Monday Milestone: Miracle on Ice
“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!!
Al Michaels calls the final moments of the hockey match
This Week in History
1980, February 22
The United States remarkably defeat the USSR during the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics
Do you believe in miracles?
Not water turning to wine (or anything equally valuable); rather in ice hockey terms, when a bunch of American nobodies took on the well-oiled Russian machine.
Americans sure believe. Victory was celebrated excessively especially given it wasn’t even the gold medal playoff, but we need to remember it was, after all 1980. This week we’re deep in the heart of the Cold War, the most passive-aggressive (and arguably most intriguing) war of the twentieth century.
In this war, we had already seen a futile Vietnam skirmish costing thousands of lives; the Cuban Missile Crisis; the Space Race, advancing technology like never before; and the Wall in Berlin standing as a symbol of the division.
But now inside the field house during the Lake Placid Olympics, the latest instalment was unfolding. To even get this match was remarkable. The town hosting the Winter Games, Lake Placid was so small, that the local high school was turning into a private bar during the Games, whilst the recent USSR invasion of Afghanistan had infuriated America. Nobody was sure Russia would come at all.
But the lure of a fifth consecutive gold medal proved enough for this Russian juggernaut. With a record of 27-1-1 in Olympic competition, since the 1960s and strong, athletic and well drilled, just like Ivan Drago, they epitomised the Red Scare.
Besides, a fragmented mix of Boston and Minnesota college kids were hardly supposed to trouble them. Up against the Russians these Americans looked like David against Goliath as the match began.
By the final minute of the first period it was going to script. The Soviet Union were dominating 2-1, before American Mark Johnson against the run of play found a loose puck and snuck it past Russian goal tender Vladislav Tretiak, surprisingly tying the score at 2-2.
Then remarkably in the second period, the Soviets replaced Tretiak out of either punishment or arrogance and proceeded to outshoot the USA (12-2 that quarter). However incredibly just one goal made it past American goal tender Jim Craig. How long could America hold on?
Entering the final period down 3-2, the USA rewrote history. First a rare power play, gave the Americans an even rarer shot at the new Russian goal tender resulting in another Johnson goal to alarm the Soviets at 3-3. Before moments later a freak shot from US Captain Mark Eruzione pushed into the back of the net and somehow, inexplicably the USA led.
Suddenly the Russians trailed, with ten minutes left and began to panic. An onslaught followed as the minutes wound down. They hit the post. They continued to press but still Jim Craig was stoic.
One minute remained and still, unbelievably the Russians refused to pull the goalie to create an extra man. Time evaporated, and the local crowd stood tall, suddenly daring to dream, as they realised they were witnessing something historic.
Lake Placid counted down the final seconds. The Americans held on. A bunch of amateurs had secured an improbable victory over the Russians in one of the all-time famous, against-the-odds upsets. They went on to win gold. It was truly remarkable.
In fact, forget the water into wine. This was enough to believe in miracles.
Milestone Five: Sporting moments of the Cold War
5. 1953 – Hungary defeat England 6-3 at Wembley – the “home of football” in their first loss at home by a team from outside the British Isles in 90 years. The Hungarians would also win the return clash 7-1 the next year in England’s heaviest ever defeat.
4. 1975 – Eighteen year old Martina Navratilova defects from communist Czechoslovakia to the United States after her citizenship is stripped. She would win 19 Grand Slams.
3. 1976 – On the back of a wide doping program, East Germany wins 40 gold medals during the Montreal Olympics. Of particular note was the dominance of the men’s (i.e. women’s) swimming team.
2. 1980, 1984 – The Americans boycott the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics. Logically, the Russians would then go on to boycott the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
1. 1980 – The team of American amateurs defeat the greatest ice hockey side in the world in an unlikely victory. It would later be recognised as the single greatest highlight in American hockey of the twentieth century and be dubbed “Miracle on Ice”
