The Iranian hostage crisis was into its 3rd month, unemployment was at record levels.
And then there came February 21 at Lake Placid, NY.
For you younger FReepers let's just say "The Miracle", however briefly, instilled a huge shot of patriotism and love for country into the American public.
The movie "Miracle" with Kurt Russell is a great story about this historic event and near the end of the movie you'll be shouting USA...USA...USA too.
USA! USA! USA!
Cool! Thanks for the memories.
I remember it well.
February 1980 was an awful time for America, until these young college men literally electrified the country.
Fortunately, the year ended on a happy note.....Ronald Reagan won the presidential election in November 1980 in a landslide.
Goalie looking into the stands, draped with USA flag: “Where’s my fatha?”
I still remember watching that game & their next one.
USA!
Though I don’t like Canada not winning a gold in hockey at the Olympics, at least the Soviets didn’t win in 1980.
I was only 20 when this happened, but I remember it well. I later I worked with Mark Johnson’s Mom. Great family! He’s the Coach for our UW Badger Women’s Hockey team.
We are lucky to have him! His goal in the last SECOND of the first period tied us up with the Russians, which paved our way to the WIN! :)
35 frickin’ years.. much of it despoiled by a rampacious cadre of scoundrels who would make George Washington blush, so outrageous have been their actions.
Where did it go? wow.
We cold use another “Miracle” I reckun.
Drop the puck, Obammy.. Let’s jam!
THE MIRACLE ON ICE!!
I was a Marine heading to Iran, and that victory over Russia was the only good news we got, other than Canada saving our embassy personnell :)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkoOH05Yvyb1cg90Jf80Zr752fAAY0YLe
I was 11 years old when this Miracle took place. I was very young but remember the overwhelming sense of angst hanging over our nation as the peanut farmer president Jimmy Carter had given us the “Misery Index”, “Stagflation”, close to 20% interest rates on loans, gasoline shortages with higher gas prices, and the Iranian Hostage Crisis. THE U.S was in a deep funk of misery at the time.
Watching this game live (all commentators said the U.S team had no chance of winning) was amazing! Gives me goose bumps now just thinking about it. Love watching the Miracle on Ice movie with Kurt Russel.
USA! USA! USA!
“This time period was during the disasterous Jimmy Carter presidency; the nation as a whole was in a collective funk.”
Collective funk understates how bleak things were. There’s been nothing like it until Obama’s disasterous regime.
The miracle on ice was a beacon of light in a very dark time. It invigorated suffering American patriots and felt like the first hope for better times ahead. I do think it helped Reagan in his run for the Presidency.
And i got married that year too.
But back to hockey. I worked downtown Manhattan at that time. One of the games we played that year was on in the afternoon. I remember being outside and the sun was out. There were 20 or 30 people on the sidewalk standing in front of a store window. There was a t.v. in the window showing the game. This never ever happens,especially for hockey. Those boys brought a nation together that year.
Was in Germany and watched the game on a big screen at a German ice rink after a club hockey game. The Germans cheered as loud as the Americans for the USA. Some Russians were there too and got very quiet.
Weeks later I rode alone in an elevator with the coach at the Plaza hotel and talked about the memorable game.
One of those things you never forget.
Back then we were in our Carter malaise period. Was a lot like now in terms of the country’s mood. Looking forward to our next turning point moment.
The song “99” by Toto was playing on the radio during those 1980 Olympics.
Great stuff. I recall my Dad, not an overall huge sports fan, being awestruck by the whole run of the American hockey team. He was a boxing fan, and always commented on the fact that the Iron Curtain countries fielded only what we would term “professional athletes”.
Are any of them “transitioning”?
“He never saw it. He lived it.”