I missed the re-broadcast of the game yesterday, but heck, I got a lump
in my throat just by reading in yesterday's paper the AP story that
described the game!

I recall that in 1980, I saw Frank Reynolds on the ABC evening news
report that the most exciting hockey game ever played had just
concluded.  When I saw the score, I too let out a holler! Watching the
game later was an amazing experience.  Knowing the outcome already
allowed us to relish every moment, instead of being on the edge of our
seats wondering what was going to happen.  Man, it was great!

I remember seeing a photo in the newspaper the following day of a tiny
little sign that someone had posted across the street from the Soviet
embassy (or was it the consulate in New York?) that simply said "USA 4,
USSR 3".  It was also reported that on at least one airliner, the score
was announced, and the passengers and crew erupted into cheers of "USA,
USA".

Those were the days....

Cathy Spreeman
University of New Hampshire




-----Original Message-----
From: - Hockey-L - The College Hockey Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mark Lewin
Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2005 11:35 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: it all comes back

Just finished watching the replay of US vs USSR from 1980. I never saw
the game televised live (it wasn't televised live in this area) but I
remember seeing numerous replays and highlights after the fact. I was
a big hockey fan even back then and I remember that I was working at
bingo that Friday night at my volunteer Fire Company.  Whenever I had
a minute,
I ran into the kitchen to listen to the latest update on the radio.
When the final was announced, I screamed so loud, they stopped bingo
and the EMT's came running into the kitchen thinking that I must be
dying.

It just seems like it was such an innocent time. In restrospect, of
course, that wasn't true. The Soviets were invading Afghanistan, the
Iranians had kidnapped Americans.  It was anything but innocent. But
the American team was made up of amateurs and the Soviets were
experienced professionals.  And the unthinkable had happened, just
when America needed it the most.

It's truly amazing how it brings a lump to my throat and makes my
heart pound again after all those years.
Tell the truth: how many people watched the game and still cheered
when the US team scored