"Do you believe in miracles ? YES!!!"...
Al Michaels made that call on February 22, 1980 as the world watched one of the most shocking and dramatic of all sports upsets, the underdog U.S. hockey team defeating the defending Russians 4-3. It was Mike Eruzione from Winthrop, MA. who picked up a loose puck and fired a 30-foot shot to break a 3-3 tie with 10 minutes remaining in the final period. Goalie Jim Craig did the rest, shutting out the Russian team the rest of the way and the U.S. had the win that nobody thought possible. But the U.S. didn't have the gold yet...
Two nights later, the U.S. team coached brilliantly by Herb Brooks, defeated Finland 4-2 for the gold medal as goalie Jim Craig searched the stands looking for his father while draped in the U.S. flag...
This was only the second gold medal for an American hockey team in Olympic history. The average age of the American team was 22 and only one of the 20 players had ever competed in the Olympics before. Coach Brooks pre-game message to the team was "You were born to be a player. You were meant to be here". Then they went out and proved it...
More February 22 Memories...
1861) On a bet Edward Weston leaves Boston to walk to Lincoln's inauguration (no report on whether or not he made it)...
1879) In Utica, NY, Frank W. Woolworth opens his first 5 and 10-cent store (stay away from the hamburgers)...
1907) The 1st metered taxi service begins in London...
1924) President Calvin Coolidge delivers the 1st presidential radio broadcast from the White House...
1935) It becomes illegal for planes to fly over the White House...
1956) Elvis Presley has his 1st top 10 hit, "Heartbreak Hotel"...
1963) The Beatles form Northern Music which Michael Jackson will eventually buy...
1965) Filming for the Beatles' 2nd movie, "HELP!" begins in the Bahamas...
1976) Original Supreme Florence Ballard dies of a heart attack 9 years after being forced out of the group. Flo, penniless and living on welfare with her 3 children was only 32...
1987) Pop artist Andy Warhol dies at 58...
1994) 31-year CIA veteran Aldrich Ames and his wife Rosario are charged with selling national security secrets to the Soviet Union (Ames is later convicted and sentenced to a lifetime prison sentence, his wife, to 5-years)...
1996) Halle Berry files for divorce from David Justice...
To ensure accuracy, multiple reference sources were used in the timeline...
Happy Birthday To...
1918) "SNL" announcer Don Pardo...
1932) Edward M. Kennedy...
1934) Hall of Fame baseball manager Sparky Anderson...
1950) Basketball Hall of Famer Julius (Dr. J) Erving...
1965) Hockey Hall of Famer and former Islander and Ranger Pat Lafontaine...
1975) Drew Barrymore...
Commentary...
I've never received more of an outpouring of condolences and personal memories like that received on Curt Gowdy in response to yesterday's commentary. It's still another tribute to not only a legendary sports broadcaster but a legendary person. Thank you all for sharing those comments...
Happy trails to William "Billy" Cowsill, lead singer and oldest brother in the family group, The Cowsills. Billy passed away in Canada over the weekend at 58. He had been in deteriorating health. Bass player and brother Barry Cowsill disappeared after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans on August 29th with his body being discovered December 28th. Condolences go out to the Cowsill family...
In my February 18th blog I mentioned the 1999 trade of Roger Clemens for David Wells but that deal was between the Yankees and Toronto, not the Red Sox. Thanks to eagle-eyed Brian E. Kelly for spotting that...
Today is the 53rd day of 2006 with 312 days remaining in the year, 26 days until Spring and 38 days until opening day...
