The Almost Miracle of 2010
by Keeton Hayes, Staff Writer
March 11, 2010

With football season over for both colleges and the NFL, I decided should expand my writing to all sports. My decision came at the perfect time too. I was able to follow the 2010 Winter Olympics for the two weeks it aired. There were many inspirational stories and happenings in these Olympics. But I felt as though I should focus on the culminating game of the two weeks, what many, including myself, would consider “The Almost Miracle of 2010.”

The Cinderella story of the 1980 U.S Men’s Hockey team at Lake Placid, New York, is considered the biggest sport upset in any sport as 20 young college kids from across the country defeated the mighty USSR. That was the original “Miracle on Ice.” These latest Winter Olympics became all about the USA vs. Canada, Gold Medal game. The Gold Medal game was a rematch of a game played a week before in which the USA beat Canada 5-3 in a near-perfect game by Team USA. This game would’ve been the “Miracle of 2010” because a U.S. win could have surpassed the 1980 game as the biggest upset in the modern era. The significance of the upset would’ve come from the near-perfect Team Canada losing on home ice to underdog Team USA.

The game was played on Sunday, Feb. 28, the closing day of the Olympics, and was a great one, to say the least. USA’s Zach Parise took it into overtime with 24.5 seconds left in regulation by scoring the game-tying goal. But the winning shot came from Pittsburgh Penguin star Sidney Crosby playing for Team Canada. Even though the USA lost (but earned the Silver Medal, which isn’t too shabby), goalie Ryan Miller, a Buffalo Sabre, was named tournament MVP and received a standing ovation at the Buffalo Sabres game against the Penguins.

All Olympic players were formally announced at that March 2 game that was held in Pittsburgh. What’s interesting is that Ryan Miller received the longest, most steady standing ovation, earning even more applause than Penguins’ own Sidney Crosby. Crosby did receive a long ovation too as many loyal fans were presumably happy for the young player and his accomplishments in the Olympics. I’m sure it also didn’t hurt that he also led the Penguins to a Stanley Cup last year and is performing well for the Pens this year.

Will the U.S Men’s Hockey team have a chance to win gold next time around? We’ll have to wait for the 2014 Olympics at Sochi, Russia.

[comments]

Posted by "Jenn Camp" on April 8, at 10:02 a.m.

When I watched the Gold Medal Game during these last Olympics, I admit I was cheering for the United States but as soon as I looked and saw Sidney Crosby on the other side I realized something. If the U.S. won, that would have rocked, but it was the best against the best and I loved watching it.

I will admit I was mad at Sidney for scoring the goal that cost us the medal, but hey, at least we got a medal. Ovechkin was sitting at home in Washington watching as Sid made history.

The day after it happened when we came back, my homeroom teacher Ms.Mondale said something about the game that I truly believe: "My head was saying United States, but my heart was saying Canada."

Sidney Crosby will go down in the record books for doing a lot of things before he hangs up his skates and puts down his sticks. But until then it's just nice to know that when I am older I can tell my children and grandchildren that I watched the 2010 Olympics and watched Sidney Crosby score the final goal to beat the United States for the gold.

Posted by "Jacob Oberdorf" on March 18, at 11:29 a.m.

I have to say I wasn't very happy when Sid put that goal in for Canada. But now I think about it, I'm glad that it was Sid that broke our hearts. Now Sid has an Olympic Gold Medal and a Stanley Cup. What does Ovechkin have...NOTHING! I think that's just some proof to people that Sidney Crosby is better than Alex Ovechkin.

Posted by "Paula McCorkle" on March 17, at 9:03 p.m.

Even though I am not a big fan of hockey, I really enjoyed watching this game during the Olympics. It was very exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat. I do not agree with the Penguins fans that booed Sidney Crosby as he went onto the ice at a recent game. He was playing for his country in the Olympics, so, of course, he wanted to win. As for the USA, there's always 2014.

Posted by "Garrett Miller" on March 15, at 9:58 p.m.

I think the Gold Medal Game between the USA and Canada was one for the record books. Although the result didn't work the way I wanted it to, all hockey fans across the world have to admit it was very exciting to watch. Even though the Pittsburgh's own "Sid the Kid" scored the game winner, I ultimately believe country comes before hometown player. So, in conclusion I will say this...

USA USA USA!

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