Dear Kid,

Once upon a time, Russians played a lot of hockey in the Olympics. More to the point, they won a lot of hockey in the Olympics. Even more to the point, they won pretty much all the hockey in the Olympics.

Then there were a bunch of boys from Boston University (yay), and a bunch from Minnesota, and several from other places who knew how to play hockey. And there was a hockey coach who seriously knew how to coach that bunch of boys.

And there was a sportscaster who knew how to make the most out of a fabulously dramatic moment.

“11 seconds, you’ve got 10 seconds, the countdown going on right now! Morrow, up to Silk. Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles?! YES!–Al Michaels

On February 22, 1980, the USA made history in Lake Placid by beating the Soviet hockey team 4-3.

On March 3, 1890, the cover of Sports Illustrated featured a photo of the team celebrating after the win. There was no headline, no caption, because “Everyone in America knew what happened”.

<Tweet>. Again. Go USA!

Love, Mom