"Eleven seconds, you've got ten seconds. Morrow, up to Silk...five seconds to go in the game...Do you believe in miracles? YES!!!"
Of course, the better game was later, when we won the gold against Finland.
How sweet it was!
Posted on 02/22/2007 12:16:31 PM PST by MplsSteve
On February 22 1980, the US Olympic hockey team defeated the Soviet Union 4-3 at Lake Placid, NY.
Until that time, the Russians had not lost an Olympic hockey game since 1968.
The Soviets were highly favored to repeat as gold medalists and only weeks earlier, had convincingly defeated the US team 10-3 in a game at Madison Square Garden.
Soviet coach Viktor Tikhonov pulled goalie Vladislav Tretiak, a move still debated by many. In the closing seconds of the game, Tikhonov did not pull their goalie to put an extra attacker on the ice.
The US team went on to defeat Finland (two days later) 4-2 to win their first gold medal since 1980.
The US really needed to game to help restore our pride.
Where were you? Do you remember this?
Comments or opinions - anyone?
I was only three and couldn't enjoy it. Damn it.
The game was played in the afternoon on a weekday. We caught it on tape-delay that evening. We knew the outcome, but it was still something to see.
How sweet is was!
I can give Tikhonov a pass for pulling Tretiak. The Soviets played better in front of the backup, Myshkin I believe his name was.
Not pulling the goalie. That's kinda like the 1985 Chicago Bears not having a decent 2-minute drill. It's a weakness, but when you are never trailing late in a game, it's a weakness nobody knows you have -- including the coach.
Where was I? Celebrating my 11th birthday.
Where am I now? Lamenting that walking wet bar Ted (hiccup) Kennedy shares that birthday.
1980's gold was the first for the USA since 1960...
Watched it from a student TV lounge at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. The place went NUTS.
"Eleven seconds, you've got ten seconds. Morrow, up to Silk...five seconds to go in the game...Do you believe in miracles? YES!!!"
Of course, the better game was later, when we won the gold against Finland.
How sweet it was!
bttt
Chances are, you seen some clips of the game before.
Go to www.youtube.com and type in "Miracle On Ice". There are several great clips - including an almost-10 minute one that shows all the goals.
Very cool.
bttt
I always forget it wasn't the Gold Medal Game. Can you imagine if the US would have lost to Finland. I wonder how much the game would have been remembered then?
Context is everything. At that point in time Carter had been President for almost a full term and was running for reelection. To say things weren't going well for the US would be an understatement. Reagan was battling for the nomination at the time. The Iranian hostage crisis was in full flight. This olympic triumph was a light in a very dark world at the time.
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