basically took the huge 1+ hour of the game and just condensed it into the decisive plays that contributed to team USA's victory against the soviet union.
The idea that a team of college kids could defeat what was an unbeatable team at the time is what made this the best moment in sports ever. Add into that the political tensions that were going on, the recession the US was in, and the Cold War then it adds up to a unique time that has never and will never be repeated again. One Hockey game lifted the entire citizenship of the United States to the highest levels of patriotism and country pride.
@@victormodjeski4173 grow up dude. Typical comment from an unhinged liberal that is too stupid to realize that the Democrats are the ones moving towards Communism. Instead of your party adjust and moving more to the center they would just rather make up conspiracy theories and call those that disagree with them racist.
Al Michaels, obviously, gets due credit for his call in the moment for the call of "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" but his masterclass in broadcasting wasn't over. When the moment came and the game was over, he did what is so hard for modern sportscasters to do: he shut up. He allowed the moment to overwhelm the viewer, and allowed THEM to participate with the crowd in the arena. He wasn't more important than the moment. It was the moment that was important. And so he let it speak for itself, and he shut up. And that action, allowing the roar of the crowd to be heard for real and allowing you to experience that moment, that was nearly as great an achievement as the call itself. Bravo, Al.
I remember standing in my living room behind my father at the end of the game. He turned around and he had tears of joy streaming from his eyes. I've never seen my father cry my entire life except for that one moment.
Best upset in sports history, no doubt. You had a team of college kids beating the best hockey team in the world, the best international team that had ever, EVER, been put together. By far the best upset in sports history. Pros vs pros is one thing, college kids beating out pros, the best pros in the entire world? That is insane.
and the funny thing is people try to deny it just because it's America, if people actually did some research they would realize that it was indeed a miracle
SledgerPlays that is a pro team vs a pro team, not an all-star college roster vs the best Russian players in the world. No doubt that Leicester was amazing, but Miracle on Ice is miles ahead because it is an amateur team vs a pro team that had been together for over 10 years and a team about 1/4 of the players would have made the NHL Hall of Fame if they played in the NHL primarily. They were that good.
Dal Bondra Yeah but it isn't like all pro teams are at the same level, the skill is extremely diverse in the Premier between the lowest vs highest teams. Leicester was supposed to be at the dead bottom and relegated. And the miracle on ice was only one game, not 38. There is a bigger chance for the college kids to beat the russians in a one off game, where any flukes can happen, while if they had to play them in a series of 7 games the odds would be much more in favor for the russians. Leicester had 5000/1 odds to win it, I have a hard time seeing the miracle on ice odds to be that high. Both great underdog stories, but Leicester will be remembered as the greatest underdog story in all of sports history.
40 years later, Al Michaels reminded us the US was outshot 39 - 16, and the US came from behind three times. He said those two stats combined shouldn't be possible. A miracle indeed!
Johnsons tying goal at end of period 1 was a stunner! I think that goal rattled the Soviets, and put the Soviet coach in panic mode by changing goal tenders. Tretiak had also given up 2 bad goals in the game against Canada, and some believed that Tretiaks game was becoming a bit suspect. But the fact that team USA had just 16 shots on goal, and scored on 4 of them is astounding!
I think what very few people notice is how many goals Mark Pavelich assisted on, including the game-winner. He was a small and speedy guy who dug in the corners and made terrific passes. Everybody talks about Craig and Eruzione and Johnson, but Pavelich was a gigantic part of this team.
Labeling was a terrific centerman. Went to Rangers and was a real good top C for NYR. The 1980 Olympic Team had 3 really good centers in Johnson, Pavelich and Broten. US was fortunate not to lose their top 3 centers to pros. They did lose at least 3D in Langway, Roberts and Dunn along with Mullen, Gorence, McDougal and Nilan at wing. The 1984 US Olympic Team lost Bobby Carpenter and Tom Fergus to the NHL. Also lost Brian Mullen Phil Housley and Craig Ludwig at LW and D.
Agreed! Great skater with good hands. Impressive 10 year pro resume too averaging basically a point per game everywhere he went, impressive as he was undrafted. I identified with him as we were roughly the same size and same age, not big by NHL standards. He held the record for 5goals in a single game for an American player until Tage Thompson tied him a few years back. May he Rest In Peace
Agreed! Great skater with good hands. Impressive 10 year pro resume too averaging basically a point per game everywhere he went, impressive as he was undrafted. I identified with him as we were roughly the same size and same age, not big by NHL standards. He held the record for 5goals in a single game for an American player until Tage Thompson tied him a few years back. May he Rest In Peace
I'm Canadian but I still find this a great moment in sports history. You need to love hockey and understand the context to appreciate this ending. You can say that "miracle" is an exaggeration, you can put down the Americans, whatever you want to say, but if you do that, you are simply missing the pure joy of living your dream. Boys who grew up skating on homemade rinks or playing in the streets imagining they were with the Blackhawks or Bruins or Canadiens ... they know what this moment meant.
It was definitely a miracle... they got beat what 10-1 just a couple weeks before this by the USSR? They only played together for like 7 or 8 months and the soviets has been together for years and could easily beat some nhl teams
Jesse Pugh it was 10-3, and the soviets already defeated the nhl all star team 6-0, on their home turf basically in Madison Square Garden. That’s how fucking good they were. This is literally a NCAA Division 1 all star team beating the equivalent of a modern nhl all star team. That’s what makes this a “miracle”.
um, i think it is only canadians who would put down americans here and downplay it. russians and swedes imo have the best players. still. today. the most skilled.
39 years later and watching this STILL gives me goosebumps. A bunch of college kids beating the greatest hockey team in the world, a team that earlier had beaten the NHL All-Star team squad 6-0 in winning the World Cup, is still hard to believe. In fact, that NHL team that got drubbed by the Soviets featured an astounding 20 future Hall of Famers! What the 1980 U.S.A. Hockey Team accomplished would have been tantamount to Angola beating the "Dream Team" at the 1992 Olympic Games. Easily the greatest upset, not just in hockey, but in the history of sports!
I was in my final year of college at the University of Minnesota. Herb Brooks was Minnesota's head coach and many of the players were from the U. This team captivated the University and the Twin Cities. The team was the most frequently discussed subject among students and residents. It was much more than a hockey game. It was the cold war on a sheet of ice in Lake Placid, New York and the other guy blinked. Greatest sports upset in history. And a main factor in America regaining it's self confidence and stature. We can all thank Herb Brooks and these fine young men.
Bostonian here who graduated college in Mass in 1977. That group of Minnesota players from UM, UMD and NoDak are probably the best group of State of Hockey players produced in a 4 year span. Ramsey, Baker, Christian, Broten, Christoff, McClanahan were very talented. Christoff is comparable to Brock Boeser today. For centers Broten, Pavelich and Christian would be better than Nelson (Christians nephew), Mittelstadt and Novak easily. McClanahan isn't as accomplished as Anders Lee.
