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.....

[L.N. Smithee]

This is a shame, even though my only encounter with Herb Brooks involved him throwing me out of a Devils practice session. :-(

Don't leave us hanging! Details!

[X-FID]

Absolutely amazing!

[God luvs America]

Very sad...I remember that sooo well and the feeling that overcame me.

I was 16-years old and one of the few hockey fans in my town. I remembered as I sat down to dinner that night the game had already been played (ABC showed it on tape delay that night). I got up from the table, called sports phone (900-976-1313 for those who remember!) and will never forget the taped voice on the other side saying "They did it in 1960 and they did it again...the American hockey team defeats the Russians 4-3!" I came back to the table grinning ear-to-ear and got yelled at!!

I've taped all the specials about the game, met Mike Eruzione last May and actually got a copy of that game ten years ago which I watch every now and then...I must tell you that even now it is tough to sit down and not get nervous the last 11 minutes of that game!

[loftyheights]

I remember interviewing David Christian('80 Olympic defenseman and Univ. of North Dakota player) for the UND student paper after an exibition game between Winnipeg and St. Louis in 1980 or 81. He spoke very highly of Brooks as a great coach and gentleman. Coach Brooks was sharp enough to take David Christian, who played center, and persuade him to play defense on the Olympic team. Christian was the player who as time was running out in the period against the Soviets attempted an almost rink-length shot which Mark Johnson put in the net on the rebound as time ran out to tie the game 2-2. To lose their husband and father must be very hard. May Herb Brooks rest in peace.

[Ooh-Ah]

In 1980 my family and I stopped for dinner in Connecticut along the Long Island sound. A man approached my 9 year old son who had wandered off but was within our sight. I became uneasy about this stranger approaching my son and joined them.

The man was attracted to my son's soccer T-shirt and was talking sports with him. He introduced himself to us. It was Herb Brooks! He could not have been nicer.

He will be missed.

[God luvs America]

Fortunately my wife and I were in Salt Lake City for the 2002 Olympics and went to several hockey games as Brooks coached Team USA again!!

[John Lenin]

What a great game, if you saw it you will never forget it. What an upset.

[Valin]

The Miracle on Ice was years before I was born

Quick where's my Geritol!

[Finalapproach29er]

You understand. Sports Illustrated had the definitive article, a retrospective, on the Rednecks in the rural areas that got out their shotguns and fired them off in celebration, grizzled Cold Warriors cried... and so forth. God's wrath that existed since Nov. 22, 1963 was finally lifting. Everybody knew Reagan was going to win and turn the nation around.

[Nowhere Man]

I was 13 years old, later 14 in 1980, when we beat the Soviets and took the Gold later, it made me feel good. To me, that's when the 1980's began, it was the first thing that made America feel proud again. I remember sitting on the floor watching the game and when we won, mom and I cheering really loud. I also wished he could have stayed on as coach of our Penguins here in Pittsburgh. A true legend, RIP Coach Brooks.

[Finalapproach29er]

The USA team lost to the Russians 2 weeks earlier at Madison Square Garden 7-2.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

I was a precocious 14, unhappy with the situation in the land at the the time ... that game was a clear turning point.

Later, in the Fall of 1980, we jettisoned our malaise and never looked back.

[EGPWS]

(NHL players couldn't play in 1980 because they were pro's). Difficult to think of a comparable sporting result. Amazing.

Not too amazing, I remember a classmate of mine in high school,(Bill Baker #6) who snapped a foe's stick with the puck with his blistering slap-shot from the point!

Ah, the good ol' day's. Herb will be missed!

[Finalapproach29er]

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.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

One great personal recollection:

Following the 1980 games, 3 of the players who were Buffalo Sabre property reported to Rochester to play for the Amerks (ironically, short for "Americans"): Rob McClanahan, Eric Strobel and John Harrington.

The atmosphere in the old Rochester War Memorial that night was indescribable. Flags, singing ... one of the guys scored a shorthanded goal and the place went berserk ... of course the Amerks blew a 2 goal lead and settled for a tie -- par for the course that season!

[EGPWS]

The Miracle on Ice was years before I was born

Quick where's my Geritol!

Ankle-biter!!! I'm envious!! : )....FYI, ahm, there's a sale on Geritol at Walgreen's this week. (A neighbor told me!)

[des]

Great, great, great...I love it.

[des]

If I recall correctly, THE MIRACLE (actually, the final) was the last hockey game a lot of those guys played.

[NittanyLion]

God Bless Herb Brooks.

[MetalHeadConservative35]

this may sound stupid...but i urge ANY hockey players who have games,drop in,practice this week to place a arm band over your jersey or a black sticker on your helmet to show respect to probably one of hockeys finest

R.I.P Coach Brooks