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.
I don’t know if I was watching it live or not. Sure thought I was tho.
True, but few people other than true hockey fans were going to watch the tape-delayed game as it was assumed that the Russians would easily crush the Americans. When I heard that the Americans won, I made sure that I was watching the game when it did come on. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered watching it.
That was a special time in my life. I was in my senior year at high school and had just enlisted in the Marine Corps (delayed entry program). So I was already feeling patriotic. I went over to Winthrop to see Mike Eruzione's homecoming. It was a madhouse. Thousands of people lined the streets, waving American flags. To me, it was the kickoff to the 1980s and the Reagan era and marked an end to the depressing Carter years.
And yes, the U.S. did not win a gold medal against the Russians. They had another game yet to win in order to get the gold. I often wonder if we would still remember the Russian win had they dropped that game against Finland.
Not televised because it was thought they would be destroyed... only a month or so before they lost to the Soviets 10-2 at MST.... and it could have been worse.