Aussie here who watched this live on the TV,we love an underdog and I was barracking for the USA hard,what an adrenaline rush and Al Michaels commentary and Brooks throughout the tournament was like a demigod,loved watching his reactions on the sidelines,I shed tears.
40 years ago today... almost. I lived in North Carolina back then but had grown up in the Northeast in a city with an NHL team. Loved hockey. I remember that the game was not shown live, at least not in NC, and not where I grew up either. But the great sportscaster Jim McKay as he moderated the replay that evening refused to give any sign of who had won. Jim just gave us that soft smile, and an acknowledgement that it was a closer game than expected, encouraging us to keep watching. In NC at that time, hardly anyone cared about hockey, and of course there was no internet, so I truly didn't know the outcome. I watched the game as though it was live, which probably few Americans outside of the arena had the opportunity to do. It really was a miracle, I get choked up just thinking about it. When the clock went to zero, I was jumping up and down and in fact ran out of my house, jumping up and down on the front lawn, shouting, "They did it! They did it! They did it!" As to the game, I remember as much as the goals, the defense by Team USA. They played as though they were one organism, everyone in the right place, making the right adjustments. The only way they could have beaten the Russians.
Miracle was on TV yesterday, it was the first time I watched it start to finish, the performance of Kurt Russell of the late Herb Brooks was scary good, truly an amazing story
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Mark Pavelich, who passed away earlier this month at age 63. Thank you, Mark, for the memories! May you rest in peace.
Thank you, sir. I appreciate your comment. We were in such a heated Cold War at the time. It was an intense game. I watched it on TV live. I was 14. Your comment is gracious. Best regards.
Not even close. The Russian Nation Team had faced the NHL all star team a year previous and beaten them 5-0. The best players on the continent got murdered. Before the Olympics the 2 teams faced and Russia won 10-3. Russia had some of the best players in the world. Villanova over Georgetown was college v college. Amatuers (non professionals) against amatuers. 1980 Olympics was amateurs against pros. The equivalent would have been Villanova beating a team of Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Moses Malone, Isiah Thomas, and Kareem Abdul Jabar.
Alex B yeah bro and these were college kids playing the best players in the world who were dominant for 20s this was there best squad assembled and they lost to the US. Also the all stars had no chemistry
Herb Brooks set up the game against the Soviets just before the Olympics as a ploy and told his team to go and have fun knowing they would smoke his team but would also set them up for overconfidence which is what the Soviets were susceptible to being such a great team. Brooks was a master of psychologically taking advantage of anything he could.
Absolutely, it's a largely overlooked yet brilliant move by Coach Brooks. And more importantly it gave Brooks team a very valuable first hand look at the the Soviet style of play, and how they played the game. The 2nd time around, Brooks team was ready for them.
It also took away the WOW factor for the US. They weren't going to go into that tournament in awe of the Soviets. Getting their helmets and asses handed to them at MSG left them with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
The final 10 seconds and the line "Do You Believe In Miracles??? YES!!! has to be one of the truly Greatest calls in Sports History. How a bunch of College Scrubs beat a team that was as good as any top tier NHL Team of that year is still mind boggling.
Daniel Z Hey Daniel: I agree with your assessment on how once the pro's came to play the Olympics t he Soviet dominance ended. But that Soviet team did handle all the top tier NHL teams including the 1972 and 79 Canadian All Star teams. While maybe the NHL teams didn't play all out because they played them in mid season exhibition games, those Soviet Teams very VERY VERY Good. Yet stunned by the college scrubs who they had crushed like 10 to 3 in August at MSG. Screw those Commie Bastards!
It was especially a good year for Ken Morrow at the time. After the Olympics, he signed with the New York Islanders, who would go on to win the Stanley Cup that year.
I remember this game like it was yesterday. 1979 had seen the passing of both my parents and in Dec, my 21st Bday. I was at my sisters home in Lake Tahoe on a ski trip from the Bay Area where I lived and I left the slopes early to get back to her condo to watch this contest. Both she and my Brother in Law were at work so I watched this alone. I was jumping around like a mad man throughout the game. It had been a year since I'd had excited feelings and this was perfect.
I revisit this game every year (usually more than once) and always find myself smiling, yelling with delight, and, at times, welling up with joy and amazement at what happened that night. Simply unbelievable, still.
Almost 38 years later and I still get goose bumps watching this, greatest sports moment in my 59 years.....honestly, started welling up when they showed Herb Brooks at the end. The smile on his face, holy shit, I'm getting verklempt all over again.....discuss.....lol
I'm a Brit and I'm watching this the day after watching "The Miracle" movie with Kurt Russell. Even with the perspective of a non-American, I'm struggling to think of a more incredible sporting moment. These weren't just college kids. They were college kids who'd been hammered 10-3 by the same team in a "friendly" a week and a half before! There's no way they could win. There's no WAY they could win. THERE'S NO WAY THEY COULD WIN!!! Legends!
I watched it live on TV. I was 14, a freshman in high school and I had just gotten home from school and turned on the Olympics. It’s one of those moments I still remember and won’t forget. The Cold War was raging and the national pride over this game was INTENSE. And God bless Mark Pavelich #16 who assisted in the final goal. He died by suicide a month ago (March 2021) at the age of 63. He had many bad concussions from his playing days and he became mentally ill. May God comfort him and love him and his family.
Ya. I’m a Canadian too. Watched this my grandfather in Feb 1980. We were both practically crying for joy when the USA 🇺🇸 won. Poppy served in WW2 with the RAF and RCAF. He hated the Soviets! When team USA 🇺🇸 won…… we were jumping for joy!
I was at those games in 1980. Still have the tickets stubs from the Russian, Findland and West Germain games. Being from Minnesota was cheering for the boys!
For people like me who usually couldn't give a fuck and a popcycle about hockey (except in Olympic or other big occasions), we don't care. We took on the best team in the planet and beat them, when we weren't even supposed to have a chance. This game brought our entire national pride up drastically and to this day is still known as one of the biggest highlights in USA sports history. All it takes for our country to face a huge rival or play in a big game, and we'll take it like a championship game. This was the most popular and well known game of that tournament, and we won. That's all most of us care about.
+George Cole Correct, different format back then, the medal round wasn't single-elimination, it was round-robin. This game was played on a Friday afternoon in Lake Placid, USA still had to beat Finland on Sunday morning (yes morning).
+vdven And it would not have mattered. THIS GAME would still have been THE STORY from that Olympics, and would still be looked back upon by Americans just as fondly. The very fact that most people THINK that this was the gold medal game attests to that. THIS was the game that we really wanted to win. The win over Finland, the game that no one remembers, was icing on the cake. It was nice that it was gold, but in the end the color of the medal did not matter as much as this win.
Grew up in St. Paul and met Coach Brooks in 2000, a few years prior to his death. Honored to have attended his funeral and will never tire of the inspiration felt when viewing the replay of the game against the Czecks. "Shove that stick down his GD throat" and "Put your stick in his side...let em' know you're there" were the calls that made us all recognize the intensity only his players had experienced up to that point. His eyes and demeanor just scream "LEADERSHIP"!!! I'd charge the hill for a guy like him. He makes you wanna be a stand up guy. RIP Brooksie.
