I was there. People don't get it. You had to understand what was going on up till then. As Jimmy Carter was telling Americans. Our best days are behind us. Put on a Sweater, Rationing gas oil Crisis that never happened. Then this happened. It turned America around so fast. And it's going to happen in 2024 again..As we're Americans. We pull together. We can overcome anything.
Me too! I had never had an interest in hockey but had been following the Olympics daily that year and watching everything I could. I recall hearing how the USA team was doing well so I started to follow their progress and watched each game. I didn't know a thing about hockey but learned while they continued to win against teams they were expected to lose against. It became more and more exciting as they kept beating teams they were expected to lose against! Suddenly they were in the quarterfinals then the finals! This was unheard of in USA Mens Hockey! The finals were a real nail biter, but the USA team WON!!! It was such an amazing victory for the team and for AMERICA. I remember a tremendous feeling of USA Pride due to this win. Especially because it was not expected. Many years later I sent my children to Berwick Academy in South Berwick Maine. Turns out Mike Eruzione attended the same school! I was star struck, but never had the opportunity to meet him although he had been on campus several times while my kids attended. To be honest, if I had ever been face to face with him, I would have been speechless. and unable to breathe.
College freshman heading to the slopes, stuck in rush hour when suddenly everyone started honking horns and yelling. We watched the replay later that night and it didn't matter that we already knew the result as it was such an unreal game.
How times have changed! Now if you show pride in this country and love the flag, you're the enemy. And this is from Americans. I miss the way we were. 😢 I love you, America! ❤🇺🇸
I was 7 years old watching the games with my Dad, who passed away in 2023, gives me chills each time the 1980 hockey team comes up or the movie Miracle is mentioned.
I was living in West Berlin during the 1980 winter Olympics. It wasn’t televised live so didn’t know the score when a group of us went to East Berlin the morning after the game. There were 10 of us, Americans, 19-21 yrs old. We went into an electronics store near the base of the huge tv tower. As we entered we saw the game on a couple of sets and started watching. We saw Eruzione score and everyone kinda went nuts. It was then that I remembered we were in East Berlin and told everyone to shut up. The store manager came over to me and said, “it’s okay. We don’t like the Russians either. Go ahead and cheer.” Will never forget that moment.
I was 20 years old and my whole family was at my oldest brother's house for Christening party for his new baby. Even his b**** of a wife couldn't stop everybody from watching this game.
@@aspenrebel, if you were in the US but weren't in the building, you didn't see it live. Game happened on Friday afternoon, but it was recorded and shown in prime time in the Eastern and Central time zones. There were a few newscasters around the country that gave away the result before ABC got to the end of the broadcast. Already a buzz in the Detroit area because those that watched on Canadian TV had already seen it.
I watched the game "live" and I will NEVER forget the joy, the tears and the happiness I felt. And I still have the Sports Illustrated edition from the next week. The one cover that SI never put a caption on. Just the US team celebrating with a huge American flag waving in the stands. I salute the SI editors for realizing that no caption was needed. When a picture says it all.
If the same situation could occur today, their magazine would've been filled with articles about the team's lack of diversity and how all the players had white privilege. 🤣😅🙂😐😟😞
I remember listening while driving south of Minneapolis. When we won, I was screaming and honking my horn. Everybody was honking, and not at me. They were listening too. Lots of joy that day!
Soviet league goal scoring leaders were in 1980 Shalimov 34 goals Drotzdetzky 31 Varnakov 30 Priodin 27 Lavrentjev 27 they did not played in 1980 olympics! Canada have 650000 hockey players today! USA have 500000 hockey players today! Ovechkin's Russia have only 80000 hockey players today! Canada and USA should have 15 guys who have scored over 800 goals like Ovechkin today! This was not miracle! In 1980 two games Soviets vs young USA 10-3 3-4 and goodwill games in 1990 10-3 3-3 and Calgary olympics in 1988 7-5! The Hard truth is that Russians could score 6,66 goals against young USA! Soviet scored 6,8 goal against Finland in 1970-1990!, We Finnish were trash 1970-1990 because only 21 ice rinks buildings in Finland 1980! Now we are hockey powerhouse because we have 274 ice rinks buildings to play hockey! Finland Beat Best proffesionals from USA 5-0 in 2014 olympics! USA vs Soviet Union drew 34 million tv watchers! Super bowl 82 million! Baseball world Series had 54 million tv ratings In 1980! How low USA can get when Soviet B team drew 34 million and boring slow stupid baseball world Series drew two times More 54 million! Real miracle was how good russians were 1972-1987 without ice rinks they played out Doors!, Only hockey player ever had fans was Russian Kharlamov 225 million fans in 1980! USA population 225 million in 1980! Soccer have 4 billion fans around the world! Cricket 2 billion fans! Soccer have 250 million players vs Canada 650000 players that means The Soccer All Stars would beat Orr Gretzky Lemieux easily 100 game Series 93-7! Soccer All Stars would beat Russians 99999-1 in 1980!!
