I wrote a piece for GOP Congress regarding the US Hockey victory in 1980, with the ensuing paridigm shift in American history.
______
Ode to a MiracleAs the 2010 Winter Olympic Games is about to unfold in Vancouver, I am reminded of one of our country's greatest moments. It was a nexus in our history that such an event would happen when it did, as well as the ancilliary results. While we can not compare sporting events to national security, economics, or even the global warming hoax (actually, global cooling at the time), nor can we compare courage in sports to the horrific carnage of war, we can draw our pride and, indeed, change the course of history in ways that rarely evolve from the result of a single event.
That event, taking place on a cold winter night, in a small picturesqe town in New York, during a certain period of time can only be described in one word: a Miracle.
This is the 30-year anniversary of the most prolific sporting event in US history, the "Miracle on Ice" victory by the United States over the Soviet Union in the medal round of the 1980 Olympic Hockey tournament. Team USA, a talented group of college-age amateurs, took on the Soviet Union Red Army team, arguably the most talented team in the history of hockey, and won.
The game itself was one of the most prolific moments in team sport history. More importantly, the game engendered pride in many people and signified a resurgence in American exceptionalism. In short, this hockey match was the most significant event that represents the return of the American spirit back to its rightful conservative, constitutional roots.
Was it really that momentous? Perhaps, perhaps not. But one has only to remember the period of time leading up to the 1980 Winter Olympics. With liberal ideals promoted ad nauseum since the early 60's; the abysmal handling of the Vietnam war, conducted more by political fiat that the will to win and effect change; and a decidedly anti-capitalist agenda being perpetrated by incompetent academicians and rising politicians, America had started on its initial dangerous slide from freedom toward the precipice leading to socialism.
The Cold War was in full swing. People were questioning the American dream. While the economy during the 60's grew (thanks to the unprecedented tax rate relief enacted by the Kennedy Administration), the morass in government and academia continued, cementing the near-permanency of a perpetual standoff of ideals.
The seventies continued the demise of American pride. Liberal and moderate conservative policies started the first oil crisis, which led to the rise of Arab islamists that continued until the second Iraqi war. Tax rates were starting to increase, first for the productive rich, followed inevitably for the middle-class. Welfare and government programs expanded in spurts. Welfare became the norm, rather than the exception, for many inner city citizens. Fatherhood became less important than government care for raising children.
At the time, I had joined the military. Luckily, I had decided to become a paratrooper, which allowed me to join an elite group: the 82nd Airborne Division. Even in the late 70's, the military seemed as divided as the rest of America, with only the elite units providing the camaraderie, the professionalism, and the overall cohesiveness we expect every military person to exhibit today. But this was in the years shortly following the Vietnam era, the free-wheeling, drug- and sex-infested culture that even the military had been subjected.
In short, in the late seventies, America was in a deep funk, with fear of government, fear of corporations, fear of capitalism, fear of Soviet oppression, fear of... freedom.
Enter the eighties. Ronald Reagan was starting his campaign for the American presidency. Indeed, a relatively insignificant event, such as an Olympic Hockey tournament, seemed as unlikely a cause for freedom as a butterfly in Brazil causing a hurricane in Louisiana.
In the Olympic tournament, the 12 competing hockey teams were organized into two divisions of six teams apiece. Each team played everyone in its own division once. At the end of the series, the top two teams from each division were promoted to the medal round to play two more games. Picked to finish no higher than eighth in the tournament, the US won four times against supposedly better teams from Czechoslovakia, West Germany, Norway, and tied powerhouse Sweden to advance to the final round (along with the Swedes).
In the other division, the Soviet Union rolled over everyone, sometimes by double-digit scores. Indeed, other than Canada, the division consisted of teams from Japan, Poland, and Holland, three of the teams who were not even up to the United States standard.
Finally, to add to the mix, the teams all consisted of amateur players. However, in those days amateur simply meant that they were not paid to play their sport. This always had provided a certain advantage to the Soviet countries, whose laws at the time prevented professional teams, so the best players were still amateurs. But that was only a facade, as the "amateur" teams were provided with training facilities and inducements comparable to Western professionals. In addition, this led to the cohesive nature of the team. In fact, this team was so good they routinely beat NHL teams. Their players were good enough to play in the NHL had such arrangements been allowed. Most of the team had been playing for a decade, and this experience had shown in previous matches.
