A Very Tough Couple Days for the Figure Skating World. Dick Button Passes

[Norbert]

at 95. I only remember him after his skating days where he did commentary for ABC on the Olympics and Figure Skating Championships. He was fantastic in that role.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nhl/dick-button-dies-at-95-olympic-gold-medalist-was-figure-skatings-superstar-and-professor/ar-AA1y9jaR?ocid=BingNewsSerp

[elleng]

1. ;-(

[MagickMuffin]

2. He was a trailblazer back in the day

However, I’m not a fan of commentators as I prefer to hear and listen only to the music.

Johnny and Terra are the worst of the worst. They talk the whole program, I usually just mute them that is how much I can’t stand them. As skating performers they were good. I even got upset with Dick for being kinda rude when Johnny Weir was competing. I just didn’t see the point of being so cruel.

[3catwoman3]

7. I often wish that the commentators would just shut the hell up during the performance.

[milestogo]

3. Aw, thats sad.

[NameAlreadyTaken]

4. Yes, he was not only a 2-time Olympic gold medalist,

(1948 and 1952), five-time World Champion, and the first person to land a triple jump in competition skating (1952), but also a pioneering figure in sports commentating. His style of blunt, honest commentary, backed up by encyclopedic knowledge and extensive experience, made him one of a kind in the sports commentating business. His explanations made the complex and arcane rules of figure skating clear to the average viewer.

[LSparkle]

8. He made me a better skater ...

As I skated, I’d imagine what Mr. Button might be saying about my technique — keep your head up, straighten that leg, hold that position, stop flapping your arms, soft knees! — I was so sad when he stopped doing commentary because he explained good skating and pointed out when a performance was all flash without underlying skill. RIP, Dick 🥲

[NameAlreadyTaken]

10. Yes. "The position of the free leg" in a layback spin!

[appmanga]

5. I remember in the 1970s when he was beaten up...

...in a gay bashing attack. Because of his celebrity, something that had happened frequently in that area was finally addressed by the NYPD, who were pretty notorious themselves for beating up gay men.

[mcar]

6. Oh no!

I loved his Olympics commentary. What an awful time for figure skating.

[Rhiannon12866]

9. Same here! A double loss for the sport...