THE 1980 OLYMPIC ICE-HOCKEY GAMES
During the1980s Winter Olympics, the United States won almost all their games. That is pretty outstanding. But what is even more outstanding is the fact that they never lost any game in the 1980 hockey tournament.
The first game they played was against Sweden which ended in a 2-2 tie. Bill Baker, a hard-working defenseman, scored with 27 seconds left of the game. I doubt that if the United States didn't end up tying the game they wouldn't have won the tournament. The reason being that the hockey team would have probably lost, their heads start to drop and they also don't get as many points as they would have if they tied.
The rest of the games went pretty well. ALL WINS! The next game, against the Czechoslovakia, ended 7-3 to the United States. Then the United States beat Norway 5-1. After that game the United States won, again, this time against Romania 7-2. And the last game before the medal rounds was against the fierce and bold West Germany. The United States ended up beating them 4-2, but put that put them in a harsh situation. They had to play against the Soviet Union and then Finland. Compared to the Soviet Union scores, the United States' scores were average. The Soviet Union was an outstanding team and had won 16-0, 17-4, 8-1, 4-2 and 6-4. Later on, after the Soviet Union game, the United States beat Finland 4-2 to win the gold medal.
The first game they played was against Sweden which ended in a 2-2 tie. Bill Baker, a hard-working defenseman, scored with 27 seconds left of the game. I doubt that if the United States didn't end up tying the game they wouldn't have won the tournament. The reason being that the hockey team would have probably lost, their heads start to drop and they also don't get as many points as they would have if they tied.
The rest of the games went pretty well. ALL WINS! The next game, against the Czechoslovakia, ended 7-3 to the United States. Then the United States beat Norway 5-1. After that game the United States won, again, this time against Romania 7-2. And the last game before the medal rounds was against the fierce and bold West Germany. The United States ended up beating them 4-2, but put that put them in a harsh situation. They had to play against the Soviet Union and then Finland. Compared to the Soviet Union scores, the United States' scores were average. The Soviet Union was an outstanding team and had won 16-0, 17-4, 8-1, 4-2 and 6-4. Later on, after the Soviet Union game, the United States beat Finland 4-2 to win the gold medal.
"THE" GAME
Even though this was not the gold-winning game of the Olympics, it all came down to the game between the United States and the Soviet Union. This will always be a game which the Soviet Union regrets while the United States cherishes. It is considered one of the greatest upsets in sports history but is even more relevant because of the political environment at the time and the conflict between the two nations.
The game was on February 22, 1980 at Lake Placid, New York. The game was played at "Field House" and the stadium was packed with 8500 fans waving the American flag and singing patriotic songs. Columnist Dave Anderson wrote in the New York Times the day before the game, "Unless the ice melts, or unless the United States team or another team performs a miracle, as did the American squad in 1960, the Russians are expected to easily win the Olympic gold medal for the sixth time in the last seven tournaments."
The game was scheduled for 5pm. The U.S. wanted to change the game to 8:00pm so it could be televised live but the Soviet Union refused. The game ended up being televised live in Canada but not the U.S. ABC television channel decided to broadcast the game on primetime anyway, not live. When Americans watched it, they thought they were watching it live.
In the first period, the Soviet Union scored first early on. Then Buzz Schneider scored for the U.S. making it a 1-1 tie. The Soviets scored again. Jim Craig knew he had to do something so he played hard and stopped many goals. In the final moments of the first period, Mark Johnson who they called Magic Johnson, like the basketball player, got the puck and scored on the Soviet Union with one second remaining in the first half. The first period ended in a 2-2 tie.
In the second period, the Soviet Union was leading, again. Alexandre Maltsev scored for the Soviet Union this time. Once again, the United States tied the game up with Magic Johnson scoring his second goal. A turning point in the game was when the Soviet Union manager pulled of the amazing and astonishing Vladislav Tretiak for Vladimir Myshkin. At the end of this period, the Soviets were leading 3-2.
In the third period, a player from the Soviet Union team was sent to the penalty box, giving the United States a power play and the opportunity to score. Then Mike Eruizone scored the fourth and final goal in the fixture giving the U.S. a lead of 4-3 for the first time in the game with only ten minutes left. Sportscaster Al Michaels was commentating on the game for the U.S. and made a famous call: "11 seconds, you've got 10 seconds, the countdown going on right now! Morrow up to Silk. Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles?! YES!"
The United States had won the game. It was a miracle! Coach Brooks ran to the locker room. Later in the locker room, the players spontaneously sang "God Bless America". It was amazing!
The game was on February 22, 1980 at Lake Placid, New York. The game was played at "Field House" and the stadium was packed with 8500 fans waving the American flag and singing patriotic songs. Columnist Dave Anderson wrote in the New York Times the day before the game, "Unless the ice melts, or unless the United States team or another team performs a miracle, as did the American squad in 1960, the Russians are expected to easily win the Olympic gold medal for the sixth time in the last seven tournaments."
The game was scheduled for 5pm. The U.S. wanted to change the game to 8:00pm so it could be televised live but the Soviet Union refused. The game ended up being televised live in Canada but not the U.S. ABC television channel decided to broadcast the game on primetime anyway, not live. When Americans watched it, they thought they were watching it live.
In the first period, the Soviet Union scored first early on. Then Buzz Schneider scored for the U.S. making it a 1-1 tie. The Soviets scored again. Jim Craig knew he had to do something so he played hard and stopped many goals. In the final moments of the first period, Mark Johnson who they called Magic Johnson, like the basketball player, got the puck and scored on the Soviet Union with one second remaining in the first half. The first period ended in a 2-2 tie.
In the second period, the Soviet Union was leading, again. Alexandre Maltsev scored for the Soviet Union this time. Once again, the United States tied the game up with Magic Johnson scoring his second goal. A turning point in the game was when the Soviet Union manager pulled of the amazing and astonishing Vladislav Tretiak for Vladimir Myshkin. At the end of this period, the Soviets were leading 3-2.
In the third period, a player from the Soviet Union team was sent to the penalty box, giving the United States a power play and the opportunity to score. Then Mike Eruizone scored the fourth and final goal in the fixture giving the U.S. a lead of 4-3 for the first time in the game with only ten minutes left. Sportscaster Al Michaels was commentating on the game for the U.S. and made a famous call: "11 seconds, you've got 10 seconds, the countdown going on right now! Morrow up to Silk. Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles?! YES!"
The United States had won the game. It was a miracle! Coach Brooks ran to the locker room. Later in the locker room, the players spontaneously sang "God Bless America". It was amazing!