Vasily Utkin died

He changed the profession, was a showman and a political figure. Sports journalist Vadim Lukomsky recalls the commentator who determined the era

Vasily Utkin found all the stages of Russian television: from the possibilities of “perestroika”-two days before his death in his channel, he wrote that it was on this day 35 years ago that he settled down in the “look” program-until the 2020s, when YouTube became new television. Even those who did not watch a single football match knew him. He was a showman and a political figure - it was Utkin who announced Alexei Navalny at a rally on Sakharov Avenue in 2011. He starred in cinema, musical clips, participated in the performances of the Quartet and ", arranged correspondence skirmishes with propagandists Vladimir Solovyov and Tina Kandelaki . The last interview that he gave was about books. Nevertheless, in the first place, Utkin, of course, was the most famous sports journalist in Russia. A person who changed this profession and determined it for several generations ahead.

What exactly he did and why it is impossible to repeat, explains Vadim Lukomsky - a representative of another generation and genre in sports journalism, but also did not escape the influence of Vasily Utkin.

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Vasily Utkin is a big journalist who lovedfootball and commentary work very much. It is in that order. His talent was too close in the genre of football comment, so he expanded it, rewrote all the rules and determined the Russian commentary school for several generations ahead.

The main achievement of Vasya is to transform the comment from classical sports report into art work with the expanse for self -expression. He had no equal in this. Absolute genius of the word!

I say this as a person who does not like everything in such a manner. I appreciate English more with an accent on a football field. They have a key task of reporting - to immerse the viewer in the surroundings of the match and colorfully, literally in the Hollywood style, to work out bright moments and goals. Ideally, the fan gets the feeling that something important is happening every second on the field. The legends are those who elegantly “drives the ball” elegantly notes the little things and masterfully placed the emphasis in their voice.

The Russian commentary tradition has become different precisely because of the influence of Utkin. You remember exactly his memeen masterpieces. So the U -turn with the ball was the main achievement in the career of the Spanish defender Alvaro Arbeloa:

“Mom, do you believe me? I look at this football! " -The best review of the legendary match “Manchester United”-“Real Madrid” (4: 3) in 2003:

But the match England -Trinidad and Tobago at the -2006 World Cup became legendary only because of Utkin’s commentary. The favorite of the tournament shamefully suffered against the weakest team. Vasily turned on the regime of sarcasm in every word - and perfectly hit the mood of the audience:

Otherwise, such a report could turn into a disaster - a mockery of the game that we love so much. The trick could work only once and only in the right match. Utkin was not only a great commentator, but also felt football cool.

In each of his reports there was a game with a word that at the best moments overshadowed the game on the field. And when football corresponded, pure greatness was born. Most likely, in the mood of sadness and nostalgia you watched a few strips with the chosen one - you probably have something to supplement. Each has his own favorite moment of Utkin - this is the best reflection of his proximity to us. I can’t imagine a person in whom at least once a thin phrase of Vasya has not hit. Now everyone is sad.

The main program of his life is “Football Club”. His thoughts and eyeliners were waiting for more than specially prepared (and also very cool) work of colleagues. An example of a great replica: “Manchester United” is a soap bubble. ”

Utkin was so good that his erroneous forecasts became cult and even adorned the achievements of the teams (for example, Manchester United in the 1998–1999 season so that he answered criticism with three titles).

After Vasily left the TV “Football Club”, he reborn in YouTube as a pure format of replicas on the main topics of the week - and, of course, became one of the most successful sports show on the platform. There was nothing special in him - Utkin was special.

I was lucky to intersect with Vasya: several times at work, several - on the basis of interest in each other's creativity. These meetings helped me evaluate his underestimated role in the patriarch of football journalism. He perfectly understood the scale of his figure, helped novice commentators and old friends - in general, he looked after everyone (criticism also turned on here - she motivated and reminded who was watching you).

This is the type of influence that cannot be bought or appropriated. Only earn and preserve against the background of universal awareness of almost a magical aura, which forces to catch every word, reflect and become better.

It seemed to me that Vasya saw in this the realization of mentoring impulses. Perhaps he was still so striving not to lag behind the trends. For example, he asked me about XG ( model of the expected heads. - Note “Cold”) and the theory of probabilities in football, when these things were completely gikovsky and especially no one. But it was important for him to understand, even if you almost did not have to use it. Among other things, I see in this a sincere love for football and everything connected with it - this love went beyond the limits of the profession.

Utkin most affected his commentary generation. The next two - raised. He not only enriched the report of the report, but also invented the genre again. Vasily formed the Russian school of commentary, which is not like either Soviet or Western. In my opinion, it is not impeccable and works fully only with the same genius of the word in the microphone - this formed a vicious circle in which everyone wants to be like Vasya, and it is so good because it is unique.

This vicious circle is a Russian commentary school, which sometimes pleases, and sometimes infuriates an excessive creative and will always be one big tribute of Utkin.