“Yes, I did everything my way.” How was Vasily Utkin’s farewell?
Grigory Telingater March 23, 2024, 22:36 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
In Krylatskoye, more than a thousand people said goodbye to the legendary commentator.
You wake up in the morning and dress in black. There are so many obscure reasons that it is not so obvious which of them. It so happened that Vasily Utkin’s farewell took place on the western outskirts of Moscow. Just two subway stops from Crocus, where the terrorist attack took place. Now is the time when you think twice before leaving the house. However, many people came to say goodbye to Vasya.
For family, friends and colleagues, the ceremony began at 11:00 a.m. There is no way to list everyone who came. If we mention five modern commentators, most likely four or all five were in Krylatskoye this morning. Although the journalists were only a small part of those who gathered. Vasya helped many football bloggers and was the president of the Egrisi Media football team. Coaches, actors, musicians… They couldn’t all fit in the room: about 200 people. The rest waited at the entrance.
Farewell ceremony for football commentator and blogger Vasily Utkin
Photo: RIA Novosti
The coffin was in the center of the room and people lined the perimeter. The host of the ceremony, Mikhail Mossakovsky, gave the floor to Vasya’s loved ones. Including several commentators who, due to the nature of his work, know how to choose their words. Denis Kazansky remembered Dostoevsky’s famous expression “We all came out of Gogol’s coat” and transformed it into “We all came out of Vasya Utkin’s hoodie.” This phrase seems to best summarize the importance of a man to the football television industry. Vasya was a mentor to an entire generation. And this was somehow combined with the title of “world champion in nonsense” – this characteristic also sounded.
In addition to the traditional minute of silence, there were two moments of applause. Every time they give you goosebumps. And there was something subtly symbolic about this. A rectangle in the center and people applauding around it. Something familiar and loved. If the Little Prince from the fairy tale bequeathed that he could be seen in the stars, then Vasya will remain with us, of course, at football matches.
As they left, people quietly exchanged personal memories. They said that it is not under such circumstances that they would like to meet in such a composition. The teammates we normally see in the box after the locker room looked different this time: very depressed. They were not ashamed of their tears.
At 12:00 the farewell was to begin for those who did not know Vasya. This part started late and there was a huge line outside. At first glance, definitely more than a thousand people. Both teenagers and grandparents. Someone was walking with children. One of my friends named Ruslan came on crutches after meniscus surgery. People waited for several hours to stand for a moment next to the coffin. However, not everyone dared to look at Vasya. The negative track from the famous Frank Sinatra song “My way” was repeated over and over again. The last words in which: “Yes, I did everything my way.”
Many carried flowers. There were so many that just didn’t fit. From time to time they had to be loaded into a special car and then taken to the cemetery. As a rule, people did not carry any football objects, but they still brought several items to the coffin: a Spanish national team jersey, a Loko scarf and a Spartak sticker. It’s not the most obvious set. Surely Vasya would also have some kind of joke or story about this.
They closed the coffin, took it out and loaded it into a hearse. He left to applause.
A person must say what they feel and what they believe. And do not repeat the words of those who humiliate themselves before others. My life is proof that I accepted the blows of destiny with dignity. And he did it his way. Yes, I did everything my way.
Selected quotes from Vasily Utkin about cinema, books and cars:
“I’m made of Nabokov!” Vasily Utkin, as you didn’t know him
