Today is the 35th anniversary of the miracle on ice. A bunch of American college kids defeated a team of professional Russians, who had crushed NHL teams in a tour across North America in the late 1970s. It really was a miracle. It was also at the height of the Cold War with Russia. The Iran hostage crisis, raging inflation, gas shortages and the worst recession since the Great Depression had left the country depressed. This victory united the country, at least for a moment.
I was 17 years old and a hockey fanatic. I watched the game alone in my living room and was overjoyed when they won.
And it produced a fantastic movie – Miracle. Kurt Russell should have won an Academy Award.
I don’t get it. What was gained?
What’s gained by accomplishing anything?
What’s gained by overcoming obstacles and winning at anything?
What’s gained by getting up in the morning?
What’s gained by commenting on a website?
That was too easy. I was wondering if I was ever going to get Admin’s goad. Trolla la la la.
I remember my dad being excited watching the game. At the end I asked him what the big deal was. He said, son, you know how you and your brother run around the house yelling the russians are coming, the russians are coming? I said, yes. He said, well they came and we kicked their asses.
A fine example of American Exceptionalism!
I agree 100% on Miracle. Kurt Russell nailed his portrayal of Herb Brooks and was indeed robbed of an Oscar nomination.
I hated Russians at that time. As soon as the game ended, I’m jumping up and down and yelling around the house “FUCK YOU RUSSIANS!! FUCK YOU RUSSIANS!!!!” … and, I was a born again Christian at the time. (I was pretty sure da Lawd didn’t like Russians either.)
Frankly, I am angry that Admin and others have failed to point out that this so-called “American” team did not have one Somali, Jamaican, Iraqi, Afghan, Honduran or Fiji Islander. Let’s get with the program! Recent research conducted by the occupant of the Jesse Jackson Chair of History at Harvard, by the way, has demonstrated that at the battle of Gettysburg both sides included a majority of Kenyan-Americans, Libyan-Americans, Laotian-Americans (including Hmongs), Guatemalan-Americans and Afghan-Americans. It is true, however, that all the casualties were dead old white men.
I will never forget that game or where I was.I was in a bar full of American hockey fans . I thought those guys were going to tear that place apart. It was the first time I had seen a bar full of people with tears in their eyes.I guess it was the alcohol .It was one happy crowd.
And Stucky says there are no more miracles.
It was before the internet. The broadcast was tape delayed for a few hours. I still remember Jim McKay, the ABC Sports guy having this odd little smile on his face as he did the intro not realizing that he knew what had happened. I got a little watery eyed just watching the minute plus clip from the broadcast even now. At the time I was sure that the russians were completely evil (not too far off) and that the U.S. was good (a bit further off the mark). I can recall that feeling just watching that clip.
Here’s my usual trivia question:
“What American sportscaster has the two most memorable lines in sports history?”
Answer: Al Michaels
the lines?:
“Do you believe in miracles?!!”
“There’s an Earth….”
Those soviet players were phenomenal – the discipline in their play is what made them such a force to be dealt with. They just played such a precise, disciplined game – and played with each other for so long – to be beaten by a young bunch of kids was just unheard of. They never played to the level of their opponent, never. That’s why when they played a mediocre team they wouldn’t win 4-2 or such. They’d crush them.
The Soviets had beaten the US team 10 to 3 in a preliminary exhibition game a few weeks before.
Exactly.
One of the great days in American Sports history, it was definitely a remember where you were moment. For me I was in the living room of our new little home with my new little bride who knew next to nothing about hockey but knew she was watching something special. Lots of happiness and doing what newly married couples do followed. A good day indeed.
Peaceout got himself a hat trick. 🙂
That’s right!