@@bobbob9627 truth. Our age cohort experienced so many things that younger folks have no notion of. This wasn’t just a hockey game. That was the Big Bad Soviet Union we were playing. Olympic events against them really counted for something. And it was right after Vietnam and the energy crisis and the economy was bad. All those things are part of the feeling in the countdown for the win. Amazing times.
People forget the USA Olympic team collectively won seven gold medals but six of them were won by US speed skater Eric Heiden. Even he supported the USA hockey team being the stars of that Olympics.
Ok. He won the 500. 1000. 1500. 5000. And 10,000. He only set the Olympic records in first 4 races. What a loser. I am not sure if it was the night of the USSR being beat. Heiden was friends with a couple of 80 teams players that he grew up with playing hockey. So he was partying like those Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan kids do after a big effort. Problem was the hickey guys didn't? Or did they know? He gad to skate his last race 10,000 Meyer at 9am. At 3 4 people got Eric home and he was up 1 hour late. He showed up 30 minutes to his start .no warmup. Sets a World Record by 6 seconds!!!. If you ask me they knew that he was able to not only win but probably teased him about not setting any world records in past days. This guy's performance is to me the greatest of all with only the runner who won 5k 10k and marathon. Bolt? Roids
I watched this replayed on TV, for the first time ever. I was 25 yrs old and was preparing to graduate from college in June of 1980. I had been watching sports my whole young life. This was the single greatest thing I had ever seen concerning sports. Now I am an old man of 69 yrs. This remains the greatest sporting event I have ever seen. This video brought me chills, then tears when I watched and heard the USA TEAM and FANS singing the STAR SPANGLED BANNER during the medal ceremony. Amazing video.
This was the first group of good to elite US Hockey players. They were born between 1956 (Morrow, Baker) to 1960 (Ramsey). People don't know that Rod Langway and Joe Mullen were NHL HOF players that were the same age as Craig, O'Callahan, Johnsin, Wells. All of them born in 1957. They turned pro before the Olympics and missed out!!! There were 7 other US players same age or a year younger who turned pro early in Richie Dunn, Gord Roberts, Jim Korn, Tom Gorence, Mike McDougal, Steve Baker and Chris Nilan. So in essence a USA Team A\B.
In today's world, it is hard for those who did not live it at the time to understand the mountain they climbed. The USA was so down and needed a lift of some kind. Waiting in line for 5 gal of gas because that is all they would sell you. Praying the gas did not run out before your turn came. A bunch of kids beat a well-oiled Russian army team of men. It showed everyone that America had heart and with heart, nothing can stop us. Destiney is for those who work for it with all they have.
I was 10 years old in 1980. Growing up in Texas, I barely knew what hockey was. There was no hockey in Texas in 1980! But I watched the Olympics with my dad, and as it went on, I began to understand there was something big brewing! I watched the US-Russia match, glued to the tv. When Al Michaels said, "Do you believe in miracles," I honestly started crying. I still consider this the greatest sports moment of my life. I had the poster of the 1980s USA Hockey team on my wall for years. At one time, I could name every player on that roster.
At the time , I didn't even get hockey...Hell , I was a kid...This was by far the best sports moment I had seen besides the the Steelers and Pirates of the 70s...But every time I see the replay , it gives me chills...This was an amazing sports moment...
Seems like yesterday . . . My son was barely 4 months old when this amazing game happened...I remember so clearly holding and rocking my baby while watching Team USA come from behind and defeat the Soviets. Today, my son is nearly 6'3" tall, going on age 45; he has always been a huge fan of ice hockey. Times flies, but I still get goosebumps just like in 1980, when watching this game. Thanks for posting this!
This, to me, is the greatest sporting victory ever! The path the U.S. took and the scale of what it really meant...these guys were up against the entire world and won!
