From going to the moon to sports, the USA usually came out on top, but in ice hockey it seemed that the USSR finally dominated at something. Then came an upset for the ages, and that's why this is No. 1 on this list.
The Americans were a group of untested college players in a culture that was hardly hockey-centric, and they entered the 1980 Games as the seventh seed among 12 teams.
The Soviets, meanwhile, were full-time hockey players who had played together for years, and they were representing a country that had produced eight of the last nine gold medalists in the sport.
The American college kids just before the Games were embarrassed, 10-3, in one of the most sickening events in USA Olympic history.
But the USA won four and tied one in pool play, including a last-minute equalizer against Sweden and a 7-3 thrashing of silver medal favorite Czechoslovakia. That placed the Americans in the medal round and a semifinal date with the mighty Soviets.
U.S. coach Herb Brooks had studied the USSR team inside and out. He knew how they played and he selected a team that he thought could counter the Russians' strengths. Brooks worked his team hard but had them fully prepared for the challenge, telling his team, "This is your time," before the Soviet game.
With the USSR leading, 2-1, and time ticking away in the first period, the game and history changed. Russian goalie Vladislav Tretiak misplayed a Dave Christian shot and Mark Johnson slotted home the rebound for a 2-2 score at intermission. Enraged USSR coach Viktor Tikhonov made a goalie change, replacing Tretiak, considered the best netminder in the world, in favor of Vladimir Myshkin.
That set the stage for third-period heroics. Captain Mike Eruzione scored the famous goal on a wrist shot to give the USA a 4-3 lead with 10 minutes to play.
With the cozy Lake Placid rink pulsating, the young Americans survived those final nervous minutes and won the game punctuated by Al Michaels' famous call, "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!!!!"
Lost to history is the fact that the USA did not win the gold medal that day. There was one more game to play, against Finland. And according to the rules of the day, the Americans would take the gold medal with a win, and with a loss could finish fourth—without a medal.
The Americans sealed the deal with a 4-2 win.
Do you believe in miracles? Or is the USA the best at everything in every possible way—and sports are not an exception? The answer to both questions is YES.
17 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete