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1980 US Gold Medal Team

Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

I just don't get too hung up on whether other people appreciate my teams' wins to the same degree that I do.

Those people don't come at it from the same perspective as I do. They haven't had the same life experiences as me and my team doesn't fit into their life like it does my own.

Why would I expect them to put my team's win, however remarkable or improbable over that of their own's?
 
Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

JDUBBS1280 said:
I mean, the Soviet Union didn't break any rules by using professionals on their teams, but I personally think it was more impressive that the USA won it's Gold medals in 1960 and 1980 with only amateur players.
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Technically, the Soviets didn't break any rules. But, they found one heck of a giant loophole.

The Soviet hockey team was as professional as they come in every definition of the word except the definition used by the IOC at the time.
 
Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

I think that there's an even better question that needs to be answered.

Shouldn't this thread have been started in the cafe? Or are we still keeping the existence of the cafe secret from Dubbie?

Oops... :o
 
Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

Gurtholfin said:
I think that there's an even better question that needs to be answered.

Shouldn't this thread have been started in the cafe? Or are we still keeping the existence of the cafe secret from Dubbie?

Oops... :o
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Sieve! Sieve! Sieve! Sieve! Sieve! Sieve! Sieve! :D
 
Gurtholfin said:
I just don't get too hung up on whether other people appreciate my teams' wins to the same degree that I do.

Those people don't come at it from the same perspective as I do. They haven't had the same life experiences as me and my team doesn't fit into their life like it does my own.

Why would I expect them to put my team's win, however remarkable or improbable over that of their own's?
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I'm asking for your opinion on which you value more, not what you think about other's opinions on what you value.

Do you think a group of amatuers defeating a group of professionals was more impressive than a group of professionals defeating a group of amateurs multiple times?

In other words, do you think the handful of Golds won by the Soviets in the 1960's and 70's was more or less impressive than the two won by Americans in 1960 and 1980?
 
Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

Spartanforlife4 said:
I wasn't alive at the time, but the game has always seemed like it was more than just David vs. Goliath, and really a representation of the world at the time. At least through the eyes of Americans. But most of that opinion was built around Miracle and watching some other Youtube videos.
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It absolutely was about more than just an upset. I wrote about it when the movie Miracle came out.

http://www.uscho.com/2004/02/03/remembering-the-miracle/
 
Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

JDUBBS1280 said:
I'm asking for your opinion on which you value more, not what you think about other's opinions on what you value.

Do you think a group of amatuers defeating a group of professionals was more impressive than a group of professionals defeating a group of amateurs multiple times?

In other words, do you think the handful of Golds won by the Soviets in the 1960's and 70's was more or less impressive than the two won by Americans in 1960 and 1980?
Click to expand...

The problem is that it's a silly question. We are all incredibly biased so of course we'll think it is more impressive. The real question you should be asking is if there is any American on this board who doesn't think it's more impressive.
 
Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

Dirty said:
The problem is that it's a silly question. We are all incredibly biased so of course we'll think it is more impressive. The real question you should be asking is if there is any American on this board who doesn't think it's more impressive.
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He's never understood context. Never will.
 
Dirty said:
The problem is that it's a silly question. We are all incredibly biased so of course we'll think it is more impressive. The real question you should be asking is if there is any American on this board who doesn't think it's more impressive.
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Agreed. I probably should have phrased it better because that is essentially what I am asking. I think the two American Golds are more impressive and was wondering if anyone disagrees with that.
 
Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

Dirty said:
The problem is that it's a silly question. We are all incredibly biased so of course we'll think it is more impressive. The real question you should be asking is if there is any American on this board who doesn't think it's more impressive.
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It makes me wonder if Dubbs talk to a lot of people from small countries, who have nothing like the athletic training budgets that the USA had back then. I could understand how someone from a country that celebrates every single Olympic medal (gold or otherwise) as a major achievement could fail to see why we put such stock in that particular medal.
 
Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

Dirty said:
The problem is that it's a silly question. We are all incredibly biased so of course we'll think it is more impressive. The real question you should be asking is if there is any American on this board who doesn't think it's more impressive.
Click to expand...

Eric Heiden pulling five gold medals was more impressive.
 
Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

JDUBBS1280 said:
Do you think a group of amatuers defeating a group of professionals was more impressive than a group of professionals defeating a group of amateurs multiple times?

In other words, do you think the handful of Golds won by the Soviets in the 1960's and 70's was more or less impressive than the two won by Americans in 1960 and 1980?
Click to expand...


I'm not sure that impressive is how I'd categorize it, although it was an impressive achievement. Improbable? Unlikely? Miracle? Super-Neat-O?

It was great. It was the biggest thing to ever happen for the US in hockey on the international stage. What more do you want? As a single achievement, yes, I'd put it ahead of most any other single team that I know anything about that has won a gold in hockey.

It was a HUGE upset and in the context of the cold war and that time in America, well, it's the stuff that movies are made of. ;)


Not sure I'd describe the USSR's golds as a "handful," though. From 64 through 92, they won 7 of 8 golds. I'd categorize that as impressive in it's own way. You don't have to be an underdog to do something that's impressive and to be able to sustain that dominance over such a long period of time shows how dedicated they were to their hockey machine.

To never in that time have another upset, which we all know can happen in a one and done hockey game, happen to them? Yes, I know they were pros. Still, a goalie could stand on his head or a fluke shot could go in at some point.

I remember from the late 70s into the 90s when the Red Army and Dynamo teams would come in to play the Blackhawks in exhibition games during the NHL season. It was like watching us play against cyborgs. Cyborgs who more often than not, beat us.

They were otherworldly, cloned alien-beings back then.
 
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Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

I also thoroughly enjoyed our win in the World Cup of Hockey in 96 and the WJC 3 years ago.

Not as impressive, but loads of fun and pride.
 
Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

Gurtholfin said:
Not sure I'd describe the USSR's golds as a "handful," though. From 64 through 92, they won 7 of 8 golds. I'd categorize that as impressive in it's own way.
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What's even more impressive is that a country that didn't even exist won the gold. ;) (USSR broke up in 1991)
 
Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

FlagDUDE08 said:
What's even more impressive is that a country that didn't even exist won the gold. ;) (USSR broke up in 1991)
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I included the Unified Team's win in 92. Same guys, same machine, but thanks for keeping everything straight. :rolleyes:

Next time I'll add a footnote. :p
 
Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

Gurtholfin said:
I included the Unified Team's win in 92. Same guys, same machine, but thanks for keeping everything straight. :rolleyes:

Next time I'll add a footnote. :p
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Hey, there's a reason PBS never reran episodes of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego from season 1 after 1991. ;)
 
Re: 1980 US Gold Medal Team

Thanks Gurt. That is exactly the type of answer I was looking for. I agree, what the Soviets were able to do in the 60's and 70's (that is the time frame I was looking at, which is why I characterized it as a "handful") was impressive. They were virtually unbeatable over that stretch.

All that said, I think the Gold medals won by the Americans in 1960 and 1980 were more impressive/special because they were won with Amateur players. And they were also special because of what they meant to USA Hockey.

The USA and Canada could have used professional players over that period of time and had a better chance to win more Gold medals, but the Gold medals they did win over this period were more meaningful, special, and could be argued more impressive.

I think we can all agree on that, no?

<img src="http://www.halloffamememorabilia.com/images/products/p-42364-miracle-on-ice-1980-mens-us-hockey-team-8x10-photo-hf-9055.jpg"></>
 
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