Happy Birthday, Mr. Button!

[montanarose]

Dick Button is 79 years old today :bow::bow::bow:

Some of those youngsters here who may only know him as the sometimes curmudgeonly, sometimes delightfully b*tchy (oh, how I love it! :lol:) commentator on your TV screen over the years may not be aware of his accomplishments as a figure skater. His many, many highlights include:

* first skater to perform a double axel in competition
* first skater to perform a triple of any kind (3L) in competition
* first male skater to perform a camel and flying camel
* youngest man to win Olympic gold in figure skating, at age 18 in 1948
* won 7 U.S. National Championships, 5 Worlds and 2 Olympic gold medals
* in his spare time (!) graduated from Harvard Law School

My fervent hope is that he has already written his memoirs telling the unvarnished story of his life in and around skating, and his feelings about the state of skating today. Of course, if he told all then it's no doubt embargoed until after he passes on :mrgreen:

So happy birthday, Uncle Dick; and thanks for the memories . . .

[GordonSk8erBoi]

Hey, thanks for posting this. While I don't always agree with him :-), he really is a legendary figure in the sport.

[Isk8NYC]

May God bless Mr. Button with good health and a long life!

He's an important contributor to many parts of figure skating today, plus he gives Speedy "what for" about the new judging system.

Be well, Mr. Button!

[Samskate]

Add my Happy Birthday and God Bless Mr. Button to the others. He is one of a kind and you just gotta appreciate his comments, whether you agree or disagree. He's so knowledgeable and loves the sport so much. And he really did accomplish a ton of stuff during his skating career.