'Miracle' Men May Light it Up-1980 USA Hockey Team Ordered To Salt Lake Under Secrecy

Chicago Tribune ^ | February 1, 2002 | Shannon McCarthy

[umbra]

A change of travel plans for members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team that pulled off the 'Miracle on Ice' might indicate who will light the Olympic cauldron at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

Originally, the United States Olympic Committee always plays it incredibly close to the down vest who will light the Olympic flame during opening ceremonies.

[Skip Ripley]

That summer? Are you sure? I recall that 10-3 loss happening a few days prior to the opening ceromonies

[piasa]

He peobably has to attend since the whole secret service will be guarding Salt Lake City. ; )

[OldFriend]

LOLOL.....not you are getting a bit technical......LOL.....wherever they usually do the toss is where they will be.......It is the first time EVER that a president or former president ever did the coin toss in person. Regan did it by sattelite from the oval office once They say former President Bush once attended the superbowl as vice president.

[codebreaker]

Maybe you are right, my memory has faded a bit-was the game in Madison Square Garden?

[GraniteStateConservative]

Both are military men, I guess. I wonder why Clintoon wasn't invited to join this twosome? < /sarcasm >

[codebreaker]

Clinton was invited, he will be on at halftime..I will be watching 'Fear Factor' with Hugh Hefner's gals.

[OldFriend]

LOLOL even I, a 65 yr. old grannie would rather watch Hef's girls, than watch clintooon.

[codebreaker]

Clintoon is just impossible to get away from..

[Major Matt Mason]

Yep, that 10-3 drubbing of the U.S. by Russia was a tune-up game for the '80 Olympics. The game was indeed played at Madison Square Garden, about a week before the games started.

We won the one that counted, of course.

[codebreaker]

And how sweet it was.

[The Raven]

The 1980 Gold. One of the happiest days in my life...and I wasn't even following hockey in those days (I do now).

It was followed closely by Ronald getting elected to boot.

[NYCVirago]

I think it's a good choice, the unofficial song for the Olympics will be Neil Diamonds "Comin' to America."

Is Michael Dukakis going to make a guest appearance as well?

[VOA]

I know I would probably have heard or seen this report somewhere else, but I still wish
you had not posted it. I would have rather been surprised.

Heck, I don't know if anything about the 1980 "Miracle On Ice" team could be any more
of a suprise than having the reclusive/retiring teammate Pavelich show up at Staples
Cemter in Los Angeles the other night for a big ceremony.

The report is that he didn't call anyone, but showed up in down vest and hunting boots
(and other clothes, I hope!) after driving 22 hours straight from his
rural outpost near Lutsen, MN.

Now...if they get Pavelich to show up at Salt Lake City with the rest of the team to
be seen on world-wide TV to open the Winter Games...
not only will that be a suprise...
his team-mates might say it's a sign of the approach of the Apocalypse!

[CyberAnt]

My understanding is there will be Ford, Carter, Bush(41), and Clintoon - also Nancy Reagan.

[CedarDave]

They were all together and Leno introduced them during his show one night last week. I guess that's why they were in LA (if that's where the NHL game wasp; I'm not a fan of hockey in hot SE NM!!).

[Utah Girl]

The Trib is the liberal newspaper here in SLC and Utah. They think their job is to print the news and information, even if it does interfere with secrets. They're not too hot on the Olympics, so.....

[OldFriend]

Well, here I am.....I have nice new wallpaper on my computer....the hockey team. AND, I watched football long enough to see my beloved former President Herbert Walker Bush get a roaring ovation when he was introduced. He seemed so excited and thrilled at the ovation........

[Miss Marple]

I will NEVER forget the "Miracle on Ice." We were coming off the Carter years, and we had had really rough times. My daughter was a new baby, and we were RIVETED to the television for every game.

It was the first time I could remember since probably 1963 that I could feel unabashedly patriotic. Those guys did about as mucuh to revive the spirit of America as anyone could ask at that time.

[Utah Girl]

I'm not watching the game, but I am thrilled to hear that former President Bush got a roar from the crowd. I think the theory that all politicians are booed at sports events is a rumor started by Clinton's minions, because Bill & Hill were/are always booed at sporting events.

[Utah Girl]

I think I was a bit oblivious at the Winter Olympics in 1980, but I do remember the hockey win and how exciting it was for all of us.

The IOC admonished us Utahns today to remember that the Games are the world's, not just America's. Grrrr, makes one want to wave an American flag at all events and be unabashedly patriotic. Can't we don't both be American and be nice to the foreign Olympic athletes?

Anyway, now that I have ranted, my sister and I drove to downtown SLC last night, just to see the preparations, since that won't be possible after tomorrow. Wow is all I kind say. SLC is almost ready to go. I drove past Rice-Eccles stadium, where the opening ceremonies will be held, and saw the flags of different nations flying, with the Olympic cauldron in the middle. That is one impressive looking cauldron. And all of the fencing around (two rows of fencing) with blue cloth/plastic saying "Salt Lake City 2002" on it. Lots and lots of white lights are decorating buildings and apartments, Temple Square is still decorated, the banners on the sides of the tall buildings are so awesome. We also drove past the Medals plaza, saw the Olympics rings on the side of the Delta Center (the Olympic ice skating rink).

And we saw the Dale Chihuly exhibit through the glass windows of Abravanal Hall. It is spectacular, there is the big yellow sun looking ball hanging outside, and the big red piece that looks like a waterfall, it is hanging in the lobby. I can't wait to see the whole exhibit. Chihuly's work is wonderful, regardless of the fact that the Hildabeast designated him as America's first living treasure. She just wanted free stuff.