Posted on 02/24/2019 12:30:15 PM PST by CaliforniaCraftBeer
The Soviet Union had won the gold medal in five of the six previous Winter Olympic Games, and were the favorites to win once more in Lake Placid. The team consisted primarily of professional players with significant experience in international play. By contrast, the United States' team—led by head coach Herb Brooks—consisted exclusively of amateur players, and was the youngest team in the tournament and in U.S. national team history. Equally well-known was the television call of the final seconds of the game by Al Michaels for ABC, in which he declared: "Do you believe in miracles?! YES!" In 1999, Sports Illustrated named the "Miracle on Ice" the top sports moment of the 20th century. As part of its centennial celebration in 2008, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) named the "Miracle on Ice" as the best international ice hockey story of the past 100 years.
I don’t care anything about hockey but despite that I really enjoyed that game. Enjoyed it from start to finish.
They actually beat Finland for the gold 2 days after they upset Russia. The final was 4-2.
The one thing which sticks in my mind is that goalie just not letting anything by him.
IMHO the biggest upset in the history of sports.
They didn’t win the Gold when they beat the USSR, they still had to beat Finland to get the Gold.
Unfortunately, for me, the game was not broadcast live, and I had accidentally heard the result before they showed the game, so all the drama was gone.
The US-Sweden tie in the first round carried over. The US beat the Soviets in their first game in the finals round. They won the gold by beating Finland so had a 2-0-1 record.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey_at_the_1980_Winter_Olympics
You are tight Finland, I thought Sweden. However the Red Army Team lost to a bunch of American college kids. Didn’t the RAT beat these same kids like 10-2 in an exhibition game in the States before the Olympics started?
It was actually 10-3 in Madison Square Garden. Defenseman Jack O’Callahan twisted his knee and didn’t play until the medal round.
To me, scheduling the game was a stroke of genius by Herb Brooks because, when they played in the medal round, the Americans had already seen the Soviet team and knew exactly who they were playing.
thanks for the correction.
I don’t know if I was watching it live or not. Sure thought I was tho.
No headline on SI said more than anything that could have been written.
Media reported that the USSR team wasn’t the real deal and that they were like some second string team we beat.
Never forget that day. We were in Alaska, and didn’t get anything live then; shows had to be flown up from Seattle. I was talking to my sister in the Lower 48 who was watching it live. I said, “Don’t tell me! Don’t tell me.” She told me. Still, when I saw it, it was beautiful. (And I don’t like sports at all.)
yes it was something like the week prior to opening ceremonies.
It was the first time I cried over sports.
This was 38 years ago. What have white men Americans done lately to distinguish themselves? Made social media sites and positioned Amazon to put others out of business? Is that all there is? Cue up Ms Peggy Lee.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=LCRZZC-DH7M
And they were trailing Finland 2-1 entering the 3rd period. If they had lost that game I wonder how the upset of the USSR would be viewed today. Certainly the Gold Medal ceremony is very much a part of the allure, when Mike Eruzione told all the players to run up on the platform. Great memories
Herb Brooks in the lockerroom told the players, “If you lose this game [Finland] you’ll take it to your bleeping grave.” He walked out then walked back in and said, “Your Bleeping Grave!”
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