U.S. Team Loses the Cold War

Yesterday the U.S. Men's Olympic hockey team was dealt a severe blow, losing not only for themselves, but for their country; beaten by the Evil Empire in what was a surely a low point in the Cold War against Soviet oppression, leaving their dreams and hopes shattered like so much...  I'm sorry, what was that?

They played Canada?  The guys in red were from Canada?  They weren't Soviets?

Then why, oh why, did the NBC commentators keep blathering on about the "Miracle on Ice" team of the 1980 games as if they were playing this year?

Okay, so the U.S. Men's team hasn't won the gold medal in hockey since that 1980 game, but yesterday's match up had about as much in common with that Cold War battle as it did with the 1960 games when the U.S. took the gold and Canada won the silver.

Let's look at some of the differences:
- 1980 U.S. team:  college students.  2010 U.S. team: NHL professionals.
- 1980 matchup: U.S vs. Soviet Union.  2010 matchup: U.S. vs. Canada (I would think this was obvious, but maybe it's just me).
- 1980: Cold war going strong between the two global superpowers with enough nuclear weaponry to obliterate the Earth.  2010: U.S. and Canada still have the longest unprotected border in the world, and share a big beer maker (MolsonCoors).

NBC should have presented this as a rematch from the Salt Lake City games when Canada beat the U.S. 5-2, and needs to accept that in spite of their desperate need to produce a heartwarming story of victory every few minutes, they will never be able to cover the 1980 victory in Lake Placid.  It happened already.  Find another story, fellas.

And another thing, NBC, when are you going to stop making our U.S. athletes feel like total failures for winning silver?  It is not like the U.S. team rolled over and humiliated themselves in a 17-0 loss.  They took Canada into overtime for Pete's sake.  They should feel proud of themselves for their performance.

I'll wager we'll hear about that 1980 game again in 2014 when the games are held in Russia.  Whaddya bet?

--Darrell McChesney