Greatest Sporting Victory ever! ...... Probably. I'm trying to think of great team sports victories. Ler's see ..... 1) " The Giants win the pennant, the Giants win the pennant". NY Giants won the 1951 NL pennant to go to World Series. They had been a lot of games back in the standings at the end of the season. But they came back to play for the pennant and won it. 2) Patriots 1st Super Bowl win over Rams, on Vinitiari FG. 2001 season. 3) Patriots come from behind when, in overtime, in super bowl vs Falcons. They were down 25 points. 4)
Herb Brooks was a mastermind? Take Bobby knight, John wooden, Sprinkle some ara parsegian, bear bryant, a bit of Billy martin with Knute Rockne and Vince Lombardi as your crest. He knew the way to motivate and push their buttons. Like in basketball. You beat a team that presses full court by presding them.
I was born April 18, 1980, still in my moms belly. Edit: I’ve seen this so many times. Every time it makes me feel warm inside with chills all over smiling ear to ear:
I was in Surface Warfare Officer's School (SWOS) Basic course at NAB Coronado when this happened. It aired at 8:00 Eastern time, which of course was 5:00 in California, and that day at 4:45 our books were closed and we all sat in our seats in the classroom, staring at the door. Finally the instructor looked at us in mock disgust and said, "I guess you've all got your minds on something else about now. Go on, get outta here", and we all headed back to the BOQ or across the street to the officers club. A bunch of us went straight to the Green Anchor, the bar on the second deck of the BOQ, where we found that the TV was on, the drinks were cold, and we could sit there and watch the game in what passed for peace. On Fridays the Anchor was supposed to close at 7:00 PM because it was usually pretty quiet up there - most everyone went across the street to the main club which had a Friday night band and was much more lively - but that night it stayed open until the game was done. Being junior officers in the Navy we were, I suppose you could say, "pleased" with the outcome. 🙂
Went to school with one of the guys on the USA team, and he was nice enough to come back to the school and come to an assembly and bring his gold medal for everyone to see in person, Mark Wells. Nice guy.
I was driving home from work that Friday doing everything that I could to not hear the score. I wanted to watch the game for the experience. I was listening to the basic Rock and Roll station and the DJ came on and excitedly said that we had won. Thousands of cars stopped on the 405 freeway in LA and started honking their horns. It's hard to tell the youngsters today just how much that game meant to the country. It brought the country together. We could use something like that today.
Can't believe this video had to be edited since the last time I watched it. Before the match with Finland, Eruzione says that Brooks says that they will take a loss to them " to their f@#$%[ng graves". Sadly that piece of oral history is now cut from the video
Soviet defenseman 'Slava' Fetisov was a member of the Soviet squad that lost to the Americans at Lake Placid. One of the best defensemen who ever played the game he lobbied Russia to be allowed to play in the NHL. He came close to banishment in Siberia but eventually was allowed to play for New Jersey and Detroit. He was in his 30's, the twilight of his career. Won 2 Stanley Cups for the Red Wings, 1997-98 and 1998-99. He was 39 and then 40 at the time. Won another Stanley Cup as an assistant coach for New Jersey 1999-2000. Like the other Soviets they were a combination of amused and awed by the wild celebration of the Americans. The elation of winning was something foreign to their way of conduct--it was inconceivable. 'Wow, they're having great fun, so much joy on display--something we know little about. Wish I could join in.' So he hatched the idea of joining the Americans playing ice hockey in N. America. Fetisov and success are constant companions.
This was 44 yrs ago? I remember exactly where I was when I was watching this, with a lot of family. At my oldest brother's house for a baby shower. His wife was not pleased when my older brother went and turned on the TV. After awhile, when others were watching, she knew she had to give in. But they still had to beat Finland.
I think we can I think we can...I thought we could I thought we could. Was on the bed watching with uncle Herbie at his house on Cheyenne Avenue in Detroit
I was one of the few in the US to watch the game live on tv. I found a French-Canadian UHF broadcast. Poor reception, but from the middle of the second period on I saw it all.
The Soviets beat NHL All Star Team in 1979 in 3 straight games, winning the last one 6-0. I mean, the NHL All Stars werent an opponent to them and a amateur young players beat them in the Olympics. That show how big this upset was, the biggest in history of sports.
Saw the game live on German TV while I was stationed there in the Army...when we realized what had happened...the party started...and kept going for days...
