Do you believe in miracles?
Posted: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 by Travis Cody inYES!
On 22 February 1980, the US hockey team beat the Soviets 4-3 in Lake Placid during the XIII Winter Olympics. It is a quintessential moment in American sports history. It was a unifying moment of pride for my country.
The win didn't heal all the open wounds in the US. But it did make Americans smile at each other and feel a part of something significant and special. I think we started to remember what it was like to be a "We" again.
Two days later the US beat Finland 4-2 to win the gold medal.
There are moments in sport that fix themselves in the psyche of players and fans. This moment, when a bunch of college age kids took down the mighty Soviets, is like that and then some. Thirty years on and it hasn't lost any of the emotional impact it had on me when I was watching it happen.
Do you believe in miracles?
YES!
The 1980 Gold Medal US Hockey Team, coached by Herb Brooks (1937 - 2003)
Jim Craig
Jack O'Callahan
Bill Baker
Ken Morrow
Mike Ramsey
Bob Suter
Dave Christian
Dave Silk
Steve Janaszak
Mark Johnson
Rob McClanahan
John Harrington
Mark Pavelich
Buzz Schneider
Steve Christoff
Neal Broten
Mike Eruzione
Eric Strobel
Mark Wells
Phil Verchota
I can actually remember watching the U.S. team beating the Russians in the 1960 Olympics. It was just as big a miracle in 1960 as it was in 1980. We sent true amateurs to both of these games, to face seasoned pros. Back then, the Soviet Union team was literally a pro team playing under the umbrella of being in the Russian army. They lived together, traveled together, and played together, the year around. The U.S. National team was typically put together about a year prior to the games and would go their own way shortly after the Olympics. Some made the pros, others went back to school. That's what made these two victories so mind boggling.