1980 US Gold Medal Team

[JDUBBS1280]

You should take this to hfboards where you could probably get a rise out of Canadians p) or maybe some of the international posters.

There is a method to my madness Gurt. One thing always leads to another

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

There is a method to my madness Gurt. One thing always leads to another

You seem almost reasonable in almost a third of your posts lately - makes me distrust you all the more.

 

[hockeykrazy]

Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

I don't look at it as that impressive at all. It is like our basketball team getting upset in 2004 by Argentina(which is probably a bigger upset).
The USSR just steamrolled the US team earlier 10-3 and they were so bored going through the motions that they didn't start playing till the third period. Craig withstood the barrage and got lucky. Even the USSR team members mentioned they were so entranced by the US teams emotions because it had been so long since they felt the same way. Shots were 36 to 16, most people would say that is still domination. I remember watching the game, we were basically playing desperation keeping it out of our net hoping the time would run out and holding on. The USSR was embarrassed and blamed their top line and goalie for the loss.

There was nothing impressive about it, except holding on and getting the upset. Gopher fans would have blamed the goalie for letting in soft goals.

 

[Dirty]

Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

I don't look at it as that impressive at all. It is like our basketball team getting upset in 2004 by Argentina(which is probably a bigger upset).
The USSR just steamrolled the US team earlier 10-3 and they were so bored going through the motions that they didn't start playing till the third period. Craig withstood the barrage and got lucky. Even the USSR team members mentioned they were so entranced by the US teams emotions because it had been so long since they felt the same way. Shots were 36 to 16, most people would say that is still domination. I remember watching the game, we were basically playing desparation keeping it out of our net hoping the time would run out and holding on. The USSR was embarrassed and blamed their top line and goalie for the loss.

There was nothing impressive about it, except holding on and getting the upset. Gopher fans would have blamed the goalie for letting in soft goals.

Now that is what I call an impressive troll.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

Uh-oh. Here we go....

 

[hockeykrazy]

Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

My bad... the shots were actually 39 to 16.
36 saves 3 goals allowed (by Craig) by the US
12 saves 4 goals (2 goals each by two goalies) allowed by the USSR

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

My bad... the shots were actually 39 to 16.
36 saves 3 goals allowed (by Craig) by the US
12 saves 4 goals (2 goals each by two goalies) allowed by the USSR

.750 save percentage combined? Sieves!

 

[burd]

Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

My bad... the shots were actually 39 to 16.
36 saves 3 goals allowed (by Craig) by the US
12 saves 4 goals (2 goals each by two goalies) allowed by the USSR

What do you suppose the odds were going in that the US would score enough goals to prompt the coach to pull Tretiak? Sure, they didn't hang 4 or 5 on him, and the strange end to the first period contributed, but it's Vladislav freaking Tretiak.

 

[SanTropez]

Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

My bad... the shots were actually 39 to 16.
36 saves 3 goals allowed (by Craig) by the US
12 saves 4 goals (2 goals each by two goalies) allowed by the USSR

Tretiak went mysteriously missing for some time after that game if I recall, something about a one-way vacation to "Eastern Russia".

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

Tretiak went mysteriously missing for some time after that game if I recall, something about a one-way vacation to "Eastern Russia".

Kamchatka is beautiful in the spring.

 

[JDUBBS1280]

You seem almost reasonable in almost a third of your posts lately - makes me distrust you all the more.

I am trying my best to be more reasonable, and to make my points in a less abrasive manner. I think a lot of the problems I had on this board could be attributed to not being able to articulate my thoughts and opinions correctly, which left me frustrated and others thinking my sole intention was to push a provincial agenda.

Hopefully when all is said and done people will be able to relate to what I say and understand where I am coming from.

 

[burd]

Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

I am trying my best to be more reasonable, and to make my points in a less abrasive manner. I think a lot of the problems I had on this board could be attributed to not being able to articulate my thoughts and opinions correctly, which left me frustrated and others thinking my sole intention was to push a provincial agenda.

Hopefully when all is said and done people will be able to relate to what I say and understand where I am coming from.