I was 15 and watching this with my dad. Neither of us knew anything about hockey but we did that day. We were one win away from a gold and we had no business beating the soviets but we did.
As a kid, I was playing hockey at the time when this happened. At our next practice and next game, every skater was Eruzione and every goaltender was Craig. All of us would reenact parts of the game. The result of this game went wide and soaked into everyday life and conversation.
44 years ago and it still gives me goosebumps. Was in Lake Placid in June of 22. Lots of construction going on in town and around the rink. Went into the 32 rink first. Walked around the street to the 80 rink entrance. Not sure if it would be accessible. So we walked past some construction workers and in the entrance. Told my wife just act like were supposed to be there. Walked into the lower bowl and it was an instant rush of emotions. Sat in several different seats, soaking it all in while hearing Al Michaels voice in my head. Definitely a trip every fan should make. USA, USA 🇺🇸🇺🇸
3 of my favorites are Mike Eruzione makes the game winning goal, Team USA celebrates while the fans are cheering and Al Michaels famous classic line. David has slain Goliath.
I grew up in Minneapolis and skated with and against many of these guys, Herbie was also our coach in Summer hockey, including Ken Yackel hockey school. Herbie was also a personal friend of my uncle that coached at Mahtomedi.. great memories 🏒🥅
I still remember watching this game with my father, mother and my brother. We were a hockey family with me and my brother both playing at the time. We all hugged after the victory, jumping on the couch screaming our lungs out. And then immediately trying to find out when the gold medal game was.
What a game, and it still brings a tear to my eye. *The malaise the US was in at the time, both economically and politically. *Global political tension between the US & USSR. *An all-time great coach looking for the gold medal he just missed as a player. *Mark Johnson playing right til the horn, while the Soviets had a mental lapse. *Eruzione refusing to sit back quietly when his team needed him the most. *So much grit and toughness from a group of kids nobody gave a chance to win. *Most importantly, Jimmy Craig was a wall that game -- no matter how many times the Soviets came at him, he just refused to break. You could never recreate a moment like this again. It's one of those singular great moments in human athletic history -- with a call for the ages from Al Michaels. It all came together to create a beautiful, legendary moment that will live on when our childrens' childrens' children need a lesson in what it means to never give up.
John Classified that’s similar to what happened in upstate New York in the Adirondacks. All the townspeople watching in the local tavern restaurant and the whole town erupted in cheers.
I remember that they stopped all classes in school, ( I was in the 6th grade) and the school faculty had gotten the game via closed circuit television so the school kids could watch it live. It was one of moments where you'll always remember where you were when it happened. 👍
I so remember getting done our atom afternoon hockey game and both teams were brought into a commen room to watch the 3rd period. Everyone was so in awe, even being Canadian kids that realizing hockey is the greatest game in the world.
Rest in Peace Mark Pavelich. He was playing for UMD when I was growing up in Duluth. I was friends with his brother during college. Great down to earth people. Mark was the best passer on the Olympic Team. Hopefully he's fishing where ever he is...
Mark Pavelich was a tremendous player. Was somewhat the US Marcel Dionne. Was first US player to score 5 goals in an NHL game and there might be just 2 more who have since.
I grew up in Michigan playing hockey and I was 14 in 1980 and watched this live, so amazing. Disney actually did an amazing job creating a movie that imo all fans should see. I have the DVD...as all fans should!!
You were same age as Pat Lafontaine, Kevin Hatcher, Wayne Presley and several others who made NHL. Did u grow up outside Detroit and play with or against those guys?
Honestly, I miss moments like this when the entire nation rallies behind one game/one team. The USA is so divided right now that I dont think there will ever be a day like this again. Anyone who witnesses these highlights should enjoy them as they are...a God given miracle.
I can't tell you how many times I have watched or read about this event. I never get tired of it! This is the greatest sports moment in United States history, any sport, any level! It's one of those where were you when moments.
Forty years ago I sat in my apartment living room with a big smile on my face as the USA beat Russia. Today, 2-22-2020, at 5:30 am I am sitting in the living room of my house watching these highlights,,,,with a big smile on my face. Go USA!!
I remember being downtown Madison, I was 17 at the time and I just remember when we won, everyone had tears of joy, I never really cared about hockey and I was crying, it was truly incredible and the greatest sports moment in history
Absolutely love when Johnson scored at the end of the period, Herb Brooks looked at the Soviet bench and shook his fist at them as if to say: "Yeah we got your stuff right here!!". RIP Herb Brooks. 🙏
I think I've watched this over 100 times...and yup, I get teary eyed every single time with that "Do you believe in miracles?" line...the emotional context never diminishes...aside from the obvious, I think it was incredibly fortuitous we had someone like Michaels doing the commentary - it just all seems too freakin' divine...
As a advid hockey fan born and raised in a hockey crazed state such as Michigan and live and die with our beloved Red Wings, I was 9 years old and my lil brother 7, watching this, we were just amazed at Al Michaels' horrible calls of some of the American goals!! Me and my brother were screaming, yelling SCOOOORE!!! and jumping up and down in front of our TV!! You'd think, ABC would of had some NHL broadcaster call that important of a game!! Hell, I would of even settled for a NHL Canadian team broadcaster calling the game!! 🇺🇲❤️🇺🇲
Doesn't matter Chris, the you believe in miracles line and his very under rated "This impossible dream comes true" line at the end of the Finland game are calls for the ages.
There will never be another sports event of this magnitude, not even close. These teams could have played 20 more games with the Soviets winning them all easily, but not on this night. It's the equivalent of a D1 college team beating the NHL all stars.
Watched it live. I was 7.5 years old. As a kid born and raised in Minnesota, hockey is god! I was at a family retreat I believe at either the Eau Claire or Brainard Holiday Inn. I remember we had a poolside room with an open door. Three floors faced the pool. When we won the whole place went WILD! People were throwing confetti and paper scraps from widows. My mom was crying and my dad was teary-eyed, along with my Aunts, Uncles, and Grand Parents. I have to admit I didn't know HOW BIG a deal this was until I grew some more, but I will ALWAYS remember this game.
I'm from Finland myself and I think this is definitely one of the greatest moments in all sports ever. BUT people you have to remember that team USA didn't win gold after this game. The USA needed to beat Finland in their last game and that's what they did (4-2 if I remember right). They are celebrating like winning gold medal just because they beat the "invincible" Soviet team with a new, young college team. That's incredible and makes me almost cry. During the Cold War these countries competed in everything and hockey was not an exception....... Respect!
Celebrate for a Few Hours (Justifiably) First, Get Ready for Finland 2nd.... Lucky for you guys that you did not have to play Russia for the Silver......
@@timothyward2082 If USA lost to Finland by several goals and Soviet Union tied Sweden on the final day, USA would have finished 4th, Soviets for the gold, Sweden silver and Finland bronze.
Watched this game live in Melbourne,Australia as a 14 year who didn’t know much about the sport but knew the US were the underdog,I was doing starjumps in my living room when the USA won,just a fantastic game I will never ever forget.
