Miracle on Ice

[Puckguy14]

25 years ago today, twenty college kids shocked the hockey world by playing hard, working their butt off, and defeated the Soviet Union 4-3 for one the biggest upsets in international hockey.

And yes, I do believe in miracles.

[scooter13]

I still get goosebumps and the hair standing up on the back of my neck thinking about that game.

[CZzyzx41]

I think they showed that game a day or two ago on ESPN. I was too young to see it in 1980 and besides if I remember right they played it late. Even so I'd never seen more than just the last 5 seconds in highlights. Fun to watch. Man, I'm so desperate for Hockey.

[mac]

ESPN classic is playing it tonight which is funny because I watched the movie saturday night and thought I wish I could watch the real game in its entirety to compare the film and the real game, and now I get to.

[the_cynic]

Wow, something good to report about hockey!

[ROCHitman]

I think they showed that game a day or two ago on ESPN. I was too young to see it in 1980 and besides if I remember right they played it late. Even so I'd never seen more than just the last 5 seconds in highlights. Fun to watch. Man, I'm so desperate for Hockey.

True.

The game wasn't broadcasts live.

The Russians refused to move the game time from approx 430 PM to 730 PM and the entire country saw it on tape delay. NBC commentators were so overjoyed after the win that they let the cat out of the bag on air before the game was aired.

[Stampman]

I believe they showed it live in Canada--I did watch the game--and even though I'm not American I was rooting for the Underdog!

[Puckguy14]

And the reaction afterwards by the American people.

That is what I love about sports. It can bring in everyone together for one cause of celebration.

[OMMF]

But, showing America's hockey knowledege even in their greatest moment, ask anyone and a large majority will tell you they won the gold medal with that victory.

[JQK]

Arguably the greatest moment in Olympic sport.

Most certainly the greatest American sport moment.

It simply was just..... it's like me bedding a tall, beautiful, Swedish woman. The odds of the U.S. winning that game were about the same.

[slapshot]

The greatest Olympic moment in U.S. History, and possibly sports history, is a hockey team. Yet hockey is still no better than #4 in popularity among major professional sports. And at least 60% of the population doesn't care that there's been no NHL this season.

Just something to think about.

[scooter13]

But, showing America's hockey knowledege even in their greatest moment, ask anyone and a large majority will tell you they won the gold medal with that victory.

How true. I hate having to explain that to everyone.

[ROCHitman]

The greatest Olympic moment in U.S. History, and possibly sports history, is a hockey team. Yet hockey is still no better than #4 in popularity among major professional sports. And at least 60% of the population doesn't care that there's been no NHL this season.

Just something to think about.

You wanna know why?

Because the league failed to capitalize on the opportunity to glorify and market the game after the 1980 Olympics. They could have done so many great things for hockey and sat on their arses.

[CaolinaJoe]

The greatest Olympic moment in U.S. History, and possibly sports history, is a hockey team. Yet hockey is still no better than #4 in popularity among major professional sports. And at least 60% of the population doesn't care that there's been no NHL this season.

Just something to think about.

It was more of a political victory than a sports victory. You need to look at it in a historical context. Leaving the 70's heading into the 80's the US was on a down side. The hostages were still being held, Jimmy Carter was the President, the was a serious recession, gas prices had begun to take a serious upswing and the Soviet Union had just recently invaded Afghanistan.

What the hockey game gave was a glimpse of better times and a ray of hope. The win had little to do with the sport and much to do with National Pride. If they would have lost every game but that one, it would still be talked about. The Gold Medal was just icing on the cake.

Hockey may be the dominant sport of Canada, but at that time Canada had all but disappeared from the International "amateur" game. If they would have won against Russia it would have been as equal a miracle as the US team winning, if not bigger. But as we know, Canada lost to Russia in those Olympics.

[ROCHitman]

Canada lost to Russia in those Olympics.

and by Czechoslovakia (Czechs beat Canada 6-1 in game for 5th spot)

You know, it wasn't that big a political victory because the USSR outgained the USA in medals (22-12) and in gold medals (10-6).

[CaolinaJoe]

Canada lost to Russia in those Olympics.

and by Czechoslovakia (Czechs beat Canada 6-1 in game for 5th spot)

You know, it wasn't that big a political victory because the USSR outgained the USA in medals (22-12) and in gold medals (10-6).

It was as big a victory for the US, as the 1972 Gold in basketball was for the Russians.

It isn't about medal counts at all. It's about the fact that a bunch of unknowns beat them at their dominant sport. It was a victory on the Cold War battlefield. Just like 1972 in Munich for basketball. Team victories were viewed like military victories almost on the world political stage. It was the proaganda victory that counted, not medals.

[ROCHitman]

wouldn't winning the medal count be a "team victory" though? [rhetorical]