Herb Brooks killed in car accident

Mpls Star Tribune ^ | 8/11/03 | Star Tribune

[Johnny Gage]

Herb Brooks, 66, former University of Minnesota hockey coach, was killing this afternoon in car crash near Forest Lake, Minn., on Interstate 35.....

[Alberta's Child]

Don't leave us hanging! Details!

Maybe some other time. I don't want to speak poorly of the guy so soon after his passing. LOL.

[VOA]

The only words to his team before the Gold Medal game were simple: "If you lose this game,
you'll take it to your F---ing grave. You're F---ing grave." He then slammed the
door and let the players be by themselves the final 5 min. before going out
for the start of the game.

Thanks for amplifying my post #70.
Getting a team to still come on strong after a watershed event like
beating the Russians...Brooks knew how to be a motivator/leader of men.

It's funny in a way...that line from Brooks before the Finland game sounds
almost like boilerplate from a Hollywood movie.
But Brooks must have looked into his souls and the souls of the players and
simply realized he had to make an emotive appeal to higher performance...even if it bombed.

R.I.P. Coach Brooks

[Colonel_Flagg]

You are most kind. :)

I've always been told that one way to measure the impact of one's life is how people around you react to what you've done. For that time in 1980, everyone was pulling the same way - that is what sports are supposed to be about.

Be well. And thank you.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Actually, it was 10-3, but your point is well made.

As a college journalism project, I interviewed Rob McClanahan, Buzz Schneider and Steve Janaszak (the backup goalie and the only member of Team USA who never stepped on the ice in 1980) and found them all to be kind gentlemen. Janaszak's big highlight from the Olympics, other than winning his medal, was meeting his future wife.

Lots of those players never went on to the pro ranks - Schneider couldn't get a contract despite being the team's leading goal scorer in the Olympics, Bill Baker became an oral surgeon and even Jim Craig's NHL career was star-crossed.

But there were players like Neal Broten and Ken Morrow who went on to enjoy long and successful pro careers. On other teams, Jari Kurri played for Finland in 1980 and Igor Larionov is still playing, I believe.

But the maestro has passed. What a sad day for American hockey.

[Heff]

Bob Johnson (another hockey Great!) once said; "Its a great day for hockey".

Clearly, this is one of hockey's saddest days. Herb was a friend of mine. I will miss him. He had many radical ideas about how youth hockey should be in this country, I didn't always agree, but I deeply respected him.

Herbie!! You will be missed by so many. RIP my friend.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Actually, it was 10-3, but your point is well made.

More amazing: I believe in either 1979 or 1981 the same Red Army team beat an NHL all star team 7-2 ...

[SoothingDave]

Bob Johnson (another hockey Great!) once said; "Its a great day for hockey".

Badger Bob always said "It's a great day for hockey." Today heaven's team just got a little bit better.

SD

[AlaninSA]

Howlin, you're a hockey fan?!?!?

I thought you were a great poster before...but now...well, the margaritas and enchiladas are on me the next time you're in San Antonio!

[Howlin]

Yes, I am! And I am REALLY a fan now that Raleigh has its own team! No don't laugh......they ARE a team. You can't believe how excited my mother got the day she ran out of gas and Ron Francis stopped and got her some gas! Now she's a hocky fan, too!

It came hard for us ACCers, you know? But my first husband was from New Hampshire......I had to learn!

[Howlin]

You lived in Raleigh????? (I love your FR home page!)

[AlaninSA]

Yep...I think I lived in one of the two or three decent subdivisions in the 27610 zip code. I used to commute about 30 miles due east to my drug industry job each day. The location in Raleigh meant that my commute was long -- but enabled my wife and kids to live in a decent size city.

I lost all love for the MINNESOTA NORTH STARS when Norm (jerk) moved them to Dallas. I became a But San Antonio is home to my wife -- and there are things about here that she missed (not the least of which is being a member of the majority group in the population -- she's of Mexican ancestry).

[AlaninSA]

That is, I became a Hurricanes fan. Dang, if I didn't have a major toddler-induced digital mistake there!