For the East Side of St.Paul Minnesota it was just a little sweeter with a touch more pride. The kids of Johnson High School (me being one) was watching a miracle that had ties to our High School. The tie was Herb Brooks 🇺🇸🥅🏒🚨🥇 USA USA USA USA USA USA
The similarities between Jim Craig's father loosing his wife and my dad losing his wife to cancer are uncanny! I had the most unforgettable opportunity to meet Jim Craig back in 1997. It was a wonderful experience and I will NEVER forget it!
You’d probably be shocked to know how old I am then lol. I feel this video and all the short form content on it needs to be shown to those who just don’t get what’s it means to play sports in a national level here in America
It was 1972, Canada vs Russia, that showed the world, Freedom over Communism. It was called, The Summit Series. They played 8 games, 4 in Canada, 4 in Russia, Canada won the series, 4 wins, 3 loses, 1 tie.
And here we are 44 years later and we have players taking a knee on the floor and others protesting that some minority group is not being treated BETTER than everyone else. So sad, to see what the Americans have become, and how spineless the US have became.
I was only 12 years old. But I remember this as if it were yesterday. This documentary may seem like hyperbole to young people today. But I can attest that the sentiments described here were 100% real.
At the time, we all called it a miracle, but it wasn't close to a miracle. They just needed time to gel together. Herb Brooks had a great eye for exceptional talent. Look at the team and what they did in the NHL later. Neal Broten - only player ever to win the NCAA Championship, an Olympic Gold, and a Stanley Cup, 17 seasons in the NHL - 923 career points. Ken Morrow to the Islanders - the Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier Islanders - he's the final piece of the puzzle and wins the Gold and the Stanley Cup in the same year, and helps win 4 Cups in a row. Mike Ramsey - 1,070 games over 18 years in the NHL, leaves the Sabres - goes to the Red Wings and plays in the Cup but loses to the Devils - and Neal Broten. Dave Christian -14 years in the NHL, 340 goals, a Stanley Cup appearance with the Bruins and an All Star appearance. Mark Johnson - 11 years in the NHL - team captain for the Hartford Whalers. Jack O'Callahan, Mark Pavelich, and Dave Silk were all solid NHL players with 23 combined years and 903 NHL game appearances. Two more years together and they would beat any team, any time. Underdogs in 1980 for sure - but no miracle - it was a great team with tremendous talent.
If that US Olympic Team was an NHL Franchise 1981-82 they would probably finish bottom 6 in the NHL. Craig and Janaszak couldn't make it career wise in the NHL. The D Corp would have two good dmen in Morrow\Ramsey with O'Callahan being at best a lower level #3 Dman. Baker played about 150 NHL Games and Suter never played in the NHL. Christian played D but was a top 6F in the NHL. Center was the only position where the US Olympic Team had real NHL quality as Pavelich and Broken were top 6C and Johnson had top 6C abilities. Christoff was the only NHL top 6W. Silk and McClanahan were basically 3RW and 3LW level forwards. All that being said if The USA Olympic Team had been able to roster every player that was NCAA age at the end of the 1979 season they would have been much stronger on D and deeper upfront. G - Baker - Craig D - Langway - Dunn Morrow - Roberts O'Callahan - Ramsey C - Johnson - Pavelich - Broten- W - Mullen - McClanahan Gorence - Christoff McDougal - Silk Harrer - Christian That is a team that could finish 8 out of 17 in the NHL.
@5 never said they would win the Cup or even be NHL quality in '80. Just that it was great team with tremendous talent. My comment was specific that in 2 years they would have been even better, able to skate with anyone, and they weren't all college scrubs picked off the trash heap. Obviously they would have had to improve at goalie, but the fact that they were thrown together for a few months meant it looked like a miracle. Broten, Morrow, Silk, Christian, Pavelich, O'Callahan, and Ramsey would have - in my opinion - formed the core of a Stanley Cup contender by '82 or '83.
Nice try but these guys are young men before going into the nhl while you’re pulling out stats with top named teammates. Yes, Herb picked them cause they had talent but it was never expected to beat Russia or medal. There’s no way you can say “yeah it was a miracle up to two years after but look what they did in the future.” How the hell would anyone know what these guys would do? So since some of these guys, in their future, played in the NHL, won SC with great teammates, it takes miracle away. I 100% disagree. You’re knit picking and pulling random facts trying to say it’s not a “Miracle”. I 100% disagree. Edit: in 2 years a player a their age can change and grow quite a bit. They where young and you’re trying to transport this team into the future, come on back to reality. That’s not the same team.
