More memorable event? Dream Team or Miracle on Ice?
- Thread starter skb124
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What's more memorable - a stacked team doing what's expected or a nobody upsetting the overwhelming world favorite?
Let's make this an apples-to-apples comparison. The Dream Team not winning gold by getting beat by say the Swiss basketball team would be equivalent to the US beating Russia in hockey (the miracle on ice).
So what would be more memorable - the Dream Team winning gold or the Dream Team getting beat by the Swiss?
Let's make this an apples-to-apples comparison. The Dream Team not winning gold by getting beat by say the Swiss basketball team would be equivalent to the US beating Russia in hockey (the miracle on ice).
So what would be more memorable - the Dream Team winning gold or the Dream Team getting beat by the Swiss?
People expected a team with Scotty Pippen, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, and the like to go to the Olympics and dominate... and they did. It was fun to watch, but it's nothing no one didn't expect.<div>
</div><div>NO ONE expected a rag tag bunch of college hockey players to win at Lake Placid in 1980 and to knock off a dominating Soviet team on their way to the gold... NO ONE. That shouldn't even make it close. <div>
</div><div>A quote from the movie, "Miracle:"<div>
</div><div><pre class="indented" style="padding-left: 20pt; "> "A few years later, the U.S. began using professional athletes at the Games - Dream Teams. I always found that term ironic because now that we have Dream Teams, we seldom ever get to dream. But on one weekend, as America and the world watched, a group of remarkable young men gave the nation what it needed most - a chance, for one night, not only to dream, but a chance, once again, to believe." -Herb Brooks[/code]</div> </div> </div>
</div><div>NO ONE expected a rag tag bunch of college hockey players to win at Lake Placid in 1980 and to knock off a dominating Soviet team on their way to the gold... NO ONE. That shouldn't even make it close. <div>
</div><div>A quote from the movie, "Miracle:"<div>
</div><div><pre class="indented" style="padding-left: 20pt; "> "A few years later, the U.S. began using professional athletes at the Games - Dream Teams. I always found that term ironic because now that we have Dream Teams, we seldom ever get to dream. But on one weekend, as America and the world watched, a group of remarkable young men gave the nation what it needed most - a chance, for one night, not only to dream, but a chance, once again, to believe." -Herb Brooks[/code]</div> </div> </div>
I was just trying to see if my sentiments were agreed upon by most others. I really didn't think it was a debate, but a couple guys referenced the fact that the players on the Dream Team were all memorable players, and we didn't really know any of the hockey players. I feel like the whole Cold War aspect of the Miracle game was huge also, let alone the huge upset.
If you weren't around, and don't remember the late 70s, let me give you a bit of backstory.
There were often lines for gas -- as in stations would run out, inflation was running crazy, and unemployment,
while not as high as currently, was damn high, and folks were down.
People had stopped being proud to be American, because aside from drugs and some good funk music, nothing good was happening.
Miracle on ice gave folks something to be happy about.
In comparison, the dream team was a joke.
Actually, NBA players are jokes since they have been nothing but fail for the last 2 olympics.
There were often lines for gas -- as in stations would run out, inflation was running crazy, and unemployment,
while not as high as currently, was damn high, and folks were down.
People had stopped being proud to be American, because aside from drugs and some good funk music, nothing good was happening.
Miracle on ice gave folks something to be happy about.
In comparison, the dream team was a joke.
Actually, NBA players are jokes since they have been nothing but fail for the last 2 olympics.
The Captain went on the loudspeaker to announce that we'd just beaten the Ruskies.
I never hope to see that much excitement in-flight again. The passengers erupted.
As other posters noted, we - US - were starving for some pride.
That win was certainly analogous to MSU's unexpected defeat of #1 ranked Bama in football, in 1980.
Different venue, different sport, different level, of course.
Footnote: Doug Ross, one of the members of that Miracle team, wound up as coach of the hockey team here at the Univ of Al - Huntsville ("Hockey Capital of the South") for many years, with some success.
Another footnote: Malcolm Potera, recent Chancellor of the U of A statewide system, killed the UAH hockey program last year. (May his name be expunged from the MSU Alumni family....He may have degrees from our school, and a former President, but he's as Bammer as a 3-dollar bill).
I never hope to see that much excitement in-flight again. The passengers erupted.
As other posters noted, we - US - were starving for some pride.
That win was certainly analogous to MSU's unexpected defeat of #1 ranked Bama in football, in 1980.
Different venue, different sport, different level, of course.
Footnote: Doug Ross, one of the members of that Miracle team, wound up as coach of the hockey team here at the Univ of Al - Huntsville ("Hockey Capital of the South") for many years, with some success.
Another footnote: Malcolm Potera, recent Chancellor of the U of A statewide system, killed the UAH hockey program last year. (May his name be expunged from the MSU Alumni family....He may have degrees from our school, and a former President, but he's as Bammer as a 3-dollar bill).
I do not think there will ever be an upset on that level. It would be like a college football team from Canada beating the Super Bowl champions, who had not lost a game in 12 years. 2 weeks prior the Soviet B team had beaten us 10-3 in Madison Square Garden.
Then you take the political sentiment at the time. We were getting our *** kicked in the Cold War. Iran had just had their Revolution and had taken Americans hostage while the Soviets had marched into Afghanistan.
Remains the only Sports Illustrated cover with no headlines or taglines, because everyone in America knew what had happened.
Then you take the political sentiment at the time. We were getting our *** kicked in the Cold War. Iran had just had their Revolution and had taken Americans hostage while the Soviets had marched into Afghanistan.
Remains the only Sports Illustrated cover with no headlines or taglines, because everyone in America knew what had happened.
Perfect response. <div>HD6 said:
</div><div>Too many people subscribe to the myth that there is no such thing as a dumb question.</div>
who is unfortunately a bama grad/fan, was at that Miracle on Ice hockey game.I think he got tickets from an industry contact.
He said it was the most indescribable momentous event he has ever witnessed.. I was always so envious when he talked about it!
He said it was the most indescribable momentous event he has ever witnessed.. I was always so envious when he talked about it!
