Miracle of the Cold War
By Page W. H. Brousseau IV
"Miracle" is a movie that tries to touch your heart and does. In 1980, the US of A was looking a little battered and bruised, the fall of Saigon, Watergate, the Iran-Hostages, and Jimmy Carter in a sweater all painted an image of America on its heels.
Enter Herb Brooks, played by Kurt Russell. His dream is to take the US hockey team to the Olympic Games in Lake Placid. The USSR team is demolishing everyone in its path. College kids are what America sent out to play. Oh, heck, everyone knows the outcome, but witnessing the struggle is quite inspiring.
Watching Brooks drill discipline and stamina into his players; I could not help but think of Lee Marvin doing the same in The Dirty Dozen. This, in a way, is what this movie is like. Many castoffs just looking for a mission, knowing the odds are stacked against them and few believe they will succeed.
The Cold War was the most important event in the past half century. Textbooks fail to give it the significance it deserves, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iran-Contra are all part of that, yet usually never taught within context.
Part of the legend of the "Miracle on Ice" team is that we kicked those Commie Bastards at their own game, on our turf. It unified the nation, as Al Michaels said before the historic game, "Many do not know the difference between a clothes line and blue line, but none of that matters."
I was thinking it would be nice to enter into sport against one of our foes today. Who could it be, France? In which sport are the French good? The American, Lance Armstrong, has won the last five Tour de France bicycling races. Even with cancer, he was the best in the world.
Maybe Saudi Arabia? With all the sand there, our beach volleyball team maybe intimidated, until they realized the Saudi beach volleyball team plays in Arabic robes and sandals.
Iran? A contest against Iran, "axis of evil" and all, may unite the States. Same problem with France, in what are they good? Storming embassies? Throwing rocks?
Sadly, many liberals hate America so much now they would cheer for the competition. Kind of like Hanoi Jane during Vietnam, except this would be insignificant in terms of relevance.
If the NBA filled Basketball team lost in Athens this year, which they might, would anyone care? Is world sports that off the radar? Some would say it is because they are pros, but 2002 Winter Olympic hockey teams were stacked with NHL talent and the games were gripping and exciting. Few sports the US does not excel in, maybe long distance running. The Kenyans and Nigerians continually rub our faces in their running ability. Why do we not care? Can this national embarrassment last forever? I foresee some guy from UCLA pulling off a victory in the long distance run this year. Then 24 years from now, we can watch the movie of his life struggle, adversity, and finally triumph.
One would think that more countries would be able to beat us, after all, we spent that past three years liberating close to 40 million people. During that time what has France done? At least in Athens the Kenyans can say they were running across the savanna.
© The Michigan Partisan 2004
