This was a wonderful tribute to a great moment in U.S. history....especially because of the boastful & threatening posture of the U.S.S.R. at that time. I had opportunity to manage Blythe Arena in the early 70s, prior to it's collapse under snow load (now a parking lot for the resort/ski lift). Watching the Winter Olympics this week, I am even more appreciative today than I was back then. I have forwarded this along to my 7 Grandsons to view. Thanks for making sure this team is never forgotten.
The 1960 uniforms were basically in the New York Rangers style and were made by Gerry Cosby, longtime supplier to the Rangers and the goalie for the 1933 USA hockey team that won the World Championship that year. He opened a sporting goods store in NYC and over the years outfited the Rangers, Knicks, Giants, Jets and countless minor pro hockey clubs. Those 1960 USA uniforms had an "old time hockey" look about them that the '80 team didn't match up to. I watched every game that was on TV in '60.
The summer after the games were played my family visited the Squaw Valley Olympic site and I was able to see that beautiful rink before it was demolished. Now, the site serves as a parking lot, although I understand it was never meant to be a permanent structure.
@103Uke Vladimir Lutchenko is the defenseman you're talking about, I think. You can't really say for certain whether having Lutchenko for the team and Tretiak in the second half would have definitively won the Soviets the game. The Americans tied the Soviets going into the second half because they took the Americans for granted and then the Americans outplayed and outlasted them. Plus, Craig was an absolute beast that day, stopping something like 90% of the Soviet shots on goal.
How could this have been underappreciated/overlooked the day after they won it as the guy in this trailer says? I could understand it being overlooked after the 1980 Olympics but why wouldn't the US between 1960 and 1979 have appreciated that dramatic hockey victory for what it was?
This is true, but the Olympics is known for taking sports that don't ordinarily matter to Americans and making them meaningful. I think hockey is just interesting enough that even if the US treated the NHL like it didn't exist during the late 50s, (and perhaps there is some truth to that, I don't know) an olympic Gold medal run for the US team should still have created considerable excitement in this country.
billny33 I should also point out besides Hockey the entire Winter Olympics were not as big in America then as they are 2day. Back then the winter games were like a "European thing"
Interesting. That I didn't know. I thought the Olympics were a big deal in the US, whether Winter or Summer, from the beginning. So you're saying the Winter Olympics was kind of like how the US looked at the World Cup before we hosted one in 94?
@103Uke I don't know that nobody from the 1960 didn't write an autobiography, but if they didn't, I don't know why. But writing an autobiography, doesn't amount to flaunting. You can make anything, especially anything sports related, uninspiring in the context of more important things in life. That doesn't mean that sports related events outside of an external context aren't impressive. A group of college kids beating the best team in world on biggest stage in world is inspiring IMO.
@103Uke I agree with you as well that the 1960 team didn't flaunt their victory. However, I disagree with you saying that Craig speaking about the experience and Eruzione writing a book about it qualify as flaunting. If Craig is a motivational speaker, he's probably being asked to come talk about it...and publishing an autobiography in which you discuss your achievements is not necessarily flaunting them. Flaunting, to me (and maybe I'm wrong) is akin to bragging and I don't think they were.
I will say this, though. I do like the 1960 jerseys a little more than the 1980 ones. There a little more minimalist and classy, of course you can probably say that about early 1960s clothing in general vs early 1980s clothing.
As a youngster, I retrieved his broken goalie stick from a Williams Arena trash barrel after a Gopher's Sunday morning practice. I "repaired" it as best I could and used it in street hockey games for years after. Also. Paulie Johnson, another member of that Olympic team, used to help out coaching our little league baseball team from time to time.
YES!! I noticed that too, front row of players, 3rd from the left, I think it was originally Herb Brooks but he got cut just before the games started. Don't know who the other guy is whose face replaced his, Lol.
@@lozerboozer2845 Actually, three pictures are doctored. Bill Cleary is the one you noted in the front row. His photo did replace that of Herb Brooks who was cut at the last minute along with Bob Dupuis and one other player. To replace them, Coach Jack Riley also brought in Bill's brother Bob and Minnesota legend John Mayasich. Bob's photo is pasted over the player at the far left of the middle row, and Mayasich has his face pasted on the player right above that (far left, top row). The team photo had originally been taken before Riley brought in the final three players and there was no time for a redo.
@103Uke [] OK...humble [] Yes, you meant the 1960 team but by saying the 1960s team didnt flaunt their achievement (which I agree with you about), I think you were trying to imply that the 1980s team did flaunt theirs (which I disagree with you about). [] BTW, it's "YOU"...not "WE'RE" [] By "we're", I meant that you and I seemed to disagree over the validity of what you're saying, not that I speak on behalf of anybody. This is just my opinion. Sorry for confusion.
@103Uke OK, we're disagreeing over your statement, "they dont flaunt it...". First, when you say flaunt, I think that carries a connotation of showing off yourself for admiration/envy/etc. I don't think any of the 1980 players have flaunted their accomplishment. That would be them flaunting. So, who do you mean by "they" and is "flaunt" really the right word? I don't think the 1980 team deserves less attention. I just think the 1960 team deserves more. There's a difference.
