Olympics

There are certain times in our life that stand out and we remember where we were and what we were doing during that historical moment. Thirty years ago, I was shopping for spring clothes with my mother on a Saturday afternoon.

On that particular day, I recall that I was to show off the pants and shirts that my parents purchased for me. Fortunately, my Dad really didn't care to see what he had bought for me since he was involved watching the tape-delay broadcast of the United States Olympic hockey game against the Soviet Union.

My mother then escorted me back to Antioch,IL, high school so I could perform in the pep band during the varsity basketball game. As I got out of the car, the announcement over the radio stated that the U.S. upset the much-disliked Soviet Union in hockey.

I rushed into the high school and told the public address system announcer, Mr. Collins, (my social studies teacher) what had just taken place: The U.S. beat the Soviet Union in Olympic hockey and will have a chance for a gold medal! Unfortunately, Mr. Collins thought it was a prank and he refused to relay the announcement until the start of the varsity game. Upon making the declaration, the entire audience stood and applauded.

After returning home, my mother excitedly told my father about the big victory, forgetting that Dad avoided any knowledge about the outcome of the game that was played earlier in the day in Lake Placid,NY. To this day, Mom says the look on Dad's face was one of the worst she had seen in 47 years of marriage.

As I watched countless hours of Olympic coverage over the past two weeks, I recall that day 30 years ago when America beat the most feared hockey team and became "The Miracle on Ice". I also realize now how difficult it would be to avoid knowing the outcome of anything that occurred earlier in the day with the advent of the computer and other technological advances.

Keep in full year of The Bottom Line at your fingertips by ordering a royal blue three-ring binder. Call me at: (715) 834-7337. Or, e-mail: editor@tblnet.com