I was a kid then and I can tell you that this literally was a pivotal moment in US history... the boosted a lot of people's morale. The United States was on the bottom of the world at that time ..post Vietnam bad economy...plus we had just had the hostage situation in Iran failed rescue ....and then this happened. This was the beginning of the comeback of USA at that time
i had just had a game there this weekend and played the champonship of my tourny in that rink. I scored we won 5-2 and i will never ever forget it ever. What a thrill it was to play there. i am honored. Even was in the same locker room they were in. locker room 5 truly unbelieve
Have been watching sporting events now for nearly 60 years, and there are 3 events that stand above all the rest: Secretariat's Belmont run in 1973, Jack Nicklaus' 6th Masters at age 46 in 1986, and the Miracle on Ice. It's those extremely rare occasions which compel us to watch sporting events in the first place; the blind hope that maybe, just maybe we can win when all the experts say otherwise. Of the 3 I mentioned, this one was the most unlikely of all and the most thrilling. I feel fortunate to have been able to watch it.
+buckfan1969 All great moments in sports history that you mentioned. I would only add one moment that I witnessed that was magical like these others and that was Kirk Gibsons homerun in 88. The U.S. hockey win over the Soviets trumps em all however...none even come close. The story, the coach, the kids, Jim Craig, the country INCREDULOUS !
+softhotty I remember Gibson's home run, and it was a wonderful moment, but I'd put Bill Mazeroski's home run in Game 7 of the 1960 Series ahead of it. The Pirates were as big an underdog to the Yankees as the American hockey team was to the Soviets in 1960. But as you say, the Miracle on Ice involved the entire nation. That's why I put that one on my list and not Maz's walk off in the 9th inning off Ralph Terry.
No clock known to man can Time how quick Team USA left the bench to pile onto the awesome players on the ice. I was in the Clifton Park Country mall shopping when this game was being aired. What a team effort.
It's not an overreaction lol, the USSR was the best hockey team ever fielded, and USA was the best college students, children vs men. The USSR absolutely dominated the NHL allstars shortly before the olympics, so the fact that these college kids were able to pull off this upset against a team built of legends was quite literally a miracle.
On this Feb 22, 1980 I cried and patriotism washed through me. On this date, Feb 22, 2012 after watching this, the tears still flow and the patriotism will never leave.
I can watch the last minute or so of this game and cry every time. What an amazing memory, watching with my brothers and Dad on tape delay. Never will forget what we watched. And the fact that this wasn't even the Gold medal game, they still had to win another game for the Gold...and they DID!!! USA!!!!
it does not get any better than this. i was 12 when this happened. still get chills seeing this. in my opinion the 1980 usa hockey team will always be," america's team."
You've gotta understand what went into Soviet sports training or just any Soviet training. They identify skills at a young age and place children on a specialized track to develop and hone their skills. If you show aptitude for mathematics, then you get put in math programs and could end up a top physicist with the space program. If you show promise in dancing, you may end up on the stage at the Bolshoi. The Soviet hockey team was engineered like a piece of precision equipment, and it began when these guys first put on skates and got spotted by the State. And it's not just finding the best people. They knew the science behind the game and how to dominate everyone. Even though they lost to the US, they're still arguably the best hockey team to ever exist, and that's why the US victory was a miracle. Think about the chances of the right guys coming together at the right time with the right coach: a team formed by happenstance beating a team composed of people raised from childhood to be the best at hockey. That's not chance but divine intervention.
WHEW! Still gives me chills everytime I see it. :D Happy 35th Miracle On Ice! To me, this will forever remain the greatest moment and the biggest upset in sports history. #doyoubelieveinmiracles
The idea that a team of college kids could defeat what was an unbeatable team at the time is what made this the best moment in sports ever. Add into that the political tensions that were going on, the recession the US was in, and the Cold War then it adds up to a unique time that has never and will never be repeated again. One Hockey game lifted the entire citizenship of the United States to the highest levels of patriotism and country pride.
Good thing trump wasn't around,he woulda helped the Russians.
He’s a true American bitch
@@victormodjeski4173 grow up dude. Typical comment from an unhinged liberal that is too stupid to realize that the Democrats are the ones moving towards Communism. Instead of your party adjust and moving more to the center they would just rather make up conspiracy theories and call those that disagree with them racist.
Victor Modjeski up yours idiot. The demorats love foreigners bc their policies don’t sell.
@@careyc7414 Well here I am again, every February I find my way to these videos. Tear in eye every time.
Al Michaels, obviously, gets due credit for his call in the moment for the call of "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" but his masterclass in broadcasting wasn't over. When the moment came and the game was over, he did what is so hard for modern sportscasters to do: he shut up. He allowed the moment to overwhelm the viewer, and allowed THEM to participate with the crowd in the arena. He wasn't more important than the moment. It was the moment that was important. And so he let it speak for itself, and he shut up. And that action, allowing the roar of the crowd to be heard for real and allowing you to experience that moment, that was nearly as great an achievement as the call itself. Bravo, Al.
He was a great sportscaster. They don’t make ‘em like they used to.
The opening monologue with him and Ken Dryden, along with their entire call of the game, is superb.
Totally agree about Michaels ! When Ken Dryden said “it’s over ‘ I still remember my father starting to cray out loud in joy !
Wow. Very well said!!
Well put.
I remember standing in my living room behind my father at the end of the game. He turned around and he had tears of joy streaming from his eyes. I've never seen my father cry my entire life except for that one moment.
Wow hits hard
@@ShadowGaming26548 fr
Soviet coach was like how cold is Siberia ?
Thats a proud fucking American
Wow, it doesn't get any better than that.
Best upset in sports history, no doubt. You had a team of college kids beating the best hockey team in the world, the best international team that had ever, EVER, been put together. By far the best upset in sports history. Pros vs pros is one thing, college kids beating out pros, the best pros in the entire world? That is insane.
and the funny thing is people try to deny it just because it's America, if people actually did some research they would realize that it was indeed a miracle
I think Leicester City winning the Premier League this season is the new best upset in sports history. but this will always be a big one.
SledgerPlays that is a pro team vs a pro team, not an all-star college roster vs the best Russian players in the world. No doubt that Leicester was amazing, but Miracle on Ice is miles ahead because it is an amateur team vs a pro team that had been together for over 10 years and a team about 1/4 of the players would have made the NHL Hall of Fame if they played in the NHL primarily. They were that good.
Dal Bondra Yeah but it isn't like all pro teams are at the same level, the skill is extremely diverse in the Premier between the lowest vs highest teams. Leicester was supposed to be at the dead bottom and relegated. And the miracle on ice was only one game, not 38. There is a bigger chance for the college kids to beat the russians in a one off game, where any flukes can happen, while if they had to play them in a series of 7 games the odds would be much more in favor for the russians.
Leicester had 5000/1 odds to win it, I have a hard time seeing the miracle on ice odds to be that high. Both great underdog stories, but Leicester will be remembered as the greatest underdog story in all of sports history.
