"Great Moments"

Fitness Over 50

Fitness Over 50

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The Olympic Men's Hockey tournament is about to start.

I suspect it will be one of the highlights of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. We are a hockey crazy city here.

As the tournament is about to begin, I cannot help but remember perhaps one of the greatest speeches given by any coach in any sport at any time. The speech was delivered by the late Herb Brooks.

For those of you who have forgotten, Herb Brooks coached the 1980 U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Team at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics. Going into the tournament, the U.S. team was not expected to do well. Once the tournament was over, they had won the Gold Medal.

They didn't win because they had the most skill. They won because they had the most heart.They had the most desire. They had the most determination. They had the most motivation. Far more than anyone else. It made the difference.

In the attached URL, Kurt Russell plays Herb Brooks in the movie "Miracle". I think it represents what the spirit of the Olympics is all about - the pursuit of excellence. Just copy and paste the URL into your browser. Here is the URL -

The reason I post this is two-fold. First, it was a great speech at a great moment. Second, each and every one of us should take that motivation and put it work. Make that motivation help you to achieve your fitness and health goals. It will never be easy. Everyday at the gym will not be a cake walk. However, use that motivation to achieve your goals. This is your time.
 
I was in my senior year at the University of Florida when the news of the upset started buzzing around campus. That night, someone wrote "GO USA" by pouring gasoline onto a field that killed the grass. That was an exciting time. I and most others were surprised that the US team had upset a few other teams to get to meet the Soviets, so there was little discussion or interest before the game. But the Miracle on Ice was truly one of the biggest upsets in the history of sports.

As I recall from memory, earlier in 1980, the Soviet team destroyed the NHL all-stars. Something like 13-1. The US Olympic hockey team which did not have NHL players at the time (and shouldn't today IMO) was without true stars (I think only a couple of them went on to play in the NHL and none became a star but most became successful in other fields).

I think the hockey team won the game and gold medal for 6 reasons more or less in descending order:

1. They played with incredible heart and collegiate-level effort which came from within and from their captain, Mike Eruzione, and Brooks.

2. Brooks gave them a great game plan. Play aggressively, go for every loose puck, attack at all times and hope that goalie Jim Craig can keep the score close.

3. Craig played the game of his life and then some. No way they hold the Soviets to 3 goals if he doesn't play over his ability.

4. The Soviets got sloppy. Late in the 2nd period, with the clock winding down, a US player takes the puck the length of the ice and scores with little defense while the Soviets uncharacteristically got careless.

5. The Soviets underestimated the US team time and time again. The coach wanted to discipline his goalie, Tretiak IIRC, who was by far the best goalie in the world because the coach thought his game was off, which it was. But, his off game was far superior to his backup's best game. No way the US team scores 4 goals against Tretiak.

6. The US team had a phenomenal home field advantage. No way they win that game if it wasn't played in the US. The fans had a lot to do with the team's incredible energy.
 
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