I remember being an 11 yr old kid from Boston living in Tucson, & our family watching every game and when that one came on we all watched every minute even eating dinner in front of the TV which we were NEVER allowed to do- we did that night! Priceless
As a Minnesotan, it was surreal. I played youth and high school hockey against or with all of the Minnesotans on the team. I attended Herb Brooks hockey camps. So in a way you felt an association with the team, even though you didn’t play on the team.
Wow. That must have been something to be that close to the people responsible for the best sporting event in history. Because of this USA team, at 12 years old in 1980, I tried to take up ice hockey in CA for god's sake but unfortunately, it was nearly impossible for a kid to play in a league in CA. I even went out and bought some black CCM tacks. Had to take up roller hockey in tennis courts instead but still have the tacks in storage to remind me. Thanks for sharing.
@@KMK7355don’t care what you think… the 1980 Olympic team will go down as the greatest “win” in hockey history… and possibly the history of sports in allot of ways… you guys invented it… we defined it pure and simple..
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! USA had More Ice rinks and hockey players than Russia in 1980! Russia have only 80000 hockey players today! USA have 585000 hockey players today! Soccer have 250 million players! Soccer have 4 billion fans around the world! Cricket have 2,5 billion fans around the world!
@@RaineriHakkarainen The American players were actual amateurs. The soviet players were professional hockey players poorly disguised as "professional soldiers"
I wonder why no one, including Craig brings up the 1979 Worlds. USA Hockey had made Brooks coach for the 1980 Olympics. So they gave him the 1979 Worlds coaching job. He took about 12 NCAA Players including Craig, O'Callahan, Morrow, Johnson, Cox, lots of Brooks Minnesota '79 National Champs players and Joe Mullen from BC. They added about 5-6 US NHL players also. They tied Czechoslovakia 2-2 with Craig in net. That was a harbinger of things to come in 1980. I'm sure that game told them they could compete with Czechoslovakia who they dominated in the 1980 Olympics.
Beating the Russians on that Friday night in Lake Placid was an incredible night for the whole country. What tends to get lost is that the team had to go back an play Finland two days later to win the gold. There was no letting up by this team. Really Amazing.
I still have the Sports Illustrated issues about the team and the one item that I find fascinating is the day after the Soviet game. The team is celebrating, signing autographs, sticks, etc when Herb comes into the locker room and throws a "shit fit"; he knew, and they didn't realize, that if they lost to Finland they would go home with NO medal, so beating the Soviets would mean nothing. I wish the movie would have shown that because it was an important piece of the puzzle.
I live an hour from Placid. Moved to a small town on the fringe of the Adirondack MTS in NYS. I met a man that needed a roommate. We’re still roomies. He is from Placid. As we were unpacking he had all these 1980 Miracle On Ice items from different teams. He was 15 at the time. He became the teams Stickboy. His name is Rory H. He tells me about it once in a while. He can be seen in ABC’s Wide World of Sports montage for a QuickDraw second during “The Thrill of Victory” The Agony of Defeat.” For some years. Legend has it that he was the one that draped the USA Flag over Jim Craig’s shoulders.
I was 13 years old. I'll never forget it. You had to be alive then to understand what the US/USSR rivalry/animosity meant. I still tear up when I see these interviews...
I too was 13 and you’re right about the animosity. I thought that the movie “Miracle” captured that well. I watched the game with my Mom. She was ironing and at the end while Al Michaels counted down I had a light punk in one hand and a pack of firecrackers in the other hand with the patio door opened about a foot. At the end I lit ‘em and threw them out. The camera showed the coach, Tikanov (sp?) and Mom said, “Well he’s headed for Siberia….”
Herb Brooks was pure brilliant. he had a plan for what kinda of team he wanted, and what type of players he wanted even before the tryout process began. plus telling the Olympic committee that he wanted a 60 plus game exhibation tour both in North America and Europe.
