I actually met Scott Hamilton once at a skating audition for a show I was trying out for in the late 80s. He wasn't very nice at all. Him and his friends were making fun of the auditioning skaters. It was very un comfortable. Never cared much for him since. Before that I thought what a neat guy. Then he spoke!
Wow, I don't know what this sounds like? But Scott had the GREATEST little body back then. I don't think there was an ounce of excess on him anywhere. Just a lean, mean skating machine!!!
My, how much skating has changed! Yet, stayed the same. After watching Evan Lysacek, Ryan Bradley, and those talented, talented men, sometimes it's just nice to watch what the simplicity and artistry of skating mere decades ago. I still love Scott Hamilton!
I just watched the next Olympics in Calgary, between Orser and Boitano. It's amazing how artistry was so much more at play and perfected in 1988. I thought Scott was brilliant, and as I said, his edge quality is second to none, but it was element to element. It's funny listening to him criticize skaters today for the same flaws he possessed back then. Scott owes a lot to figures! Regardless, still one of the greatest ever, and stunning edges.
To all you skaters... is it a lot easier to skate and do jumps the shorter you are? That's that has always bothered me about him, or a Tara... I wonder if they didnt have an inherent advantage based on their extreme shortness. Not being rude, just wondering.
@mlc2005 I am not a skater. It is tempting to assume people like Scott Hamilton an d Tara have a hidden advantage. Being shorter may be and advantage but this advantage comes with disadvantages like being less physically developed due to delayed development in childhood with all the medical and psychological issues this implies. There are no hidden advantages in this case except an amazing committment.
@mlc2005 im 5'0 i haven't noticed any differently. But i can tell you that if you were to jump you need to practice alot. It has nothing to do with height. Your skates need to fit right. THeir are plenty of tall girls at my rink and they have no trouble. I think it may look harder b/c their limbs are longer, but they've lived with that length all their lives. And many skaters start at age 3 or 4 so they never know the difference.
@LiveLaughLove8489 If that was true we'd have much more tall skaters on the international stage. Look at Carolina Kostner (she's 1,70m, so not super tall) she started very well and as she was growing problem with keeping axis of the jump start. Another tall skater- Lucinda Ruth, not a jumper. Best ladies are not taller than 1,65m.
@mlc2005 I am 5'4 and was barely 90 pounds when I skated, but those jumps made me feel like a heifter! In jazz class also, I felt like a hippo trying to leap, even though I was super skinny! So no, ironically I don't think there's an advantage to being short; there's an advantage, at least in women, to having a certain willowy figure that I did not have, that taller women might have.
Scott Hamilton is one of my favorite people on this planet. He has overcome so much in his life from childhood disease through cancer AND a brain tumor to be an inspiration to not only survivors of illnesses but a true role model for everybody on how to live your life positively no matter what the circumstance. I am so happy that he has a wonderful life with his beautiful wife Tracey and their adorable sons, Aidan and Maxx. I love you, Scott!
It was actually VERY common from teh 1930s to the 80s for the "winner" of the Compulsory Figures to also win the Gold, even if they flubbed the free skate programs.
People need to remember that he was very sick during this competition. He had the flu and an inner ear infection. That was the reason he missed many of his jumps and his spins were off balance. He won this competition because of he great lead in figures. It was how it was scored then. Brian Orsor had a horrible figures and his placement made it nearly impossible for him to win Gold even with winning the free skate and the short program.
To ravelel2: Yes I agree. I read his book 'Landing It' and he says there that his compulsories helped him win the Olympics. He knew that Brian Orser would probably beat him in the short & long programmes but Brian was too far behind after figures to win the gold. Scott did not make up the rules - he was just the most consistent across 3 phases of competition. Compared to nowadays though, this was fab. Today, everyone looks the same, its too technical and no personalities. Bring back the 6.0 !
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
@premierrules Couldn't disagree more. Scott had weak jumps and weak spins. He should have placed 4th in this segment. There are 8 elements in this program and the only one Scott did very well was the footwork. The other top guys did EVERY single element better. The same is true for his sloppy freeskate.
Read his book the Great Eight. Scott was the best at the figure portion of the competition, something that he spent years perfecting but that doesn't exist now. Doing the figures was what made him a great skater, gave him the kind of muscle control that no one else has, and under the rules that existed at the time, won him the gold medal. It wasn't cheating, it was the strategy of the time. If the rules were stupid, he didn't make them. No one today would be any different.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
If it wasn't so unfair, it is almost laughable that the judges awarded Scott the gold medal. Brian Orser skated farrrrrrrrrr better than Scott in every aspect. Scott knew it as well. Judges in figure skating have always cheated and awarded the skater who had the better story to tell/sell.
