Kurt Browning prepares for final skate of legendary career

When we worked together broadcasting figure skating, Kurt Browning used to affectionately refer to me as, "The Talking Dog." 

Now, as we sit on the couch in his living room, surrounded by his memories, and with his little dog Rocky perched between us, one of the greatest performers in the history of the sport is doing the lion's share of the speaking. 

As it has always been, I find myself under his spell. Kurt is one of those characters who grabs your attention the first time you see him, as I did when, as a 21-year-old, he skated to "Grand Canyon Suite," and attempted the "Quad" at the Calgary Olympics in 1988.

He was stunning then.  He remains that way to this day. I am a fan and I can hardly believe that this sportsman, who I idolize, is my friend. 

"I'm very happy," Kurt says motioning to two handwritten words, "Be Happy," which appear on a card he's stuck onto his signature pork pie hat. "It's a good message because life is short, and I've fit a lot into my career. Now that the 'Stars on Ice' part of my life is wrapping up I'm starting to realize — and I always thought I knew it to be true — how lucky I've been."

Browning has been world champion four times, skated at three Olympic Winter Games and carried the Canadian flag into the opening ceremony at Lillehammer in 1994. But it's as a professional showman and headliner with Stars on Ice over the past 30 years that he may best be remembered. 

WATCH: Kurt Browning's final bow:

He'll soon turn 57 and this weekend, after nearly a 1,000 shows all over the world, he performs for the final time at the appropriately named Giant Center in Hershey Pa. 

He is truly a titan of figure skating.

"I'm still doing the back flip but it's more of a back flop lately," he says with