I get a kick of of Mike Eruzione's story of Coach Brook's pre game pep talk before the Finland game. Remember, it was still possible for the U.S. to lose to Finland and leave medal less. Eruzione related. "Before the game Herb tells us.'If you lose this game today. You will take it to your fucking graves. He walks out turns around goes back in the locker room and says. 'your fucking graves." Christ and I thought Bill Parcells was a master motivator!
I’m still proud of how these young men beat the big bad Russian bear back then - but I view this game differently today. Over the years, when all the issues sounding Victor Tikinov, and the horrible way he treated this team, it gave me a different perspective as to how I view the 1980 games today, I feel a bit of sympathy for the Russian team and the crap they went through. Don’t get me wrong, ecstatic for the USA kids - always will. But the way those Soviet players were treated was really appalling. The Russians are in the NHL now. They’re regular people we cheer for when they play for our team. Just players…now, and back then. (Love the documentary “The Russian Five”).
@davemac5260 I used to have a book called the 50 best conspiracies. One of the stories was cia put liquid acid in the Russian goalies water bottle. Red Army isn't allowed out. They were watched by the kgb 24/7 for fear of defection.
This was a damn good interview. You should be proud.
I remember being an 11 yr old kid from Boston living in Tucson, & our family watching every game and when that one came on we all watched every minute even eating dinner in front of the TV which we were NEVER allowed to do- we did that night! Priceless
As a Minnesotan, it was surreal. I played youth and high school hockey against or with all of the Minnesotans on the team. I attended Herb Brooks hockey camps. So in a way you felt an association with the team, even though you didn’t play on the team.
You helped feed the legs of those wolves.
Wow. That must have been something to be that close to the people responsible for the best sporting event in history. Because of this USA team, at 12 years old in 1980, I tried to take up ice hockey in CA for god's sake but unfortunately, it was nearly impossible for a kid to play in a league in CA. I even went out and bought some black CCM tacks. Had to take up roller hockey in tennis courts instead but still have the tacks in storage to remind me. Thanks for sharing.
Amazing just amazing. I was at this game with my dad and brother. Unbelievable experience I’ll never forget.
Joseph Vincent’s video on the miracle on ice still gives me goosebumps.
went and watched ‘Miracle’ again and Craig is a central figure in the movie! I remembered him as just another character before I re-watched
No game will ever match that game. Sports were so different. The game was tape delayed
Canadians disagree
@@KMK7355don’t care what you think… the 1980 Olympic team will go down as the greatest “win” in hockey history… and possibly the history of sports in allot of ways… you guys invented it… we defined it pure and simple..
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! USA had More Ice rinks and hockey players than Russia in 1980! Russia have only 80000 hockey players today! USA have 585000 hockey players today! Soccer have 250 million players! Soccer have 4 billion fans around the world! Cricket have 2,5 billion fans around the world!
@@RaineriHakkarainen
The American players were actual amateurs. The soviet players were professional hockey players poorly disguised as "professional soldiers"
@@RaineriHakkarainen there is no relevant point to the list of things you said. On-topic Tourette’s, basically.
I wonder why no one, including Craig brings up the 1979 Worlds.
USA Hockey had made Brooks coach for the 1980 Olympics.
So they gave him the 1979 Worlds coaching job. He took about
12 NCAA Players including Craig, O'Callahan, Morrow, Johnson, Cox, lots of Brooks Minnesota '79 National Champs players and Joe Mullen from BC. They added about 5-6 US NHL players also.
They tied Czechoslovakia 2-2 with Craig in net. That was a harbinger of things to come in 1980. I'm sure that game told them they could compete with
Czechoslovakia who they dominated in the 1980 Olympics.
Al Michaels commentating the Olympic Games and the movie is icing on the cake
this show just gets better and better!!
Thank you for that last Quote from Jim Craig
The impossible becomes possible
When you believe
That’s so powerful
Beating the Russians on that Friday night in Lake Placid was an incredible night for the whole country. What tends to get lost is that the team had to go back an play Finland two days later to win the gold. There was no letting up by this team. Really Amazing.
