One of the most fascinating ironies of that whole story was the way team captain Mike Eruzione’s perspective changed over time. Some 20+ years afterward, he finally said something that I felt for a long time: He said that as time passed after 1980, he thought the U.S. gold medal win became less and less impressive to him — because it became more clear that the U.S. team was far better than anyone gave them credit for at the time. It was function of the anonymity of hockey players and the low profile of hockey as a U.S. sport back then. But that was a talented group of players, many of whom went on to have solid professional careers.
That may be, but the Russians were still a hockey powerhouse and were expected to win.
Mike Eruzione an Dan Bongino’s radio show today. Interesting interview.