For anyone who remembers the U.S. Hockey team’s shocking
victory over the seemingly unbeatable Russians on February 22, 1980, the fact
that it has now been forty years since that amazing night likely does little to
dim your memory of what has become known in sports lexicon as “The Miracle on
Ice.”
I was a 12-year-old growing up in Southern Virginia, a place
no one would ever confuse for being a hockey mecca. However, we were big fans
of the Winter Olympics, most especially because they were being held in the
United States in Lake Placid, New York.
Unlike today where we have hundreds of television stations,
not to mention the internet, and you can watch coverage seemingly all day and
all night, in 1980 most of the coverage occurred during the evening hours and often
events were shown on tape delay. However, because we didn’t have a news network
on our phone, it was easy to not know the results when watching the show each
night.
By the time the U.S. was going to play Russia in the hockey
semifinals, the two week run of the Olympics was nearing conclusion.
American Eric
Heiden had already won four speed skating gold medals in record time and
the next day would claim his fifth in the men’s 10,000 meters.
The popular event of figure skating had produced heartbreak
and disappointment for the Americans. Linda Fratianne had just missed out on a
gold medal in the women’s figure skating and Charles Tickner claimed bronze in
the men’s figure skating, but the biggest heartbreak came in the pair skating.
The five-time U.S. Champion duo of Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner were forced
to withdraw from the competition because Gardner had a serious thigh injury.
Skiing and snowboarding are the two primary choices for those who want to take up a winter sport, and both activities make the winter season more exciting. Since skiing and snowboarding are both so popular, many are curious as to which one they should learn first. Before choosing, you have several factors to consider.
The Learning Process
The first week or two of learning snowboarding or skiing will vary based on which you choose. Skiing tends to be more gradual in its learning process, with navigation being more comfortable to start. You do have ski poles to help your balance, after all. Since your legs are separated during skiing, you can throw one foot out to help rebalance yourself if needed. Read the rest of this entry →
February 22, 1980 marked a national day of pride in America.
It birthed a miracle in the highly competitive arena of international sports.
Known as the Miracle on Ice, an unlikely hockey victory took place at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY and lifted America out of its funk.
During that precarious era in our nation’s history, the 1970s was a decade comprised of war protests, a Presidential scandal, and a troubling economy.
In the midst of those uncertain and depressing times, Americans were nervous and ripe for a miracle to lift their spirits.
And, then came along an unexpected special moment in sports history.
The event produced one of the most amazing upsets the sports world has ever witnessed.
Team USA’s stunning win over the heavily favored Soviet Union National Hockey Team still stands as one of the greatest victories in the history of team sports.
For millions of people worldwide, there’s nothing better than barreling down a snow-covered mountain at breakneck speeds on a long pair of high-tech alpine skis. For others, gliding serenely through the snowy countryside on a pair of cross-country skis is pure ecstasy and enjoyment. Whatever skiing does for you, it’s a fact we have strapped skis to our feet and glided over snow for nearly five millennia now.
Archaeological History
The earliest known examples of skis were Russian-made, and archaeologists estimate they date from 5000 BCE. Skiing as an activity, though, may be even older, with 10000-year-old cave paintings in China suggesting people skied even then.
Scandinavian Origins
Skiing as a regular transportation activity traces its origins to Scandinavia, where other cave paintings depict skiers using poles to propel themselves along the snow. Examples of old skis dating back to 4500 BCE, and come from various Norse peoples, including the ancient nomadic Sami. It wouldn’t be until much later, however, that skiing would become more of a recreational activity rather than just for transportation. Read the rest of this entry →
The February Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month was the individual star of the Winter Olympics best remembered for the performance of one team.
Dorothy Hamill captured the heart of America at the 1976 Winter Olympics.
The grace and art of ladies figure skating has always been captivating to Americans. From the days of Sonja Henie, to Carol Heiss, Peggy Fleming, Katarina Witt and more recently to Tara Lipinski, Sarah Hughes and Yuna Kim, success on the Olympic stage has meant international fame and recognition for the greatest women on ice.
Perhaps no skater has quite captured the hearts and captivated the interest of both die-hard and casual fans more than a red-cheeked young lady who skated her way into the hearts of many Americans 35 years ago.
It seems difficult to believe that it was indeed 35 years ago, February 13, 1976, when Dorothy Hamill gave the performance of a lifetime to capture the Olympic Gold Medal in Innsbruck.
Not only did Hamil capture the gold medal, but her illuminating smile, beauty and hairstyle led her to be dubbed “America’s Sweetheart.”
Her trademark camel spin that turned into a sit spin became known as the “Hamill camel.” Her bobbed hairstyle created an American fad as teenage girls across the U.S. soon were sporting a similar look.
After winning the Olympic Gold, Hamill won the World Championships and then retired from competition. She spent eight years as a headliner with the Ice Capades and in the ensuing years has been involved in numerous skating ventures.
She also has been twice married and divorced and gone through bankruptcy and fought breast cancer.
Yet to anyone who saw her compete in Innsbruck, she will always be “America’s Sweetheart.”
Below is the freestyle program that won her the gold medal in 1976.
The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month is a former major league baseball player who came into the game as a teenager and stayed until he was in his 40s. In between, Rusty Staub put up a solid career that was primarily spent on expansion or rebuilding teams.
Originally signed by the Colt .45s at age 17, he made his major league debut as a 19-year old rookie and became only the second player in the modern era to play in more than 150 games as a teenager.
Though he hit only .224 splitting time between first base and rightfield, Staub did start building a foundation that would turn him into an All-Star by 1967 when he finished fifth in the league with a .333 batting average.
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