From the “better late than never” department: HAPPY BIRTHDAY DICK BUTTON!!
I was talking about something skating-related to my beloved sister-in-law a few days back. She doesn’t follow the sport, and midway through our conversation (during which I brought up Mr. Button’s name a few times) she cut me off in a hesitant tone: “I’m sorry, but this time I have to ask… who is Dick Button?”
It happens.
It never happened to me because I can’t remember watching TV without watching skating, and I can’t remember watching skating without Mr. Button. Beard or no beard, gold ABC blazer or tuxedo, with Jim McKay or Terry Gannon, he’s been there. Even when he seems to have assumed the role of the Grumpy Old Man (as some of my friends suggested after watching the 2006 Olympics)… his comments sometimes make him a charter member of the Things That Make You Go ‘Hmmm’ Society, but to get a glowing review from “Uncle Dick” must be close to Olympic gold for any elite figure skater. (And yes, he still gives plenty of ‘em, grumpy or not.)
In honor of the day I missed—he turned 79 last Friday—I’ll give you two links. This one, which should take you to the drinking game bearing his name at the marvelous Frogs On Ice website, I first discovered 10 years ago. It’s still funny after all these years, and I don’t even drink!
The other link of course is the Clip of the Day … in his 1948 heyday, as shown at some point on ESPN Classic. Karen, if you’re reading—THIS is Dick Button.
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2 comments:
Peggy Fleming just celebrated her birthday too! Well they're joined at the hips so maybe it's karma their birthdays are so close together. There's a cute picture of Dick and Peggy at the Hall of Fame awards. I was able to get a few photos and post them on Lifeskate.com - hope you will check it out and I think you'll know which one I'm talking about.
I caught it, Susan... hee. Looked like they were having a good time! (Must've been the birthday thing.)
Peggy still doesn't look anywhere near 60... one of those rare women who can get away with hair past the shoulders past a certain age! (I refrain from saying WHAT age in the event I want to grow my hair that long again someday...)
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