All of us wish to, someday, do something extraordinary and give hope back to someone that lost it. A team of college hockey players accomplish just that during the Olympics in Lake Placid. During this time the Soviet Union dominates the game of hockey. Also the cold war rages on and to many Americans the hockey game represents the outcome of the war. In Gavin O'Connor's film, Miracle, the 1980 United States hockey team does the seemingly impossible; in turn, they unite the nation with a new feeling of hope.
The first step in obtaining the gold metal, in the Olympics, is picking a team that works as one and gets to know each other. If they want to have any chance of getting to their goal, the team has to out play the mighty Soviet Union. While looking for the players the head coach, Herb Brooks, says, "I'm not looking for the best players, I'm looking for the right ones" (Miracle 2004). He does not want to rely only on a couple good players, but on the whole team. Herb knows that the Soviet Union combines talent and a well rounded system to win every game and the US hockey team tries to accomplish just that. He knows that to play together the players, that come from such different backgrounds, need to become better teammates with one another. During practice Herb asks, "So, why don't we start with some introductions. You know, get to know each other a little bit. Where you from? Who you are" (Miracle)? He tries to get the players to get to know one another. To play well together, the players need to become the best of friends. The players need to know each others strengths and weaknesses to figure out what plays to run and who to use where. Figure out each others forte.
The second step is to practice, to get better and play better. To beat the Soviet Union, the US hockey team needs to condition hard and long. While debilitating his team, Herb says, "I can't promise you we'll be the best team at Lake Placid next February, but we will be the best conditioned. That I can promise you"(Miracle). If the team cannot beat the Soviets by outplaying them they will have to out skate them. During all those chronic and didactic drills the team gets closer. They spend so much time together that they get to know each other very well. When Herb tries to propitiate a new player to the team, they do not feel right about it. One of the players steps up and says, "We are a family"(Miracle). That shows the teams readiness to play the Soviets. The team feels like a family with the players and people that cheer them on. They play for the fans, for America.
The third and final step in completing the miracle is eradicating their toughest opponents. The US needs to play on the Olympic level. The team needs to adjust to the quick style of play in the Olympics. While in the locker room during the game against Sweden the coach says, "Yeah. You're damn right Sweden! In the Olympics" (Miracle)! Herb tries to emphasize the importance of the game. He knows the team cannot beat Sweden if they do not start playing quicker and become more cooperating. When the team beats all the tough opponents, they know, the tougher ones will still be ahead. US faces their toughest nemesis, the Soviets, twice. Once in the beginning of the Olympics and the semi-finals. Herb sums it up when he says, "We're playing a hockey game against the greatest team in the world, and they're the best that's ever played this game" (Miracle). The team needs to beat the Soviets to move on to the final game. The whole nation holds their breaths while watching the US play the Soviets. The US hockey team is playing not only for the gold medal, but for the chance to let Americans dream again. The hard work and sacrifices pay off when the US Olympic hockey team beats Finland and wins the gold medal.
In the movie, Miracle, the US hockey team wins the 1980 Olympic gold medal and with that bring a feeling of hope back to USA. With the game meaning so much and the whole nation behind them the team prevails and accomplishes their objective of obtaining the Olympic gold medal. Showing that even the unbeatable team can be defeated with a little miracle.
