Dick because he does sound mean/honest sometimes, but it does get irksome when he focuses on one thing & just won't let go. However, I will take Dick over Scott Hamilton & Sandra Bezic any day.

 

[london_calling]

I would take Dick's commentary over Scott Hamilton and Sandra Bezic's any day. Both chatter so much about things that have nothing to do with the performance.

 

[Medusa]

I always thought that he was fun to listen to etc. and could accept some, well, strange habits. But then I watched some old programs a few weeks ago, among them a LP from Urmanov - and I don't think that I can ever listen to him again without thinking of his comment throughout that LP. He was really bashing Urmanov, for the costume, for the balletic style, for "superficiality", for his flamboyance - it was horrible. That probably destroyed my image of Dick Button forever.

That said, the bits of the coverage I have seen so far were very enjoyable and I don't mind Button complaining about Yu-Na's toes (it bugs me too...).