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3:34:00 PM EST
Bad Boy of Skating!
February 19, 2006
Let’s discuss the bad boy of figure skating…No, not Johnny Weir.
Mr. Dick Button!
I can’t tell you how many comments I have received over the last week on how many people have a strong opinion about the voice of figure skating…both in support and criticism. From—“I feel like he’s giving me the inside scoop on the skaters”--to “will someone please put a muzzle on that guy!”
My opinion is…he adds color to an already colorful sport. You may not agree with what he is saying…but what he says…certainly gets people talkin’.
Although some may say that saying things like “this is the type of skater that makes you want to get up from the sofa and get something out of the refrigerator …” as Button has said…is a little harsh. Or my favorite…At the start of the MEN’S SHORT program years ago at the National Championships…Dick said “We are going to be seeing some exciting things coming outof the men’s SHORTS tonight!”
Where would figure skating be without a little controversy and off the wall quotes? I love to hear what he’s gonna say next!
And what a contrast from Scott Hamilton to Dick Button! Where Dick tends to point out the shortcomings and the mistakes…Scott takes you right into the heart and soul of the skater. Yelling, cheering, and jumping out of his seat as a skater hits a big element….And the emotions of disappointment when a skater comes up short. His passion and spirit make you feel as if he is out there feeling the emotions of the skater.
So you have both ends of the spectrum covered…the flair and criticism of Dick combined with spirit and passion of Scott. I think a nice combo for viewers.
On a personal note…I can’t complain about how the way Dick has spoken about me. Throughout my career, he has been nothing but supportive of my skating. So, thank you for sparing me! But, some other skater’s have not been so lucky.
So…Dick, if you read this...please keep speaking your mind…
…oh yeah……AND continue being nice to me!
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I have watched the skating events for many years. I find Dick Button to be a condesending, poor mannered individual. Hopefully he will be too old to return to the next Olympics. Who died and made him God? Sure he illicts comments but who needs him? Bring on Scott Hamilton. What a ray of sunshine.
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The skaters were wonderful! When they fell, I hurt. When they made a mistake, I flinched. When they did well, I cheered. When Dick Buttons opened his mouth I pressed mute and threw pillows at the television. That man never had a nice thing to say. Everything was negative. He has no business covering the Olympics. Dick was a black cloud over the skating events - thanks bud! Thank God for Scott Hamilton - a ray of sunshine in the Button storm.
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Mr. Button is miserable! He compared those delightful ice dancers to ROSANNE BARR just because they DARED to skate to Bolero!! Torvill and Dean don't own that music! and it wasn't even the same rendition. What a jerk! And he has NO CONCEPT of what any of these skaters are going thru. When he skated in the middle of the LAST CENTURY (!!) there was nowhere near the media coverage, pressure or even the difficulty of competition requirements that these skaters have. He really has no frame of reference and really no expertise in this sport anymore at all. Time to retire, old man!!
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I've thought for a long time that Dick's perfomance as commentator was going downhill--but reached a new low with his call on Sasha Cohen's long program in Torino. First by saying that he would take her performance for its artistic merit despite two thud-on-her-knees falls--then by wondering aloud how much of an impact her strained muscle had. Hello? This is an athlete who for all her potential has not put together two completely clean programs per competition for, oh, about five or six YEARS! I'm saving my sympathy for Michelle and Irina, the true class acts of their generation. And congrats to Ms. Arakawa who did skate two clean, elegant and highly difficult performances where it counted.
3/7/06 8:28 PM