Today is the 35th anniversary of the US’s victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Games. Contrary to popular belief, it didn’t result in a gold medal, these guys still had to defeat Finland because the medal round was some weird round robin thing.
Even if you don’t care about sports, politics or hockey, this achievement remains important to me since it proved that teamwork, grit and a solid esprit de corps (instilled by Herb Brooks) could finally defeat what was the greatest hockey team on the planet. The West, especially America, continues to believe in the superstar bullshit: the Cult of Jordan, Big Baby LeBron, Kobe “Ego” Bryant, A-Rod the A-Hole, Johnny “Rapist” Football, etc. It also overflows how other matters are treated in the SCLM…CEOs, politicians and entertainers. Beyonce has more writers for here forgettable music than Jon Stewart’s Daily Show staff yet many go nuts over her shaking her butt.
Oh well, I’m going to savor the moment. Thankfully, only two participants have passed away in 35 years, a rather good stroke of luck. And I’m going to continue being a so-called Communist for my strategy to solve problems while I admire my Mike “Rizzo” Eurizone-autographed puck.