Do You Believe in Miracles

On February 22, 1980, the United States Olympic hockey team, a squad of college players and amateurs assembled and coached by Herb Brooks, met the Soviet Union in the medal round of the Winter Games at Lake Placid, New York. The Soviets had won the last four Olympic golds and were widely considered the strongest team in the world, professionals included. Playing before 8,500 fans at the Olympic Center, the Americans came from behind twice, and Mike Eruzione's goal put them ahead for good with exactly ten minutes to play. As the clock ran out, ABC's Al Michaels asked the country a question live on the air that has outlasted the game itself. Two days later the U.S. beat Finland to actually clinch the gold medal, a detail the legend of the Soviet win tends to swallow.