@@ironcity4182 Nice try - but let's be clear; I never said it wasn't a huge upset - it was an amazing upset. But - "Never expected to medal"?? Lot's of people thought they could grab a Bronze. For those who don't know - in the 1960 Winter Olympics the U.S. won the Gold Medal in hockey. Can you guess how many played in the NHL? One - Tom Williams. Out of 17 players he was the only one given a shot. He was still, in 1967, the only U.S. born player in the NHL - that after the U.S. team went 5-0 in the Olympics, beating both Canada and the USSR - (fun fact: Herb Brooks was the last player cut from that Gold Medal U.S. team in 1960). Just some FYI - in 1972 the U.S. won the Silver Medal in hockey. And in 1976 the U.S. made it to the Medal Round - coming in 5th (the upset that year was West Germany beating the U.S. 4-1 and took the Bronze) The 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team was one of the most talented teams assembled - has evidenced by their Gold medal and their NHL accomplishments afterward. And they changed hockey forever by proving the U.S. was producing quality NHL caliber players. 'Upset' and 'Miracle' are two different things. Ramsey, Christian, Broten, Morrow, Johnson, Pavelich, Silk, and O'Callahan are the nucleus of any great team. They were young - that's all. And lets be clear - I specifically said in two years they could skate with anyone.
Herb.brook Greatest hockey coach that's ever lived give Greatest hockey speech ever rest.in.peace Herb.brook you are Greatest hockey coach ever USA 🇺🇸 USA 🇺🇲 USA 🇺🇲 USA 🇺🇲 USA 🇺🇲 USA 🇺🇲 USA 🇺🇲 USA 🇺🇲 USA 🇺🇲 USA 🇺🇲 USA 🇺🇲 USA 🇺🇲 USA 🇺🇲 USA 🇺🇲 USA 🇺🇲 USA 🇺🇲 USA 🇺🇲 USA 🇺🇲 USA 🇺🇲 USA 🇺🇲 USA 🇺🇲 USA 🇺🇲
35:05 - I have gone over & over the math, and I don't see how this was possible. There is no way they wouldn't have medaled at all. if anyone can explain the math to me on that, feel free.
@@CoachHeadTTVThe best part was Mike Eruzione saying that when Herb Brooks walked into the locker room he said, "If you lose this ga..." It literally didn't give me chills. 😆
Maybe more dramatic? It was way more dramatic than that. They also beat the supposed second best team in Czechoslovakia. So its like an NCAA College All Star team beating Buffalo and then Kansas City. Guess what? Wouldn't happen.
In 1980 it was a tough time for America. The economy inflation the Iranian hostage situation and operation Eagle Claw the failed rescue attempt for the hostages. This gave us a glimmer of hope, and later that year Regan was elected, America was back. Right now history repeating itself and we're living in very dark times. We've hit rock bottom, at least we're on solid ground. Hopefully we can bounce back and have that pride again. Today's generation doesn't deserve whats happening to them. We need bring the pride back, and folks we need to make a tough choice in November. Think before you vote and end the progressive and woke insanity.
I have a question I can’t find an answer. Why didn’t the Russians pull their goalie in the last few minutes? All I can think is they never practiced it.
They lost in the IIHF World's to the Czechoslovakia team in 1977 I believe. They clearly weren't unbeatable. Lot better than US but not 10-3 better than at MSG. Two years later about half the US Olympic Team would play on Team USA in the 1982 Canada Cup and lose 4-1, in part because Tony Esposito let in two soft goals.
Like it was yesterday. Our guys kicked the shit out of the russkis !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go to 29:54 in this video, and feel the magic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be political, as that was a stark reality, when Johnson went down the way he did, we saw the look on herb brooks face. That was never the look Jimmy Carter gave during the entire hostage crisis. And Americans were done with diplomacy that lacked zeal and heart.
great moment. Two years earlier, bobby orr schooled everybody. 78 canada cup that same soviet team didnt even make the finals. They all watched bobby orr. Dont get me wrong canada socialist communist puke whole right now, but hockey is canada and bobby orr is the greatest hockey player ever. dont disrespect the game. Even today if they held a canada cup, mcdavid, mckinnon, fill in the the other forward, and makar on d, wow. The only weekness anymore is goalie for canada.
I was in my third year of college and saw this live. The pressure and thrill was unbelivable. I compare this to our woke US Woman's soccer team and thier disrespect to the anthem and flag that represent our country and its history. Shameful.
