Dick Button's Classic Comment
Fiona McQuarrie
I got a copy of Magic Memories on Ice for my birthday (it's great, 2
thumbs up), but I really wish technology was advanced enough to wipe
out the stupid blather of the ABC commentators. If anything at all
can be said about all the different commentators that are heard (Jim
McKay, Peggy Fleming, Dick Button) it's that their level of inanity
has remained constant throughout the years.
I just about DIED at the end of the Torvill and Dean "Bolero" when
the audience is shrieking, T&D are practically in tears, and Dick
says:
"Well, it was not too difficult and not too many changes, but it was
nice."
Not too difficult?!?! All I could think was, I'm really glad I watched the
original broadcast on Canadian TV. If I'd been watching ABC I might have
put my foot through the screen.
Cheers, Fiona
Katie Enright
I couldn't believe Dick Button's "Bolero" comment either, but what I
noticed most was the fact that Dick was completely *silent* during T&D's
performance. Jayne & Chris have accomplished many great things during
their career so far, and I think shutting Dick Button up for 4 1/2
minutes has to rank right up there <g>.
Katie Enright
kenr...@mail.utexas.edu
mcqu...@sfu.ca (Fiona McQuarrie) wrote regarding the "Magic Memories on
Ice" video:
Valerie Stark
In article <575a3g$s...@geraldo.cc.utexas.edu>,
Katie Enright <kenr...@mail.utexas.edu> wrote:
>I couldn't believe Dick Button's "Bolero" comment either, but what I
>noticed most was the fact that Dick was completely *silent* during T&D's
>performance. Jayne & Chris have accomplished many great things during
>their career so far, and I think shutting Dick Button up for 4 1/2
>minutes has to rank right up there <g>.
>
>Katie Enright
>kenr...@mail.utexas.edu
>
I was very pleased when Rudy Galindo reduced Dick Button to stammering
incoherency with his performance at Nationals. For once I felt like it
was a genuine, unrehearsed reaction. I don't like his commentary much,
but after listening to Carruthers for so long, I'm starting to miss
Button... get Carruthers back out on the ice where he belongs! For that
matter, can we get Dick Button to do an exhibition at the next Legends?
I'd watch it even if he didn't jump at all...
Val
HILL JANET SWAN
>I was very pleased when Rudy Galindo reduced Dick Button to stammering
>incoherency with his performance at Nationals.
It's also one of my favorite "Button moments"
>Button... get Carruthers back out on the ice where he belongs! For that
>matter, can we get Dick Button to do an exhibition at the next Legends?
>I'd watch it even if he didn't jump at all...
Me too. I'd love to see an ensemble of oodles of skating greats who are
still around, though not skating any more. They wouldn't have to do much.
But just imagine a stately precision number that included, even if you
only "indulged in" US skaters:
Dick Button
Tenley Albright
Carol Heiss Jenkins
Hayes Allen Jenkins
David Jenkins
Peggy Fleming
Linda Fratianne
Janet Lynn
Ronald and Cynthia Kaufmann
David Santee
Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner
JoJo Starbuck and Ken Shelley
Tim Wood
John Mischa Petkevitch
Scott Ethan Allen
Wayne and Natalie Seybold
Christopher Bowman
Ludy Blumberg and Michael Siebert
I know, some of these people are still skating, lots are coaching, but
SOME haven't been seen "in public on ice" for a long time.
janet
hil...@colorado.edu
David N. Smith
In article <5752jl$l...@morgoth.sfu.ca> Fiona McQuarrie, mcqu...@sfu.ca
writes:
>I just about DIED at the end of the Torvill and Dean "Bolero" when
>the audience is shrieking, T&D are practically in tears
and the judges even loved it. How often do the audience and the judges
agree 100 percent? How often (at least in that time frame) did you ever
see a row of 6.0's!
Sometimes I root for Button. At the last worlds, Terry Gannon (or
whatever that talking head's name is) made some comment that was idiotic
even for him and I had this great urge to stuff an old sock down his
throat. Moments later Dick Button skewered him. Yeah, Dick!
But, his continuous back position comments from the same Worlds are still
a running joke between my wife and I. Every time we hear a comment about
how nice someone's back position is, one of us just has to say "but it's
easy with that leg position".
But my favorite moments are those where he blubbers -- so excited or
amazed or flustered he can't talk. It should happen more often.
The sad thing about Button is that he has the knowledge, experience,
reputation and even voice to be a superb ice skating commentator. I've
learned a lot from listening to him, in between the times I'd like to
stuff a sock down HIS throat. Stupid comments from Gannon are to be
expected. One shouldn't hear them from a Button.