@103Uke Who do you mean by "they"? The 20 guys and 3 coaches that made up the 1980 US Olympic hockey team don't flaunt their accomplishments. They didnt lobby to have movies and documentaries made about them. Outsiders did that on their own. I don't think you need to LIKE one team more than the other. You can if you want, but nobody is making you chose. Both teams were full of young athletic men who pulled off great upsets.
@103Uke It is motivating and people take inspiration from different things. It it motivationally applicable to sports, obviously, but people can take inspiration from sports and apply it if they find it relevant. It's about an attitude and hard work and belief in oneself and character and success in face of adversity. I already said, IMO at least, that sports accomplishments obviously pale in comparison to say Mendela taking on apartheid or something else incredibly important but thats just me
@103Uke If you claim they're bragging (which is essentially what flaunting is), then the onus is on you to prove it if you want people to believe it. Saying they flaunt their victory makes it sound like they tour the country showing off their gold medals. They don't do that. Sure, they're proud of their accomplishments and most of those guys will probably talk to people who want to know more about it, but there's a difference between all that and flaunting.
@103Uke Yeah, Tikhonov shouldnt have pulled Tretiak, but there were still plenty of other long time members of the Soviet national team, the greatest team in the world at the time, and it's not like Tretiak's replacement, Myshkin, was a slouch or even an average goaltender by any means. And the Soviets didn't give the Americans anything. Don't demean their accomplishment. The Americans were better conditioned and played their asses off that day, but the Soviets still played hard.
@103Uke Yes. You are, but by saying that you're also implying in that post and in others, that the 1980 team WAS flaunting their victory. You're doing more than just complimenting the 1960 team. You're taking a dig at the 1980 team, which, I feel, is unnecessary. If you want to say you think the 1980 team gets too much attention or the 1960 team gets too little attention, I agree. However, you're making implications about character of 1980 team players that I find off-putting and indefensible.
In 10 years the USA will be the next "soviet union of hockey". Y is this? Simple demographics. We have more kids playing youth hockey then Can. or Russia. Will win all the medals then!
My great uncle played for that team ( Weldon Olson) where I live him and his brothers are ledgens.
This was a wonderful tribute to a great moment in U.S. history....especially because of the boastful & threatening posture of the U.S.S.R. at that time. I had opportunity to manage Blythe Arena in the early 70s, prior to it's collapse under snow load (now a parking lot for the resort/ski lift). Watching the Winter Olympics this week, I am even more appreciative today than I was back then. I have forwarded this along to my 7 Grandsons to view. Thanks for making sure this team is never forgotten.
I'd heard about this but only got the barest of details. Glad someone made a film out of it; hope to see it sometime.
The 1960 uniforms were basically in the New York Rangers style and were made by Gerry Cosby, longtime supplier to the Rangers and the goalie for the 1933 USA hockey team that won the World Championship that year. He opened a sporting goods store in NYC and over the years outfited the Rangers, Knicks, Giants, Jets and countless minor pro hockey clubs. Those 1960 USA uniforms had an "old time hockey" look about them that the '80 team didn't match up to. I watched every game that was on TV in '60.
Awesome.Great post.Thank you.
1980, 1960! :) YES!!!! :) USA, USA. maybe we'll again sometime soon!
The summer after the games were played my family visited the Squaw Valley Olympic site and I was able to see that beautiful rink before it was demolished. Now, the site serves as a parking lot, although I understand it was never meant to be a permanent structure.
RIP Roger Christian
2:35 I will remember, as part of the family, I will always remember
@103Uke
Vladimir Lutchenko is the defenseman you're talking about, I think.
You can't really say for certain whether having Lutchenko for the team and Tretiak in the second half would have definitively won the Soviets the game. The Americans tied the Soviets going into the second half because they took the Americans for granted and then the Americans outplayed and outlasted them. Plus, Craig was an absolute beast that day, stopping something like 90% of the Soviet shots on goal.
How could this have been underappreciated/overlooked the day after they won it as the guy in this trailer says? I could understand it being overlooked after the 1980 Olympics but why wouldn't the US between 1960 and 1979 have appreciated that dramatic hockey victory for what it was?
billny33 Hockey in America back in 1960 was like soccer in America in the 1970's Under the radar.
This is true, but the Olympics is known for taking sports that don't ordinarily matter to Americans and making them meaningful. I think hockey is just interesting enough that even if the US treated the NHL like it didn't exist during the late 50s, (and perhaps there is some truth to that, I don't know) an olympic Gold medal run for the US team should still have created considerable excitement in this country.
billny33 I should also point out besides Hockey the entire Winter Olympics were not as big in America then as they are 2day. Back then the winter games were like a "European thing"
Interesting. That I didn't know. I thought the Olympics were a big deal in the US, whether Winter or Summer, from the beginning. So you're saying the Winter Olympics was kind of like how the US looked at the World Cup before we hosted one in 94?
billny33 Yes, remember this is also way b4 ESPN
@103Uke
I don't know that nobody from the 1960 didn't write an autobiography, but if they didn't, I don't know why. But writing an autobiography, doesn't amount to flaunting.
