Arizona Coyotes: Ice Hockey Is Foundation For American Exceptionalism
Arizona Coyotes fans everywhere know that in 1980, the United States “Miracle on Ice” team revived the American spirit, showing the world that American exceptionalism was real and here to stay.
The Arizona Coyotes are an important part of the fabric of Arizona, and represent our state in the NHL in what is the single greatest sport in the world.
Bringing home the Stanley Cup is the ultimate annual sports achievement.
That same excitement ice hockey fans annually show for the Stanley Cup was represented ten-fold in 1980 at the XIII Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York.
As we get ready to start a new NHL season, we owe everything to those “Miracle on Ice” boys who reminded all of us that America truly is exceptional.
In celebration of that tremendous American achievement, last night was #NHLMovieNight where hockey fans were encouraged to all begin playing the movie Miracle at 4:00 PM. Fans and players live tweeted throughout the movie.
#NHLMovieNight brought the American consciousness together again in a rare moment of solidarity.
For those of us old enough to remember those Olympic Games, it brought back that euphoric feeling.
With one voice, we all cried out, “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!”
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I remember wanting to throw my street hockey stick and gloves into the air and parade around my kitchen draped in an American flag.
I didn’t. But I did wipe away a tear or two.
A bunch of United States college kids beating the Russian national ice hockey team in the Lake Placid Olympics is the all-time greatest achievement in American sports history.
Most don’t remember how big it actually was, or what it meant to our country.
In 1980, the Cold War was heating up, and Russia truly was our enemy. The economy was not doing well, jobs were scarce, and gasoline shortages were a not-so-distant memory.
Iran was holding 52 American diplomats in what became known as the Iran Hostage Crisis.
America was not feeling so good about itself, about the world, and about each other. Hope was a rare commodity, and getting rarer by the day.
People needed a reason to cheer.
It was ice hockey that started America back on its course toward winning again.
The heart of American exceptionalism is our ability to put our minds to doing something, anything, and accomplishing it. Everything is possible in America.
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That’s why at the heart of the collective hope of every team’s fans each season is the belief that a championship is indeed possible.
The Miracle on Ice brought back hope to America.
As the Arizona Coyotes take the ice on October 15th for their season opener, we’ll be reminded of that hope as fans everywhere will believe in miracles.