Last Tuesday marked the 25th anniversary of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey teamís upset of the Russians, simply known now as the Miracle on Ice.

I wish I could say I remember the emotions I had after that victory and what it meant to me as an American when I heard news of what had happened on a chilly night in Lake Placid, but it happened in Feb. of 1980 and I wasnít born until Jan. 1981.

Growing up it wasnít until I was about nine I think that I first heard of the upset victory when I was watching a great sports moments of the 1980s video, but I didnít really understand the accomplishment. There wasnít much talk of the Miracle on Ice in our house because it wasnít a hockey house until I was about 11.

After I discovered the sport of hockey and learned more and more about it, I began looking for more and more information on the 1980 U.S. Olympic team. I began to learn that not only did they beat the communist Russians, but they beat a team that was thought to be unbeatable.

The Russians were so surprised by the U.S. victory that they just stood at the blue line, watching the celebration in awe. It was as if they had forgotten what it was like to feel that sense of elation after a win.

There is no need to talk about the story of what happened. Disney made the movie Miracle and that tells the story better than I ever could.

What amazes me is how important that game was to the nation at that particular moment in time. In Miracle we only saw a glimpse as to what people felt after the Americanís victory over the Russians, but letís look at what it really meant for the nation.

Russia was invading Afghanistan which intensified the Cold War. 52 Americans were held hostage in Iran and President Jimmy Carter wasnít able to negotiate their release, not to mention the fact that the Vietnam War and Watergate had turned many Americans against the government. Add to the equation that the Americans boycotted the 1980 Summer games in Moscow and itís safe to say things werenít going too well in the country at the time.

Then, out of nowhere, a bunch of kids right out of college start winning hockey games and eventually won the gold medal.

When the American hostages were released from captivity in Iran they were shown a film that chronicled the different things that happened in the world while they were held hostage. U.S. embassy press attache Barry Rosen said that when he saw what the U.S. hockey team did, most of the freed hostages started to cry. Rosen said that victory and sense of patriotism that followed in the country meant a lot to him and the other freed hostages.

Americans all across the country had a renewed sense of patriotism. One lady was quoted in Sports Illustrated as saying she hadnít seen so many American flags since the 1960s, but they were being burned then.

As Minnesotans, it is easy for us to understand the athletic feat of our boys beating the communists in hockey, but a simple game of hockey played in Lake Placid, NY, on Feb. 22, 1980 showed the nation that we as a country can take on anything. The victory showed that with a little hard work and believing in ourselves, we can do whatever we want.

When someone tells me I canít do something, I just think of that 1980 U.S. team.

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