Dave
_____________________________________________
David N. Smith
IBM T J Watson Research Center, Hawthorne, NY
Mailto: dns...@watson.ibm.com
Home Page: http://www.dnsmith.com/
_____________________________________________
Any opinions or recommendations are those
of the author and not of his employer.
snoopy
>>matter, can we get Dick Button to do an exhibition at the next
Legends?
I'd love to see Button skate-and then have th commentator make some
snotty comment about HIM for a change!!!!!!!!!!!
raff
sa...@ix.netcom.com
"Buddies are we...me and the ghost upstairs."
Fiona McQuarrie
snoopy (sa...@ix.netcom.com) wrote:
:
: >>matter, can we get Dick Button to do an exhibition at the next
: Legends?
: I'd love to see Button skate-and then have th commentator make some
: snotty comment about HIM for a change!!!!!!!!!!!
BWAHAHAHAHA
I'd PAY for this. C'mon, DIck, let's see *your* layback position!
Cheers, Fiona
cwi...@bconnex.net
I remember back in the early to mid 80's Dick Button criticized men's figure
skating saying that there was no artistry left in the sport. Brian Orser (in my
opinion the best artistic skater ever) heard the comment from a reporter and
replied "Has anyone ever seen Button's tapes? talk about lack of artistry"
Button later apologized to Orser.
Robert Dister
In article <19961126003...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
not...@aol.com wrote:
> Seems to me, though, I've heard Dick Button even characterize his own
> skating as athletic, rather than artistic. He sounded downright envious in
> his remarks about Paul Wylie's artistry at the Boston Pro-Am, in March.
> Maybe that's why he's so tough about everyone's artistic presentation,
> because it's something he wished he had had. Sort of like, you know,
> people who quit smoking are always the 'worst' about bugging other people
> to quit.
>
One thing to remember, too, is that skaters in Dick's day were not
supposed to raise their hands above the waist (or was it shoulders?).
Sonja Henie had the same primitive-looking style, as did virtually every
pre-1950's skater that I've ever seen footage of. I understand that Dick
had some role in the gradual loosening of this "rule", though I'm not
certain of the exact chronology. Keeping the arms low seems to be common
even in clips of male skaters in the late 50's and early 60's. It makes
you wonder what was considered "artistic" in those days, given that
limitation. Does anyone know anything about this?
Bob Dister
not...@aol.com
>mcqu...@sfu.ca (Fiona McQuarrie) writes:
>> snoopy (sa...@ix.netcom.com) wrote:
>> : I'd love to see Button skate-and then have th commentator make some
>> : snotty comment about HIM for a change!!!!!!!!!!!
>>
>> BWAHAHAHAHA
>> I'd PAY for this. C'mon, DIck, let's see *your* layback position!
>I remember back in the early to mid 80's Dick Button criticized men's
figure
>skating saying that there was no artistry left in the sport. Brian Orser
>...heard the comment from a reporter and
>replied "Has anyone ever seen Button's tapes? talk about lack of
artistry"
Seems to me, though, I've heard Dick Button even characterize his own
skating as athletic, rather than artistic. He sounded downright envious in
his remarks about Paul Wylie's artistry at the Boston Pro-Am, in March.
Maybe that's why he's so tough about everyone's artistic presentation,
because it's something he wished he had had. Sort of like, you know,
people who quit smoking are always the 'worst' about bugging other people
to quit.
P.S. And, Dick is not alone:
mcqu...@sfu.ca (Fiona McQuarrie) wrote regarding the "Magic Memories on
Ice" video:
>I just about DIED at the end of the Torvill and Dean "Bolero" when
>the audience is shrieking, T&D are practically in tears, and Dick
>says:"Well, it was not too difficult and not too many changes,
>but it was nice."
The classic story about Fred Astaire is that someone who auditioned him
wrote: "Can't sing, can't act, can dance a little."
NotDeby
"What a luxury it is to be alive, and female, and in a liquid state
because of such male beauty." - Various.
"(My mind is) like a high-speed computer. But it only doodles."
- Rosie O'Donnell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.
"Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat: "we're all mad here. I'm mad.
You're mad."
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
snoopy
>The classic story about Fred Astaire is that someone who auditioned
>him wrote: "Can't sing, can't act, can dance a little."
I really hate to nitpick, but I am an Astaire freak-my sig. is a line
from a song he did in a movie! the quote was:
"Can't sing, can't act, going bald, can dance a little."
:):) sorry!!!!
not...@aol.com
In article <rdister-2511...@wck-ca13-01.ix.netcom.com>,
rdi...@spectacle.berkeley.edu (Robert Dister) writes:
>In article <19961126003...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
>not...@aol.com wrote:
>
>> Seems to me, though, I've heard Dick Button even characterize his own
>> skating as athletic, rather than artistic. He sounded downright envious
in
>> his remarks about Paul Wylie's artistry at the Boston Pro-Am, in March.