+SledgerPlays I agree, I mean think about it 132 years and they finally win
Wasn't even born when this happened, but I can't watch it without getting goosebumps and chills up my spine.
My parents were in college when this happened.
I was 2
40 years later, Al Michaels reminded us the US was outshot 39 - 16, and the US came from behind three times. He said those two stats combined shouldn't be possible. A miracle indeed!
Johnsons tying goal at end of period 1 was a stunner! I think that goal rattled the Soviets, and put the Soviet coach in panic mode by changing goal tenders. Tretiak had also given up 2 bad goals in the game against Canada, and some believed that Tretiaks game was becoming a bit suspect. But the fact that team USA had just 16 shots on goal, and scored on 4 of them is astounding!
Really puts into perspective how well Craig played.
Craigs NCAA Coach, Jack Parker once said hockey should often be called GOALIE!!!!
I think what very few people notice is how many goals Mark Pavelich assisted on, including the game-winner. He was a small and speedy guy who dug in the corners and made terrific passes. Everybody talks about Craig and Eruzione and Johnson, but Pavelich was a gigantic part of this team.
Labeling was a terrific centerman.
Went to Rangers and was a real good top C for NYR.
The 1980 Olympic Team had 3 really good centers in Johnson, Pavelich and Broten. US was fortunate not to lose their top 3 centers to pros. They did lose at least 3D in Langway, Roberts and Dunn along with Mullen, Gorence,
McDougal and Nilan at wing.
The 1984 US Olympic Team lost Bobby Carpenter and Tom Fergus to the NHL. Also lost Brian Mullen
Phil Housley and Craig Ludwig at LW and D.
Pavelich, not Labeling...lol.
Hey Blackhawks, are you the guy on the Hockey Futures board?
Agreed! Great skater with good hands. Impressive 10 year pro resume too averaging basically a point per game everywhere he went, impressive as he was undrafted. I identified with him as we were roughly the same size and same age, not big by NHL standards. He held the record for 5goals in a single game for an American player until Tage Thompson tied him a few years back. May he Rest In Peace
Agreed! Great skater with good hands. Impressive 10 year pro resume too averaging basically a point per game everywhere he went, impressive as he was undrafted. I identified with him as we were roughly the same size and same age, not big by NHL standards. He held the record for 5goals in a single game for an American player until Tage Thompson tied him a few years back. May he Rest In Peace
I'm Canadian but I still find this a great moment in sports history. You need to love hockey and understand the context to appreciate this ending. You can say that "miracle" is an exaggeration, you can put down the Americans, whatever you want to say, but if you do that, you are simply missing the pure joy of living your dream. Boys who grew up skating on homemade rinks or playing in the streets imagining they were with the Blackhawks or Bruins or Canadiens ... they know what this moment meant.
Well said, Patrick!
It was definitely a miracle... they got beat what 10-1 just a couple weeks before this by the USSR? They only played together for like 7 or 8 months and the soviets has been together for years and could easily beat some nhl teams
Jesse Pugh it was 10-3, and the soviets already defeated the nhl all star team 6-0, on their home turf basically in Madison Square Garden. That’s how fucking good they were. This is literally a NCAA Division 1 all star team beating the equivalent of a modern nhl all star team. That’s what makes this a “miracle”.
um, i think it is only canadians who would put down americans here and downplay it. russians and swedes imo have the best players. still. today. the most skilled.
I'm Canadian too. Truth.
39 years later and watching this STILL gives me goosebumps. A bunch of college kids beating the greatest hockey team in the world, a team that earlier had beaten the NHL All-Star team squad 6-0 in winning the World Cup, is still hard to believe. In fact, that NHL team that got drubbed by the Soviets featured an astounding 20 future Hall of Famers! What the 1980 U.S.A. Hockey Team accomplished would have been tantamount to Angola beating the "Dream Team" at the 1992 Olympic Games. Easily the greatest upset, not just in hockey, but in the history of sports!
Whenever I feel depressed, I watch this. Thank you.
42 years later and I still get goosebumps the size of golf balls. Greatest moment in Sports history.
Me too
I was in my final year of college at the University of Minnesota. Herb Brooks was Minnesota's head coach and many of the players were from the U. This team captivated the University and the Twin Cities. The team was the most frequently discussed subject among students and residents. It was much more than a hockey game. It was the cold war on a sheet of ice in Lake Placid, New York and the other guy blinked. Greatest sports upset in history. And a main factor in America regaining it's self confidence and stature. We can all thank Herb Brooks and these fine young men.
Bostonian here who graduated college in
Mass in 1977. That group of Minnesota players from UM, UMD and NoDak are
probably the best group of State of Hockey players produced in a 4 year span.
Ramsey, Baker, Christian, Broten, Christoff,
McClanahan were very talented.
Christoff is comparable to Brock Boeser
today. For centers Broten, Pavelich and Christian would be better than
Nelson (Christians nephew), Mittelstadt and Novak easily. McClanahan isn't as accomplished as Anders Lee.
RIP Mark Pavelich, a member of this legendary team who recently passed, had to come watch these highlights in his honor
good ny ranger
Aussie here who watched this live on the TV,we love an underdog and I was barracking for the USA hard,what an adrenaline rush and Al Michaels commentary and Brooks throughout the tournament was like a demigod,loved watching his reactions on the sidelines,I shed tears.
40 years ago today... almost. I lived in North Carolina back then but had grown up in the Northeast in a city with an NHL team. Loved hockey. I remember that the game was not shown live, at least not in NC, and not where I grew up either. But the great sportscaster Jim McKay as he moderated the replay that evening refused to give any sign of who had won. Jim just gave us that soft smile, and an acknowledgement that it was a closer game than expected, encouraging us to keep watching. In NC at that time, hardly anyone cared about hockey, and of course there was no internet, so I truly didn't know the outcome. I watched the game as though it was live, which probably few Americans outside of the arena had the opportunity to do. It really was a miracle, I get choked up just thinking about it. When the clock went to zero, I was jumping up and down and in fact ran out of my house, jumping up and down on the front lawn, shouting, "They did it! They did it! They did it!" As to the game, I remember as much as the goals, the defense by Team USA. They played as though they were one organism, everyone in the right place, making the right adjustments. The only way they could have beaten the Russians.
Love from Canada, so proud of U.S.A in this fabulous hockey moment!
Sorry about the women's team BEATING YOU....But hey if you are like me, it was a good game.
Tom Dagenais
Winning a better team in the world was a real miracle. It was a very rare case when the USSR was losing.
moserr11 yess
And we thank you for the 2112 album! :-)
moserr11 how are you gonna talk shit to him when he’s congratulating the US..dude
Miracle was on TV yesterday, it was the first time I watched it start to finish, the performance of Kurt Russell of the late Herb Brooks was scary good, truly an amazing story
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Mark Pavelich, who passed away earlier this month at age 63. Thank you, Mark, for the memories! May you rest in peace.
RIP Pav
Experienced a tough last few years of his life,diagnosed with CTE was likely a contributing factor. Really admired his style of play. Rest easy Mark
I am from Russia. And I want to say Respect to your amazing guys! Historical game, absolutely amazing!
