"An Abstract Lesson To Win in Business"

All wining teams are goal-oriented. Teams like these win consistently because everyone connected with them concentrates on specific objectives. The go about their business with blinders on; nothing will distract them from achieving their aim.

Leadership

It may just be the single most indelible moment in all of U.S. sports history,” said Sports Illustrated of Team USA's improbable gold medal run at the 1980 Winter Olympics. “One that sent an entire nation into a frenzy.” American hockey came of age on February 22, 1980, when the young Americans took down the mighty Red Machine from the USSR. The story begins with Herb Brooks, NCAA coach and student of international hockey. Brooks had played for his country at two Olympics, and was the last man cut from the 1960 team, which won America’s first Olympic gold medal in hockey. He spent the 1970s as head coach at the University of Minnesota, leading the team to three NCAA titles and earning notice for his prickly personality and fanatical preparation.

The Soviets Remained Strong

The USSR was on top of the hockey world going into the 1980 Olympic Games at Lake Placid. The previous year, the national team had crushed the NHL All Stars 6-0 in the deciding game of a challenge series. The Soviet domination of the 1979 World Championship was absolute. The team's veterans were still in peak form, while exciting young players brought a new, fearsome edge.

The American Underdogs

The Americans were underdogs, but they were competitive. Brooks suggested that a bronze medal was within reach. Then came a pre-Olympic exhibition game against the Soviets. The wide-eyed Americans were manhandled 10-3. Brooks blamed himself, saying his game plan was too conservative.

The Soviets went undefeated in their group, of course, although they fell behind against Finland and Canada before rallying late to win each game. Such stumbles appeared little cause for concern. The group standings set up the scenario the Americans had been hoping to avoid: their first opponent in the medal round was the USSR.

A Great Upset in the Making

While most recollections focus on the scoring heroics, the American triumph would not have been possible without protecting their goal. The Soviets came out flying, out-shooting the Americans by wide margin. The goalie kept his team in the game, down 2-1 as the first period drew to a close. His teammates were more aggressive than in the exhibition game,  forcechecking harder. But it was only a matter of time before the Soviets added to their lead. The first sign of an upset in the making came at the end of the first period. With time running out, USA took a long shot. The Soviet goalie stopped it easily, but kicked out a rebound. The Soviet defensemen, expecting the buzzer, seemed to let up on the play. The American's crashed between them and scored.

The Americans had faced the Soviet assault for 20 minutes and come away on even terms. They had also chased a legend from the net. Years later, when they were NHL teammates, Johnson asked Soviet defenseman Slava Fetisov why coach Viktor Tikhonov had shown so little faith in Tretiak.

“Coach crazy,” replied Fetisov.

The Soviets Were Disrupted by Outside Influence

“I don’t think I should have been replaced in that game,” Tretiak wrote in his autobiography. “I had made so many mistakes already, I was confident my play would only improve. (Myshkin) is an excellent goalie, but he wasn’t prepared for the struggle, he wasn’t ‘tuned in’ to the Americans.” Tikhonov later suggested the change was made under pressure from Soviet officials at the game.

Final Push to Victory

As the Soviets mounted a final charge, broadcaster Al Michaels delivered the most famous call in American sport: "Eleven seconds. You got ten seconds, the countdown going on right now. Five seconds left in the game! Do you believe in miracles? Yes!"

That dramatic win is what most people recall as the “Miracle on Ice.” But two games remained in the tournament. If the Americans lost against Finland and the Soviets defeated Sweden, the USSR would be gold medalists again. Team USA’s upset of the champions would go down as a curious footnote, nothing more.

Brooks, fearing an emotional letdown, ran a hard practice the day before the game, taunting his players: “You’re too young. You can’t win this.”

The impossible dream comes true!" cried Michaels, in a less memorable broadcast line. He captured it better during the medal ceremony: “No scriptwriter would ever dare.”