I can tell you exactly where I was and what I was doing 36 years ago today. I was in the downstairs living room of my parents' home back in Kansas, sprawled out on the shag rug carpeting. My folks and siblings, those who were in town anyway, where there too. We watched on TV what has been (and always will be) the greatest sporting moment of my lifetime! The upstart U.S. Olympic hockey team beat the mighty Soviet Union in what will forever be known as "The Miracle on Ice." That night remains one ofmy all-time favorite hockey memories.
Only 41 days earlier, I watched the American team in person. The squad. as part of its pre-Olympic tour, played and defeated the Tulsa Oilers 7-4 in Wichita's Kansas Coliseum. I don't remember a lot about the game except that it was a full house and the crowd was loud. (Because of back-to-back sellouts in a "non-hockey town," Wichita landed a minor league hockey team the next year.)
My ticket stub
The Olympic team went on to finish out its tour with an overall record of 41-17-3. In fact, the final game of the tour was a whipping as the Soviets rolled to a 10-3 victory in Madison Square Garden. But just 13 days later, the Americans would shock the world in front of a rocking Lake Placid, New York crowd.
Every time I see the video, wherever it's posted, the excitement and memories of the greatest upset in sports history come rushing back.
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