Ya Amerikanets, ne russkiy. Spacibo, moy drug!
Thank you, sir. I appreciate your comment. We were in such a heated Cold War at the time. It was an intense game. I watched it on TV live. I was 14. Your comment is gracious. Best regards.
36 years ago and still brings a tear to my eye. Greatest sports upset EVER!
Nope - Villanova over Georgetown.
Not even close. The Russian Nation Team had faced the NHL all star team a year previous and beaten them 5-0. The best players on the continent got murdered. Before the Olympics the 2 teams faced and Russia won 10-3. Russia had some of the best players in the world. Villanova over Georgetown was college v college. Amatuers (non professionals) against amatuers. 1980 Olympics was amateurs against pros. The equivalent would have been Villanova beating a team of Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Moses Malone, Isiah Thomas, and Kareem Abdul Jabar.
Alex B
Preach it my friend.. Villanova v. Georgetown ???That Richard guy must be on something.
Alex B yeah bro and these were college kids playing the best players in the world who were dominant for 20s this was there best squad assembled and they lost to the US. Also the all stars had no chemistry
Alex B sorry reply meant for someone else. Goddamn RUclips app...too easy to reply to wrong person!
Watched this with my dad when I was just a kid. One of earliest childhood memories. First and only time I saw my dad cry.
Herb Brooks set up the game against the Soviets just before the Olympics as a ploy and told his team to go and have fun knowing they would smoke his team but would also set them up for overconfidence which is what the Soviets were susceptible to being such a great team. Brooks was a master of psychologically taking advantage of anything he could.
Seamos Ylonth Russia was a good team. Especially Tretiak
Absolutely, it's a largely overlooked yet brilliant move by Coach Brooks. And more importantly it gave Brooks team a very valuable first hand look at the the Soviet style of play, and how they played the game. The 2nd time around, Brooks team was ready for them.
It also took away the WOW factor for the US. They weren't going to go into that tournament in awe of the Soviets. Getting their helmets and asses handed to them at MSG left them with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
I did not know that. Brilliant move!
One of the hardest teams to beat is the team that lost yesterday.
The final 10 seconds and the line "Do You Believe In Miracles??? YES!!! has to be one of the truly Greatest calls in Sports History. How a bunch of College Scrubs beat a team that was as good as any top tier NHL Team of that year is still mind boggling.
Daniel Z Hey Daniel:
I agree with your assessment on how once the pro's came to play the Olympics t he Soviet dominance ended. But that Soviet team did handle all the top tier NHL teams including the 1972 and 79 Canadian All Star teams. While maybe the NHL teams didn't play all out because they played them in mid season exhibition games, those Soviet Teams very VERY VERY Good. Yet stunned by the college scrubs who they had crushed like 10 to 3 in August at MSG. Screw those Commie Bastards!
Daniel Puckoff So they were good after all? ;-)
It was especially a good year for Ken Morrow at the time. After the Olympics, he signed with the New York Islanders, who would go on to win the Stanley Cup that year.
Not "as good as any top tier NHL Team" but better!
This Soviet team was WAY better than any NHL team. They played NHL teams for practice and ate them for lunch. So yes, miracle!
I remember this game like it was yesterday. 1979 had seen the passing of both my parents and in Dec, my 21st Bday. I was at my sisters home in Lake Tahoe on a ski trip from the Bay Area where I lived and I left the slopes early to get back to her condo to watch this contest. Both she and my Brother in Law were at work so I watched this alone. I was jumping around like a mad man throughout the game. It had been a year since I'd had excited feelings and this was perfect.
"Five seconds left in the game...DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?! YES!!!"
I know Right!!!!
On my birthday!!!!!!!
What a great time that was. 40 years later, and I still get goosebumps.
I revisit this game every year (usually more than once) and always find myself smiling, yelling with delight, and, at times, welling up with joy and amazement at what happened that night. Simply unbelievable, still.
Oh that handshake afterwards, a hockey tradition. It's still the best thing in sports period.
Almost 38 years later and I still get goose bumps watching this, greatest sports moment in my 59 years.....honestly, started welling up when they showed Herb Brooks at the end. The smile on his face, holy shit, I'm getting verklempt all over again.....discuss.....lol
I'm a Brit and I'm watching this the day after watching "The Miracle" movie with Kurt Russell. Even with the perspective of a non-American, I'm struggling to think of a more incredible sporting moment. These weren't just college kids. They were college kids who'd been hammered 10-3 by the same team in a "friendly" a week and a half before! There's no way they could win. There's no WAY they could win. THERE'S NO WAY THEY COULD WIN!!!
Legends!
I watched it live on TV. I was 14, a freshman in high school and I had just gotten home from school and turned on the Olympics. It’s one of those moments I still remember and won’t forget. The Cold War was raging and the national pride over this game was INTENSE. And God bless Mark Pavelich #16 who assisted in the final goal. He died by suicide a month ago (March 2021) at the age of 63. He had many bad concussions from his playing days and he became mentally ill. May God comfort him and love him and his family.
Even as a Canadian I have to agree with a lot of Americans. This is the greatest moment in hockey history. If not all of sports.
Ya. I’m a Canadian too. Watched this my grandfather in Feb 1980. We were both practically crying for joy when the USA 🇺🇸 won. Poppy served in WW2 with the RAF and RCAF. He hated the Soviets! When team USA 🇺🇸 won…… we were jumping for joy!
@Exotic3000 Canada darn near beat the USSR in group play.
I was at those games in 1980. Still have the tickets stubs from the Russian, Findland and West Germain games. Being from Minnesota was cheering for the boys!
very cool
Easily the greatest moment in American sports history. I remember it like it was yesterday. It really WAS a miracle.
It just goes to show that no matter the odds, if there's a will there's a way.
This was one of the most electrifying atmospheres at any sporting event, ever. The crowd was screaming the entire game
You'd be surprised how many people think this is the gold medal game...
George Cole i actually wouldn't be, people are so stupid in todays world
For people like me who usually couldn't give a fuck and a popcycle about hockey (except in Olympic or other big occasions), we don't care. We took on the best team in the planet and beat them, when we weren't even supposed to have a chance. This game brought our entire national pride up drastically and to this day is still known as one of the biggest highlights in USA sports history. All it takes for our country to face a huge rival or play in a big game, and we'll take it like a championship game. This was the most popular and well known game of that tournament, and we won. That's all most of us care about.
+George Cole Correct, different format back then, the medal round wasn't single-elimination, it was round-robin. This game was played on a Friday afternoon in Lake Placid, USA still had to beat Finland on Sunday morning (yes morning).
Ronald Bittner
+vdven And it would not have mattered. THIS GAME would still have been THE STORY from that Olympics, and would still be looked back upon by Americans just as fondly. The very fact that most people THINK that this was the gold medal game attests to that. THIS was the game that we really wanted to win. The win over Finland, the game that no one remembers, was icing on the cake. It was nice that it was gold, but in the end the color of the medal did not matter as much as this win.
