Rest in Peace, Dick Button

[Anonymous]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/sports/dick-button-dead.html

2-time Olympic gold medalist; multiple World and National titles.

Inventor of the Flying Camel spin by pure accident; he was skating too close to a roped-off area of ice and leapt over it.

First man to land a triple jump in competition. First man to land a 2A in competition.

Emmy-winning broadcaster.

I read his delightful book, “Push Dick’s Button,” and learned so much. He seemed to have a very generous heart. A product of his times, he was also perhaps too paternalistic, especially to the female skaters. But overall, his contributions to the sport will endure. He is part of so many good memories of enjoying skating on TV when I was a kid.

Rest in peace, Mr. Button. What a sad day for figure skating, with the loss of so many young athletes, coaches and parents on the flight that crashed in the Potomac, and the loss of truly a pioneering GOAT.

[Anonymous]

I loved his skating commentary.

His tv company produced Superstars, the athletic competition where famous athletes competed in sports other than their own. One winter, we traveled to the Bahamas to watch it being filmed. We met and interacted with many incredible sports stars. Button was really a creative man.

[Anonymous]

I am sad to hear this. I knew this would happen soon due to his age, but he was a legend.

His commentary was so fascinating and intelligent; I miss the days when I would get to hear his perspective on figure skating. I don't think any of the current commentators in skating hold a candle to him in terms of breadth and accuracy and depth of knowledge.

[Anonymous]

He was the epitome of informed, experienced commentary. He paved the way. I truly admired him.

[Anonymous]

On figure skating Reddit, there are some great compilations of his commentary being posted.

I grew up in the 80s and 90s when figure skating was weirdly more prominent as a televised spectator sport than it is now, and although I always kind of knew who Dick Button was, I didn’t realize that he was the voice of figure skating commentary in the way he was until I watched the compilations. If you spent weekend afternoons or evenings watching figure skating as a kid, it’s worth rewatching some of the competitions with his commentary. I was too young to get his cultural and arts references and didn’t realize how casually brilliant and knowledgeable he was.

[Anonymous]

He was always so genuinely enthusiastic and knowledgeable. A freakin’ legend. I’m glad he got 95 years on this earth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He was always so genuinely enthusiastic and knowledgeable. A freakin’ legend. I’m glad he got 95 years on this earth.

So am I boo