Every day and in every way, you are getting better and better.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

For those interested, here is a great read about Team USA Trainer Gary Smith. He was the guy on the bench next to Herb Brooks shaking his fists when Eruzione scored the go ahead goal and the camera switched to the US bench.


Besides being the team trainer, he was a long time friend and confidant of Brooks', and had some really great stories to tell. This one was my favorite.

“There was this one time,” Smitty said, “When we were playing this lower rung Soviet B squad in a meaningless exhibition game. The Soviets had a shady-looking KGB man on their bench. He was there to make sure the players wouldn’t defect. The Russians thought so little of our American team that they let the KGB guy play a few shifts. The KGB guy got hit into the boards, his jersey rode up, and I saw a pistol in his pads! Hockey is a tough sport, but our boys from Minnesota hadn’t seen anyone like that before.”

<a href="http://wild.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=517812">Read Story</a>

 

[dggoddard]

Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

I don't look at it as that impressive at all. It is like our basketball team getting upset in 2004 by Argentina(which is probably a bigger upset).
The USSR just steamrolled the US team earlier 10-3 and they were so bored going through the motions that they didn't start playing till the third period. Craig withstood the barrage and got lucky. Even the USSR team members mentioned they were so entranced by the US teams emotions because it had been so long since they felt the same way. Shots were 36 to 16, most people would say that is still domination. I remember watching the game, we were basically playing desperation keeping it out of our net hoping the time would run out and holding on. The USSR was embarrassed and blamed their top line and goalie for the loss.

There was nothing impressive about it, except holding on and getting the upset. Gopher fans would have blamed the goalie for letting in soft goals.

I pretty agree with all of this.

It wasn't the gold medal game, the Soviets crushed the US two weeks prior and they thought they could mail the game in.

Happens all the time in sports. Look at the Patriots yesterday.

College football All-Stars defeated the reigning NFL Champions from the previous season nine times in 42 tries back in the day.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0907/nfl.remember.when/content.6.html

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

I pretty agree with all of this. It wasn't the gold medal game, they crushed the US two weeks prior and they thought they could mail the game in.

Happens all the time in sports. Look at the Patriots yesterday.

I am without words. Wow. Just wow.

 

[MeridianStreet]

Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

I was ice fishing at a remote cabin in northern Michigan that day. Luckily for us, we watched the game on ABC without knowing the outcome. greatest moment watching sports in my lifetime.

 

[defkit]

Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

I was ice fishing at a remote cabin in northern Michigan that day. Luckily for us, we watched the game on ABC without knowing the outcome. greatest moment watching sports in my lifetime.

Thank goodness there were no smartphones back then. It would take a miracle to void that kind of news in this day and age, even in remote cabins!

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

Thank goodness there were no smartphones back then. It would take a miracle to void that kind of news in this day and age, even in remote cabins!

Remember how much whining there was about the flagship's coverage of the London Olympics? In this day and age with webcasting, you should be able to watch when you want, live.

 

[Hokydad]

Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

Greatest upset ever, best moment ever. 60 Game was huge as well/.....

What I like is that when you look at Brooks celebrating in the video above, you will notice he is on the bench alone, no players. You would think from watching it that it was an ot winner.

Eruzione is also the best ambasador out there for US Olympics. Donates an absurd amount of time to charity work, same wife, lives in same house next door to his parents in his hometown and coaches the local hs team. Total class act+++

 

[defkit]

Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

Greatest upset ever, best moment ever. 60 Game was huge as well/.....

What I like is that when you look at Brooks celebrating in the video above, you will notice he is on the bench alone, no players. You would think from watching it that it was an ot winner.

Eruzione is also the best ambasador out there for US Olympics. Donates an absurd amount of time to charity work, same wife, lives in same house next door to his parents in his hometown and coaches the local hs team. Total class act+++

Yeah, I noticed that a bunch of players were there congratulating Eruzione, even though there were 10 minutes left in the game. No way this would fly today, presumably a penalty. Was this done more regularly back then?