Grew up in St. Paul and met Coach Brooks in 2000, a few years prior to his death. Honored to have attended his funeral and will never tire of the inspiration felt when viewing the replay of the game against the Czecks.
"Shove that stick down his GD throat" and "Put your stick in his side...let em' know you're there" were the calls that made us all recognize the intensity only his players had experienced up to that point.
His eyes and demeanor just scream "LEADERSHIP"!!! I'd charge the hill for a guy like him. He makes you wanna be a stand up guy. RIP Brooksie.
38 years and still gets to me. Glad I was alive at the time to witness it.
I was 15 and watching this with my dad. Neither of us knew anything about hockey but we did that day. We were one win away from a gold and we had no business beating the soviets but we did.
40 years ago....today. I was 15 years old watching it on television. What a moment.
As a kid, I was playing hockey at the time when this happened. At our next practice and next game, every skater was Eruzione and every goaltender was Craig. All of us would reenact parts of the game.
The result of this game went wide and soaked into everyday life and conversation.
Still get goosebumps....one of greatest moments in sports history...incredible
44 years ago and it still gives me goosebumps. Was in Lake Placid in June of 22. Lots of construction going on in town and around the rink. Went into the 32 rink first. Walked around the street to the 80 rink entrance. Not sure if it would be accessible. So we walked past some construction workers and in the entrance. Told my wife just act like were supposed to be there. Walked into the lower bowl and it was an instant rush of emotions. Sat in several different seats, soaking it all in while hearing Al Michaels voice in my head. Definitely a trip every fan should make. USA, USA 🇺🇸🇺🇸
3 of my favorites are Mike Eruzione makes the game winning goal, Team USA celebrates while the fans are cheering and Al Michaels famous classic line. David has slain Goliath.
I grew up in Minneapolis and skated with and against many of these guys, Herbie was also our coach in Summer hockey, including Ken Yackel hockey school. Herbie was also a personal friend of my uncle that coached at Mahtomedi.. great memories 🏒🥅
I will never get tired of watching this.
Me too!!!!
I still remember watching this game with my father, mother and my brother. We were a hockey family with me and my brother both playing at the time. We all hugged after the victory, jumping on the couch screaming our lungs out. And then immediately trying to find out when the gold medal game was.
What a game, and it still brings a tear to my eye.
*The malaise the US was in at the time, both economically and politically.
*Global political tension between the US & USSR.
*An all-time great coach looking for the gold medal he just missed as a player.
*Mark Johnson playing right til the horn, while the Soviets had a mental lapse.
*Eruzione refusing to sit back quietly when his team needed him the most.
*So much grit and toughness from a group of kids nobody gave a chance to win.
*Most importantly, Jimmy Craig was a wall that game -- no matter how many times the Soviets came at him, he just refused to break.
You could never recreate a moment like this again. It's one of those singular great moments in human athletic history -- with a call for the ages from Al Michaels.
It all came together to create a beautiful, legendary moment that will live on when our childrens' childrens' children need a lesson in what it means to never give up.
I remember every game! Watched it live! We were all cheering and jumping so loud! What an exciting journey that US Hockey Team took us on!
The game was on tape delay on TV.
30 YEARS AGO!!!!!! god how i wish i could have witnessed this live "DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?"
USA USA USA USA USA!!!!!!!!!!!
John Classified that’s similar to what happened in upstate New York in the Adirondacks. All the townspeople watching in the local tavern restaurant and the whole town erupted in cheers.
🇬🇧
I remember that they stopped all classes in school, ( I was in the 6th grade) and the school faculty had gotten the game via closed circuit television so the school kids could watch it live. It was one of moments where you'll always remember where you were when it happened. 👍
I so remember getting done our atom afternoon hockey game and both teams were brought into a commen room to watch the 3rd period. Everyone was so in awe, even being Canadian kids that realizing hockey is the greatest game in the world.
Rest in Peace Mark Pavelich. He was playing for UMD when I was growing up in Duluth. I was friends with his brother during college. Great down to earth people. Mark was the best passer on the Olympic Team. Hopefully he's fishing where ever he is...
Mark Pavelich was a tremendous player.
Was somewhat the US Marcel Dionne.
Was first US player to score 5 goals in an NHL game and there might be just 2 more who have since.
Checked it and he remains only US player to
score 5. Is only 2nd Ranger.
I grew up in Michigan playing hockey and I was 14 in 1980 and watched this live, so amazing. Disney actually did an amazing job creating a movie that imo all fans should see. I have the DVD...as all fans should!!
You were same age as Pat Lafontaine, Kevin Hatcher,
Wayne Presley and several others who made NHL.
Did u grow up outside Detroit and play with or against those guys?
Honestly, I miss moments like this when the entire nation rallies behind one game/one team. The USA is so divided right now that I dont think there will ever be a day like this again. Anyone who witnesses these highlights should enjoy them as they are...a God given miracle.
I can't tell you how many times I have watched or read about this event. I never get tired of it! This is the greatest sports moment in United States history, any sport, any level! It's one of those where were you when moments.
Forty years ago I sat in my apartment living room with a big smile on my face as the USA beat Russia. Today, 2-22-2020, at 5:30 am I am sitting in the living room of my house watching these highlights,,,,with a big smile on my face. Go USA!!
I remember being downtown Madison, I was 17 at the time and I just remember when we won, everyone had tears of joy, I never really cared about hockey and I was crying, it was truly incredible and the greatest sports moment in history
15 seconds left was the epitome of what this game was. Shoving it back in their faces!
I remember watching it live on tv. I was too young and didn’t know enough about history to appreciate it at the time.
Absolutely love when Johnson scored at the end of the period, Herb Brooks looked at the Soviet bench and shook his fist at them as if to say: "Yeah we got your stuff right here!!". RIP Herb Brooks. 🙏
I think I've watched this over 100 times...and yup, I get teary eyed every single time with that "Do you believe in miracles?" line...the emotional context never diminishes...aside from the obvious, I think it was incredibly fortuitous we had someone like Michaels doing the commentary - it just all seems too freakin' divine...
I watched this game when I was ten years old....this is what made me become a sports fan!
I love Herb doing a walk off. It was always about the players. What a classy man.
39 years later. Still the greatest moment in sports history
As a advid hockey fan born and raised in a hockey crazed state such as Michigan and live and die with our beloved Red Wings, I was 9 years old and my lil brother 7, watching this, we were just amazed at Al Michaels' horrible calls of some of the American goals!! Me and my brother were screaming, yelling SCOOOORE!!! and jumping up and down in front of our TV!! You'd think, ABC would of had some NHL broadcaster call that important of a game!! Hell, I would of even settled for a NHL Canadian team broadcaster calling the game!! 🇺🇲❤️🇺🇲
Doesn't matter Chris, the you believe in miracles line and his very under rated
"This impossible dream comes true"
line at the end of the Finland game
are calls for the ages.
One of the greatest moments in sports ever. Here today, 40 years later, still getting goosebumps.
“Do you believe in miracles”?
Yes Al...yes I do.
