Miracle

So I have a weird habit where I get really into something and I decide I need to know everything about it. My first obession was The Who, which started my junior year of high school. Then the next summer I went through a phase where I really liked The Monkees and would watch their show while I ate breakfast every morning. I eventually moved on from bands to historical events. Last fall I rewatched the King's Speech. For some reason or another I wanted to know everything about it, so I watched a documentary on it on Netflix (the place where I have watched the most random things) and then some Youtube vidoes and before I knew it I knew more about King George VI then I expected to ever know.

One of my past obessions that I've been thinking a lot about lately is the Miracle On Ice. If you've been watching the Olympics, you might have heard them mention this or you might have seen old video clips of the game. To sum it up, the "miracle" was that in the 1980 Winter Olympics the US hockey team, made up of young college ameauters, defeated the Soviet Union, who were considered the best team in the world and had been playing together for years. They were like a well-oiled machine that expected to win. Earlier in the games, the Soviets had beaten the US 10-3, so it was a miracle to many that the US were even able to come close to winning. But win they did 4-3.

Now I don't even play hockey. I've only been to about 4 games in my life. But after seeing the movie made about this game, "Miracle", I was enchanted by the story. Even though everytime I watch the movie I know the US is going to win, I still get wrapped up in the emotion of the victory. I'm nervous as the Soviets fire shot after shot at the goalie Jim Craig in the 3rd period as time slowly runs out. I get chills everytime I hear the announcer yelling "Do you believe in miracles? YES" in the final five seconds. I can't even comprehend the incredible feeling coach Herb Brooks must have felt when he leaves the stadium for a moment  to take in the fact that he's done it. I wasn't even born then, I don't watch that much hockey, but I am always inspired by this story. The story of kids my age who gave it everything they had and a coach who didn't give up who acheived their dream while at the same time inspiring a nation to chant "USA USA USA" at a time when people needed some national pride.

I know I may sound overly sentimental about a hockey game. I realize that knowing the names of the team members and knowing who scored which goal may not seem necessary or worthwhile. Watching youtube videos and learning all I can about the Miracle on Ice may seem like a waste of time but I can't help but love the story and be inspired by it.