Scotty is amazing. Speed and line is incredible. Probably the last skater who truly "blurred" a spin. I don't think that truly people have given Scotty the credit he deserved - he was one of a kind.
someone please fucking just destroy dick button
stanuris 6 days ago
I actually met Scott Hamilton once at a skating audition for a show I was trying out for in the late 80s. He wasn't very nice at all. Him and his friends were making fun of the auditioning skaters. It was very un comfortable. Never cared much for him since. Before that I thought what a neat guy. Then he spoke!
Hunterbythesea 1 week ago
:) Hello in your channel
kkhhaalliid1 2 months ago
I think that is the worst death drop I've ever seen - man or woman.
officeaddict33 3 months ago
Man he makes me wanna skate.
JayWarren1991 4 months ago
Many leading skaters complete a 3LUTZ+2loop combination (Orser, Boitano, Sabovcik, Fadeev, Kotin). Here only a 2Loop+3T
bemar1972 5 months ago
@bemar1972 - Right, thank goodness Scott was great in figures. He might not have won without them.
officeaddict33 3 months ago
Wow, I don't know what this sounds like? But Scott had the GREATEST little body back then. I don't think there was an ounce of excess on him anywhere. Just a lean, mean skating machine!!!
Novelwit2000 1 year ago
My, how much skating has changed! Yet, stayed the same. After watching Evan Lysacek, Ryan Bradley, and those talented, talented men, sometimes it's just nice to watch what the simplicity and artistry of skating mere decades ago. I still love Scott Hamilton!
bubblesrthebest 1 year ago
@itgoeslikejudayy hahahaha I know he makes it loo easy and he looks like he's flying because of his lightness! xD
blackmnmpink 1 year ago
Awesome tiring by just watching it!
amazing I love him soooo much
look at him sipping his orange juice soooooo cute!
blackmnmpink 1 year ago
5.9 from American judge? I'm American and I can say that was a bit biased.
MusicLuver093 1 year ago 3
@MusicLuver093 no the american judge always grants to a greater extent even in other shows I've seen.
;)
blackmnmpink 1 year ago
not liking the commentator haha... i feel like there's more men than women who are well know from this generation
just4lizzy 1 year ago
One of my all-time favorite skaters. Scotty never fails to entertain & he always puts his heart into everything he does.
leadchick 1 year ago 2
I just watched the next Olympics in Calgary, between Orser and Boitano. It's amazing how artistry was so much more at play and perfected in 1988. I thought Scott was brilliant, and as I said, his edge quality is second to none, but it was element to element. It's funny listening to him criticize skaters today for the same flaws he possessed back then. Scott owes a lot to figures! Regardless, still one of the greatest ever, and stunning edges.
mlc2005 1 year ago
To all you skaters... is it a lot easier to skate and do jumps the shorter you are? That's that has always bothered me about him, or a Tara... I wonder if they didnt have an inherent advantage based on their extreme shortness. Not being rude, just wondering.
mlc2005 1 year ago
@mlc2005 I am not a skater. It is tempting to assume people like Scott Hamilton an d Tara have a hidden advantage. Being shorter may be and advantage but this advantage comes with disadvantages like being less physically developed due to delayed development in childhood with all the medical and psychological issues this implies. There are no hidden advantages in this case except an amazing committment.
legia671 1 year ago
@mlc2005 im 5'0 i haven't noticed any differently. But i can tell you that if you were to jump you need to practice alot. It has nothing to do with height. Your skates need to fit right. THeir are plenty of tall girls at my rink and they have no trouble. I think it may look harder b/c their limbs are longer, but they've lived with that length all their lives. And many skaters start at age 3 or 4 so they never know the difference.
LiveLaughLove8489 1 year ago
@LiveLaughLove8489 If that was true we'd have much more tall skaters on the international stage. Look at Carolina Kostner (she's 1,70m, so not super tall) she started very well and as she was growing problem with keeping axis of the jump start. Another tall skater- Lucinda Ruth, not a jumper. Best ladies are not taller than 1,65m.
brzydallo 1 year ago
@mlc2005 I am 5'4 and was barely 90 pounds when I skated, but those jumps made me feel like a heifter! In jazz class also, I felt like a hippo trying to leap, even though I was super skinny! So no, ironically I don't think there's an advantage to being short; there's an advantage, at least in women, to having a certain willowy figure that I did not have, that taller women might have.
AmusedChild 1 year ago
@AmusedChild well its more like controlling your momentum with timing, nothin to do with body types
Sapphira514 1 year ago
@Sapphira514 Good point. At any rate, I'm an old fart now - I'm grateful that I can still skate at all.