42 years later and I still get chills from watching this
There will never be another sports event of this magnitude, not even close. These teams could have played 20 more games with the Soviets winning them all easily, but not on this night. It's the equivalent of a D1 college team beating the NHL all stars.
How about in August 1964 when the
NCAA All Stars beat Lombardi's
dynasty Packers at Soldiers Field.
NCAA had like 3 weeks to practice together.
try the 2022 world cup 😂
final was crazy 🎉
No words needed, just pictures. Legend caller.
Man it was a honor to play on that rink for a Lake Placid hockey tournament
Watched it live. I was 7.5 years old. As a kid born and raised in Minnesota, hockey is god! I was at a family retreat I believe at either the Eau Claire or Brainard Holiday Inn. I remember we had a poolside room with an open door. Three floors faced the pool. When we won the whole place went WILD! People were throwing confetti and paper scraps from widows. My mom was crying and my dad was teary-eyed, along with my Aunts, Uncles, and Grand Parents. I have to admit I didn't know HOW BIG a deal this was until I grew some more, but I will ALWAYS remember this game.
“Do you believe in miracles” will always be the best sports call in history in my opinion
I still get chills and cry tears of joy every time I watch these highlights.
I'm from Finland myself and I think this is definitely one of the greatest moments in all sports ever. BUT people you have to remember that team USA didn't win gold after this game. The USA needed to beat Finland in their last game and that's what they did (4-2 if I remember right). They are celebrating like winning gold medal just because they beat the "invincible" Soviet team with a new, young college team. That's incredible and makes me almost cry. During the Cold War these countries competed in everything and hockey was not an exception....... Respect!
Celebrate for a Few Hours (Justifiably) First, Get Ready for Finland 2nd.... Lucky for you guys that you did not have to play Russia for the Silver......
@@timothyward2082 If USA lost to Finland by several goals and Soviet Union tied Sweden on the final day, USA would have finished 4th, Soviets for the gold, Sweden silver and Finland bronze.
Watched this game live in Melbourne,Australia as a 14 year who didn’t know much about the sport but knew the US were the underdog,I was doing starjumps in my living room when the USA won,just a fantastic game I will never ever forget.
Greatest sports moment ever.
Yes sir Brandon, the Holy Grail of sports. Nothing will ever happen that comes close
The greatest moment in all of USA sports perfectly complimented with the greatest moment in sports ANNOUNCING history. Well done Al Michaels!
He was only GOOD at the end. Sorry.
I was a kid then and I can tell you that this literally was a pivotal moment in US history... the boosted a lot of people's morale.
The United States was on the bottom of the world at that time ..post Vietnam bad economy...plus we had just had the hostage situation in Iran failed rescue ....and then this happened. This was the beginning of the comeback of USA at that time
i had just had a game there this weekend and played the champonship of my tourny in that rink. I scored we won 5-2 and i will never ever forget it ever. What a thrill it was to play there. i am honored. Even was in the same locker room they were in. locker room 5 truly unbelieve
I have never heard a louder crowd than that,incredible.
I remember this so well the greatest sports moment of my life I was 28 years old at the time
Have been watching sporting events now for nearly 60 years, and there are 3 events that stand above all the rest: Secretariat's Belmont run in 1973, Jack Nicklaus' 6th Masters at age 46 in 1986, and the Miracle on Ice. It's those extremely rare occasions which compel us to watch sporting events in the first place; the blind hope that maybe, just maybe we can win when all the experts say otherwise. Of the 3 I mentioned, this one was the most unlikely of all and the most thrilling. I feel fortunate to have been able to watch it.
+buckfan1969 All great moments in sports history that you mentioned. I would only add one moment that I witnessed that was magical like these others and that was Kirk Gibsons homerun in 88. The U.S. hockey win over the Soviets trumps em all however...none even come close. The story, the coach, the kids, Jim Craig, the country INCREDULOUS !
+softhotty I remember Gibson's home run, and it was a wonderful moment, but I'd put Bill Mazeroski's home run in Game 7 of the 1960 Series ahead of it. The Pirates were as big an underdog to the Yankees as the American hockey team was to the Soviets in 1960. But as you say, the Miracle on Ice involved the entire nation. That's why I put that one on my list and not Maz's walk off in the 9th inning off Ralph Terry.
+buckfan1969 I would add Franz Klammer's downhill at the '76 Olympics.
Jack Almost Won Again at 58!
This is exactly what I've spent all day (2/22/22) looking for! Thanks for posting.
I don't like a lot the sport, but this made me to cry. The most epic moment in the entire sport history.
No clock known to man can Time how quick Team USA left the bench to pile onto the awesome players on the ice. I was in the Clifton Park Country mall shopping when this game was being aired. What a team effort.
you can see the whole bench was on the ice celebrating victory with 2 seconds left on the clock
31 years later, I still get a little teary eyed when I see this.
"Do you believe in miracles!!!!" Sent shivers done my spine
Anybody get goosebumps at the end?
+Keenan Kaufman Every time.
Everyone.
I wasn't even alive and it gives me chills
It's not an overreaction lol, the USSR was the best hockey team ever fielded, and USA was the best college students, children vs men. The USSR absolutely dominated the NHL allstars shortly before the olympics, so the fact that these college kids were able to pull off this upset against a team built of legends was quite literally a miracle.
as a canadian it did
40 yrs later still brings me too tears
Greatest all time victory in all sports. Period. Thanks for posting!
On this Feb 22, 1980 I cried and patriotism washed through me. On this date, Feb 22, 2012 after watching this, the tears still flow and the patriotism will never leave.
One of the greatest moments of TV history
I can watch the last minute or so of this game and cry every time. What an amazing memory, watching with my brothers and Dad on tape delay. Never will forget what we watched. And the fact that this wasn't even the Gold medal game, they still had to win another game for the Gold...and they DID!!! USA!!!!
The best moment in Olympic history.
it does not get any better than this. i was 12 when this happened. still get chills seeing this. in my opinion the 1980 usa hockey team will always be," america's team."
You've gotta understand what went into Soviet sports training or just any Soviet training. They identify skills at a young age and place children on a specialized track to develop and hone their skills. If you show aptitude for mathematics, then you get put in math programs and could end up a top physicist with the space program. If you show promise in dancing, you may end up on the stage at the Bolshoi. The Soviet hockey team was engineered like a piece of precision equipment, and it began when these guys first put on skates and got spotted by the State. And it's not just finding the best people. They knew the science behind the game and how to dominate everyone. Even though they lost to the US, they're still arguably the best hockey team to ever exist, and that's why the US victory was a miracle. Think about the chances of the right guys coming together at the right time with the right coach: a team formed by happenstance beating a team composed of people raised from childhood to be the best at hockey. That's not chance but divine intervention.
USA USA USA
Bay is Bae You got that right!!!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
🥲🇺🇸
This makes me cry. The reason I love hockey
WHEW! Still gives me chills everytime I see it. :D Happy 35th Miracle On Ice! To me, this will forever remain the greatest moment and the biggest upset in sports history. #doyoubelieveinmiracles