It was 30 years ago today that the most improbable upset in sports history took place. This was the date the USA beat USSR 4-3 in the 1980 Olympics in Lake Pacid. You really have to put the game in context to really appreciate how big this was. The USA and USSR were at the height the Cold War. The USA had just went through Watergate,Viet Nam and the general turmoil of the 60's and 70's. The economy was in the dumper;the USSR had just invaded Afghanistan and appeared ready to invade the Middle east oil fields and start WW III;Iran had just taken US hostages were parading them in front of the world and basically rubbing our noses in it. It was just a bad time in general for this country. Then a bunch of college kids playing hockey went on a miracle run in the Olympics and changed morale for the entire country. The Russian team had played the USA just a couple of weeks before in MSG and beaten them 10-3! This same Russian team had beaten the best of the NHL too in games leading up to the Olympics. They were considered the best team in the world. ABC, who covered this Olympics,thought so little of the game that they didn't cover it live. It was on tape delay later that night. I was watching it thinking it was live. Between the 2nd and 3rd periods I turned to a college basketball game and they announced during it that the USA had won. I thought what!?! I'm watching it now. Oh well,it didn't spoil it for me. It was still THE most thrilling sporting event I have ever watched. And I'm not even a hockey fan by any measure. I once heard a comparison at how big an upset this was. It was compared to the Russians putting together a football team and beating the then World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. That would be pretty much improbable by the way we look at things. Nothing will ever duplicate that feat and will forever be remembered by those who were living during that time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_on_Ice