>> Maybe that's why he's so tough about everyone's artistic presentation,
>> because it's something he wished he had had.
>>
>One thing to remember, too, is that skaters in Dick's day were not
>supposed to raise their hands above the waist (or was it shoulders?).
>...Keeping the arms low seems to be common
>even in clips of male skaters in the late 50's and early 60's. It makes
>you wonder what was considered "artistic" in those days, given that
>limitation. Does anyone know anything about this?
You just made me remember (and I 'know' Sandra 'must' have seen this) a
wonderful interview with Toller Cranston, where he talked about when he
first started skating (and breaking rules ") ), how the men all dressed
like waiters and then he imitated their "low" arms and demonstrated the
artistic presentation of men's arms by saluting a number of times...it was
simply hysterical. Was it a rule, I wonder...or simply convention?
Sandra Loosemore
not...@aol.com writes:
You just made me remember (and I 'know' Sandra 'must' have seen this) a
wonderful interview with Toller Cranston, where he talked about when he
first started skating (and breaking rules ") ), how the men all dressed
like waiters and then he imitated their "low" arms and demonstrated the
artistic presentation of men's arms by saluting a number of times...it was
simply hysterical. Was it a rule, I wonder...or simply convention?
Yes, I've seen the Toller piece in question. It was pretty funny.
It predates Toller a little, but I have a copy of the 1960 edition of
the USFSA rulebook. Here's what it has to say about proper carriage:
2. Manner of Performance.
a. The general carriage, except in planned positions, should be erect
but without stiffness.
b. The head should follow out the line of the back.
c. The free leg should be carried as gracefully as possible,
moderately extended and controlled without stiffness, knee and hip
turned out, the toe pointed down and out. It should swing freely to
assist the movement but at all times with control.
d. The skating knee should be used with great flexibility,
continuously straightening and bending to give that beautiful easy
glide and effortless "run" that is the essence of skating.
e. The arms should be held easily; like the free foot, they can be
used to assist the movement. In general, they should be held out on a
line with the waist of the skater. The elbows should be softly
curved, never bent outward in "akimbo" position, nor should the
shoulders be raised.
f. The hands should follow out the line of the arms, palms generally
towards the ice, not being allowed to dangle, droop, or curve sharply
in a stereotyped or affected manner. Never, except in a few planned
positions, should there be deviation from the above.
g. The fingers should be held easily; they should not be spread or
clenched or held rigidly straight.
h. Speed should be gained as inconspicuously as possible, and
maintained without "pumping" the arms, bending from the waist, or
scrambling with the feet.
i. In general, everything violent, angular or stiff should be
avoided. There should be no visible strong effort and the impression
should be given that the entire program is executed with ease.
While I'm at it, here are some of the rules for pair skating, that
are kind of entertaining, because they effectively ban all overhead
lifts.
4. Forbidden Movements.
a. All movements in which one partner, supported by the other
partner, leaves the ice for an appreciable time are not allowed and
shall not be marked.
b. If the jumping partner is supported in the jump by the other
partner, the whole jump must form one continuous ascending and
descending movement. Hovering of the supported partner at the top of
the jump is forbidden.
And, last but not least, some of the amateur status rules from 1960:
2.01 The following persons are disqualified as amateurs:
a. Any person who has directly or indirectly received pay or
financial benefit of any sort for competing or instructing in figure
skating or for giving an exhibition or other display of figure skating
ability;
...
c. Any person who has pawned, bartered or sold any prize or gift won
in a figure skating competition or received for an exhibition or other
display of figure skating ability;
...
f. Any person who has entered any figure skating competition under a
name other than his own....
I wonder what the rationale might have been for that last item! :-)
-Sandra
Louis Epstein
Robert Dister (rdi...@spectacle.berkeley.edu) wrote:
: In article <19961126003...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
: not...@aol.com wrote:
:
: > Seems to me, though, I've heard Dick Button even characterize his own
: > skating as athletic, rather than artistic. He sounded downright envious in
: > his remarks about Paul Wylie's artistry at the Boston Pro-Am, in March.
: > Maybe that's why he's so tough about everyone's artistic presentation,
: > people who quit smoking are always the 'worst' about bugging other people
: > to quit.
: One thing to remember, too, is that skaters in Dick's day were not
: supposed to raise their hands above the waist (or was it shoulders?).
: pre-1950's skater that I've ever seen footage of. I understand that Dick
: had some role in the gradual loosening of this "rule", though I'm not
: even in clips of male skaters in the late 50's and early 60's. It makes
: you wonder what was considered "artistic" in those days, given that
: limitation. Does anyone know anything about this?
: Bob Dister
I recall a posting some time ago where Sandra reviewed a 1962 USFSA
rulebook she had picked up...there were specs down to finger position.