I still have the Sports Illustrated issues about the team and the one item that I find fascinating is the day after the Soviet game. The team is celebrating, signing autographs, sticks, etc when Herb comes into the locker room and throws a "shit fit"; he knew, and they didn't realize, that if they lost to Finland they would go home with NO medal, so beating the Soviets would mean nothing. I wish the movie would have shown that because it was an important piece of the puzzle.
I can only imagine the pressures on the ice! Amazing 👏
I live an hour from Placid. Moved to a small town on the fringe of the Adirondack MTS in NYS. I met a man that needed a roommate. We’re still roomies. He is from Placid. As we were unpacking he had all these 1980 Miracle On Ice items from different teams. He was 15 at the time. He became the teams Stickboy. His name is Rory H. He tells me about it once in a while. He can be seen in ABC’s Wide World of Sports montage for a QuickDraw second during “The Thrill of Victory” The Agony of Defeat.” For some years.
Legend has it that he was the one that draped the USA Flag over Jim Craig’s shoulders.
The recall of detail by Jim here is impressive.
lost in history that USA v Soviets wasn’t the championship game
I was 13 years old. I'll never forget it. You had to be alive then to understand what the US/USSR rivalry/animosity meant. I still tear up when I see these interviews...
I too was 13 and you’re right about the animosity. I thought that the movie “Miracle” captured that well.
I watched the game with my Mom. She was ironing and at the end while Al Michaels counted down I had a light punk in one hand and a pack of firecrackers in the other hand with the patio door opened about a foot. At the end I lit ‘em and threw them out. The camera showed the coach, Tikanov (sp?) and Mom said, “Well he’s headed for Siberia….”
Herb Brooks was pure brilliant. he had a plan for what kinda of team he wanted, and what type of players he wanted even before the tryout process began. plus telling the Olympic committee that he wanted a 60 plus game exhibation tour both in North America and Europe.
It's about time you get Adam Vinatieri on the show... best kicker ever. Tommy wouldn't have a couple rings if not for him
Craig stood on his head in that game
And it wasn't even the gold medal game. The rest of the hockey world really disliked the USSR team as well.
I get a kick of of Mike Eruzione's story of Coach Brook's pre game pep talk before the Finland game. Remember, it was still possible for the U.S. to lose to Finland and leave medal less. Eruzione related. "Before the game Herb tells us.'If you lose this game today. You will take it to your fucking graves. He walks out turns around goes back in the locker room and says. 'your fucking graves." Christ and I thought Bill Parcells was a master motivator!
Jim should have mentioned the disparity in shots on goal but he was probably being humble. The US had 16 shots on goal, the Russians has 39.
I’m still proud of how these young men beat the big bad Russian bear back then - but I view this game differently today. Over the years, when all the issues sounding Victor Tikinov, and the horrible way he treated this team, it gave me a different perspective as to how I view the 1980 games today, I feel a bit of sympathy for the Russian team and the crap they went through. Don’t get me wrong, ecstatic for the USA kids - always will. But the way those Soviet players were treated was really appalling. The Russians are in the NHL now. They’re regular people we cheer for when they play for our team. Just players…now, and back then. (Love the documentary “The Russian Five”).
Interesting that Russian Coach Viktor Tikhonov never pulled goalie Myshkin for a 6th skater.
nice
I get that they are all American but referring to the miracle on ice team as “us” when a member of the team is in the room feels crazy to me😂
YES! YOU DID PLAY YOUR BEST GAME ON ALL GAMES MY LOVE💞 YES! YOU DID! BOUYAH 💥
You look comfortable in your white sweats too! Your wife loves your comfort look! Kudos my love💋
There was always a conspiracy that the CIA got LSD into Russian goalie water bottle.
I thought the rumor was the Russians were all hungover from the night before.
@davemac5260
I used to have a book called the 50 best conspiracies.
One of the stories was cia put liquid acid in the Russian goalies water bottle.
Red Army isn't allowed out. They were watched by the kgb 24/7 for fear of defection.