MIRACLE ON ICE
It happened on a Friday afternoon. Puck drop was at 5pm, and it wasn’t on TV. There was no 24/7 coverage of the Olympics back then. ABC had petitioned to move the game to 8pm Eastern, but the Russians complained that would make it a ridiculous hour in the motherland. When ABC finally rolled tape in prime time, they didn’t even show the whole game, but a condensed version.
This was the era of strict non-professional participation. There were no NHL players allowed. There were also no Europeans/Russians allowed in the NHL, so they were all playing for their national teams. Imagine today having all the best Russians and putting them against a bunch of college kids. That is why this was called a miracle.
There was still unfinished business. That would come two days later, Sunday afternoon,with the Americans scoring three unanswered goals in the third period to beat Finland for the gold medal. Enjoy.
Those were longest 10 minutes in my life. Mikhailov nearly scored at the end.
Mark Johnson. What a player.
Remember when the Olympics meant something? When we sent amateur athletes to compete with professional Soviets and East Germans and their crooked judges? This moment was the absolute peak.
1980 was such a glorious year. It really was another country.
Yeah it was.
It’s the greatest story in sports, probably ever. Had they lost to Finland, Finland would have won silver, the US bronze, and the Soviets gold, by the old, not made for tv (but probably fairer) format. My mom was expecting me at the time, but, being from Boston, those guys were very famous throughout my youth.
Thanks for the memories.
Still a time that you could believe in our country and Reagan was running for president.
Precursor the Miracle on Ice… the day the undefeated Soviets came to Philly to play the Bullies.
I’m sure Mark remembers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ddPhG6EAOo
I remember. They tried to quit!