You can make anything, especially anything sports related, uninspiring in the context of more important things in life. That doesn't mean that sports related events outside of an external context aren't impressive. A group of college kids beating the best team in world on biggest stage in world is inspiring IMO.
@103Uke
I agree with you as well that the 1960 team didn't flaunt their victory. However, I disagree with you saying that Craig speaking about the experience and Eruzione writing a book about it qualify as flaunting. If Craig is a motivational speaker, he's probably being asked to come talk about it...and publishing an autobiography in which you discuss your achievements is not necessarily flaunting them. Flaunting, to me (and maybe I'm wrong) is akin to bragging and I don't think they were.
I will say this, though. I do like the 1960 jerseys a little more than the 1980 ones. There a little more minimalist and classy, of course you can probably say that about early 1960s clothing in general vs early 1980s clothing.
The USA goalie in 1960, Jack McCartan, was a great goalie, too bad he did not last in the NHL.
As a youngster, I retrieved his broken goalie stick from a Williams Arena trash barrel after a Gopher's Sunday morning practice. I "repaired" it as best I could and used it in street hockey games for years after. Also. Paulie Johnson, another member of that Olympic team, used to help out coaching our little league baseball team from time to time.
Why was the picture doctored at 2:05?
YES!! I noticed that too, front row of players, 3rd from the left, I think it was originally Herb Brooks but he got cut just before the games started. Don't know who the other guy is whose face replaced his, Lol.
@@lozerboozer2845 Actually, three pictures are doctored. Bill Cleary is the one you noted in the front row. His photo did replace that of Herb Brooks who was cut at the last minute along with Bob Dupuis and one other player. To replace them, Coach Jack Riley also brought in Bill's brother Bob and Minnesota legend John Mayasich. Bob's photo is pasted over the player at the far left of the middle row, and Mayasich has his face pasted on the player right above that (far left, top row). The team photo had originally been taken before Riley brought in the final three players and there was no time for a redo.
@103Uke
[] OK...humble []
Yes, you meant the 1960 team but by saying the 1960s team didnt flaunt their achievement (which I agree with you about), I think you were trying to imply that the 1980s team did flaunt theirs (which I disagree with you about).
[] BTW, it's "YOU"...not "WE'RE" []
By "we're", I meant that you and I seemed to disagree over the validity of what you're saying, not that I speak on behalf of anybody. This is just my opinion. Sorry for confusion.
Weldy Olson is my great uncle hes pretty cool
@103Uke
OK, we're disagreeing over your statement, "they dont flaunt it...". First, when you say flaunt, I think that carries a connotation of showing off yourself for admiration/envy/etc. I don't think any of the 1980 players have flaunted their accomplishment. That would be them flaunting. So, who do you mean by "they" and is "flaunt" really the right word? I don't think the 1980 team deserves less attention. I just think the 1960 team deserves more. There's a difference.
@103Uke
Who do you mean by "they"? The 20 guys and 3 coaches that made up the 1980 US Olympic hockey team don't flaunt their accomplishments. They didnt lobby to have movies and documentaries made about them. Outsiders did that on their own.
I don't think you need to LIKE one team more than the other. You can if you want, but nobody is making you chose. Both teams were full of young athletic men who pulled off great upsets.
@103Uke
It is motivating and people take inspiration from different things. It it motivationally applicable to sports, obviously, but people can take inspiration from sports and apply it if they find it relevant. It's about an attitude and hard work and belief in oneself and character and success in face of adversity. I already said, IMO at least, that sports accomplishments obviously pale in comparison to say Mendela taking on apartheid or something else incredibly important but thats just me
Also, maybe second row, 1st player from the left..... WTF ?
@103Uke
If you claim they're bragging (which is essentially what flaunting is), then the onus is on you to prove it if you want people to believe it. Saying they flaunt their victory makes it sound like they tour the country showing off their gold medals. They don't do that. Sure, they're proud of their accomplishments and most of those guys will probably talk to people who want to know more about it, but there's a difference between all that and flaunting.
@103Uke
Yeah, Tikhonov shouldnt have pulled Tretiak, but there were still plenty of other long time members of the Soviet national team, the greatest team in the world at the time, and it's not like Tretiak's replacement, Myshkin, was a slouch or even an average goaltender by any means. And the Soviets didn't give the Americans anything. Don't demean their accomplishment. The Americans were better conditioned and played their asses off that day, but the Soviets still played hard.
@103Uke
Yes. You are, but by saying that you're also implying in that post and in others, that the 1980 team WAS flaunting their victory. You're doing more than just complimenting the 1960 team. You're taking a dig at the 1980 team, which, I feel, is unnecessary. If you want to say you think the 1980 team gets too much attention or the 1960 team gets too little attention, I agree. However, you're making implications about character of 1980 team players that I find off-putting and indefensible.
this proves the US CAN do enything
In 10 years the USA will be the next "soviet union of hockey". Y is this? Simple demographics. We have more kids playing youth hockey then Can. or Russia. Will win all the medals then!