In fact, many sports historians had even proclaimed this to be the best Soviet Hockey team in history, and perhaps the best hockey team of all time, professional or otherwise.
Of course, everyone knows what happened. Ironically, ABC chose not to broadcast the game live, but it still did not quell the excitement of the event. The game was a classic, with the Red Army team scoring a goal; the Americans tied it up at one. Again, the Soviets scored, and again, the Americans tied it at two. The second goal was also fantastic; a long slapshot that crossed the goal line with a fraction of a second to spare in the second period. This set the crowd ecstatic.
Finally, in the third period, the Soviets again took the lead. But the US played with gusto, staving off shot after shot, and prevented the Soviets from expanding the lead with amazing defensive play and outstanding goaltending. During this time, the Americans tied the score on a power play with 10 minutes to play. Next, the US took the lead for the first time with a great move by Mike Eruzione, and the US held on for the greatest sports moment in US history.
But that was just a start. Indeed, February 23 brought out a reaction as people started to understand the enormity of the event. We felt pride in the achievement, certainly. And without question, the joy that such an event can not be duplicated. A sports fan whose team has won the championship can certainly attest to such a feeling.
But this was not just a hockey victory. Suddenly, it felt as if a huge veil had been lifted off the American conscience. There was pride in the sense that we knew we could achieve greatness, not just on the hockey rink, but in the very fabric of American society. We started to believe in our own ambitions, and our own sense of spirited community. We looked at things with a clarity of vision that had been missing throughout several decades. Finally, it seemed as if we woke up out of a national nightmare and put our "can-do" attitude back at the forefront.
In the military, it seemed there was a transformation of purpose. Even in our elite units, I distinctly remember 1980 as being a major shifting point of military awareness and preparedness...and pride. Ronald Reagan's campaign, though portrayed as close in the media, was actually a by-product of this American resurgence.
Of course, we have had bad times since the Olympic victory. A brief recession was eliminated with the first of Reagan's historic tax rate cuts. Although many of the programs started by the "Great Society" malaise of the Johnson era were still entrenched, there seemed to be a focus on re-emphasizing American independent thought in Americans.
On the Cold War front: With Reagan's strong defense policies, America essentially challenged the Soviets to understand that there was a price for expansionism. The Soviet elite had always known that their military was vastly inferior to the United States. What the Soviets had always depended on was the mindset of the American people. For the Soviets knew only one country could bring down the resolve and the fortitude of the United States. That was the United States itself.
But the most significant achievement of the greatest sports miracle was not about national defense. It was not about economics. It was not about energy policy, the Iranian crisis, or even the Cold War itself.
We rediscovered what made us great as a country. We understood that greatness is not bestowed upon us, but is developed by our own hard work and our desire to succeed. Finally, it made us proud to become Americans again, with our conservative, constitutional heritage that made us the beacon of all humanity. In short, we all have this greatness in our soul, and in our being, not just because we are Americans, but because we engender the spirit of its constitution into our own makeup.
So, in the vast scheme of things, did a hockey game really make that much difference? After all, we were on track to right the ship, as it were. Ronald Reagan came along at the exact time that we needed a great American politician with character, courage, and prestige.
But sometimes, it takes an event to change the paradigm. It takes an external mechanism, such as a great sports upset, to bolster our pride, and to show what can be done by our own efforts. Words are nice, actions are great, yet symbolism provides the needed impetus to provide us with our will to substantiate our existence.
Of course, the Olympics will never have the same level of national pride, at least in its current format, for Americans in any case. Certainly, there have been great Olympic moments with professionals involved. And as a capitalist, I can appreciate being compensated for my ability, and not restrict the Olympics to amateurs.
But the Olympics will forever be seared in my mind with that great event, and the seminal time in our nation's history. February 22, 1980, will always be remembered as not just the greatest hockey game of all time, but perhaps the single greatest event in American history of my lifetime.
The bottom line, the Miracle may have happened on Ice, but its true spirit happened in all of us.