AmusedChild 1 year ago
Scott Hamilton is one of my favorite people on this planet. He has overcome so much in his life from childhood disease through cancer AND a brain tumor to be an inspiration to not only survivors of illnesses but a true role model for everybody on how to live your life positively no matter what the circumstance. I am so happy that he has a wonderful life with his beautiful wife Tracey and their adorable sons, Aidan and Maxx. I love you, Scott!
hobbitbuddy 2 years ago 4
By far the best male skater I have ever had the pleasure of watching in my lifetime.
He seems like a really decent person too.
This man has been through a lot and always come out shining
HesTNTonPMS 2 years ago 2
It was actually VERY common from teh 1930s to the 80s for the "winner" of the Compulsory Figures to also win the Gold, even if they flubbed the free skate programs.
TeensAreNotChildren 2 years ago
People need to remember that he was very sick during this competition. He had the flu and an inner ear infection. That was the reason he missed many of his jumps and his spins were off balance. He won this competition because of he great lead in figures. It was how it was scored then. Brian Orsor had a horrible figures and his placement made it nearly impossible for him to win Gold even with winning the free skate and the short program.
Nanerelle 2 years ago
@vicfurth dude that is soo true
apiemikey 2 years ago
Still my favorite skater since the first time I saw him backflip.
By the way, he looks a lot like Mark Hamill from Star Wars in this.
vicfurth1 2 years ago 16
@vicfurth1 I meet him twice he is not just a good skater he is a awsome person
stardel6 2 years ago
Love him as a commentator. Sorry I'm too young to miss him actually skate.
otdtyh 2 years ago 2
To ravelel2: Yes I agree. I read his book 'Landing It' and he says there that his compulsories helped him win the Olympics. He knew that Brian Orser would probably beat him in the short & long programmes but Brian was too far behind after figures to win the gold. Scott did not make up the rules - he was just the most consistent across 3 phases of competition. Compared to nowadays though, this was fab. Today, everyone looks the same, its too technical and no personalities. Bring back the 6.0 !
premierrules 2 years ago 5
This comment has received too many negative votes show
@premierrules Couldn't disagree more. Scott had weak jumps and weak spins. He should have placed 4th in this segment. There are 8 elements in this program and the only one Scott did very well was the footwork. The other top guys did EVERY single element better. The same is true for his sloppy freeskate.
kwadruple 2 years ago
Read his book the Great Eight. Scott was the best at the figure portion of the competition, something that he spent years perfecting but that doesn't exist now. Doing the figures was what made him a great skater, gave him the kind of muscle control that no one else has, and under the rules that existed at the time, won him the gold medal. It wasn't cheating, it was the strategy of the time. If the rules were stupid, he didn't make them. No one today would be any different.
ravenel2 2 years ago 4
This comment has received too many negative votes show
If it wasn't so unfair, it is almost laughable that the judges awarded Scott the gold medal. Brian Orser skated farrrrrrrrrr better than Scott in every aspect. Scott knew it as well. Judges in figure skating have always cheated and awarded the skater who had the better story to tell/sell.
youariston 2 years ago
Does anyone know the name of the music in the second part of this video?
videofan792 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
how is this in the olympics? it's not a sport
lozairakija 2 years ago
@lozairakija
are you frickin kidding?? It is a sport!
CaReBeAr67 2 years ago 2
why didn't he ever learn to spin
Rouben19 2 years ago
i hate when dick confuses "easy" for "effortless"
caseyphx 2 years ago 3
Brian Orser was far and away the best all around skater at these championships. Still seems unbelievable to me that he didn't win.
kwadruple 2 years ago
America's best male skater ever.
kjkimbo 2 years ago 3
Does anyone have Scott's Gala exhibition from these games? The one where he does a 'musicless encore?' What a fantastic display!
arthurm58 2 years ago
I bet he had NO CLUE as to what his life as a skater would be like after those games.
Tonichelle 2 years ago
Scotty is amazing. Speed and line is incredible. Probably the last skater who truly "blurred" a spin. I don't think that truly people have given Scotty the credit he deserved - he was one of a kind.
pellebravesskylar 2 years ago 2
Thank you jedellis. Scott Hamilton is my favorite 'Shorty' ice skater...:)
candylaurenkaryn 2 years ago
it's so weird not to hear him doing commentary on the performance! lol i love scott
wolfieamadeus 3 years ago 2
YEAH THANKS FOR SHARING THIS.
mslovey 3 years ago
Getting orange juice in the kiss and cry? That's something you don't see today!
MTVMANN 3 years ago 11
wow, what an easy short program... cant believe this was 24 years ago.
koolaidnhemlock 3 years ago