1980 Russian hockey player still very, very bitter

[bluestar]

Hardly "very bitter". Seems like a great guy who thought his team should have won, but lost to a team that played better that night. Bad video title.

[rickeuler]

According to Wayne Coffey's book "The Boys of Winter, " after the game, Mikhailov immediately went to the officials' room and told them they had done a good job, adding "Everything was right." That's class and true sportsmanship.

[TB-imci]

He shows great class. Gives credit and makes no excuses.

[HugoStiglitz]

Awesome of him to be so honest and not make BS excuses.

[louisviola]

You took them lightly and did not respect them, fatal mistake against any opponent.

[clarabartongreen]

I don't know if I would call him bitter, because that connotes poor sportsmanship (to me, anyway). Instead he's incredibly gracious about Team USA, and acknowledges they deserved the victory that night. Of course the loss still bothers him, but I wouldn't call that bitter. Anyway, thanks for posting!

[joeheid]

He seems like the kinda guy you'd love to sit down and have a beer with. Of course you wouldn't understand a word he said.

[raypowers]

Herb acknowledged that if the US played the Russians ten times, the USSR likely wins nine contests. He also had them finely tuned and peaking at the perfect time to steal this one. Greatest sports moment ever.

[tonygambino]

He's wrong. They did not score 9. they scored 10. It was 10-3

[bwdrums]

The coaching job that Herb Brooks did to get the US team to buy in that they could beat the Soviets is one of the most amazing of all time, in any sport. His selection of a true TEAM, not a team of all stars, took humungous balls and really put his ass completely on the line. I just never get sick of watching movies and documentaries on this subject, amazing what that team accomplished !

[bimamtks]

US hockey team 1980, south african rugby team 1996, and greece football team 2004 is the biggest shock in sports history

[bryanrogers]

34 years later and he still doesn't want to talk about it. They really must've gotten ripped apart when they got back home!

[carlosgarcia]

Towards the end he shows humbleness. Let's give him credit for that. It still hurts him after all these years. Miracle on Ice. What a Joy it was for me.

[mikehanzal]

Doesn't sound bitter at all. Actually guy is very honest. Soviet team was far better then any team at the 80 Olympics. They just underestimated their opponent for one game. Rest is history. He sounds like he's accepted the defeat.

[reset-xsql]

the "David and Goliath" type scenario, the 'underdog versus the unbeatable champion' scenario is universal. We all can relate. It's the human spirit, "the I think I can", 'willing the victory into existence against the odds' is beautiful. This is why this sports story resonates with so many. I'm an American. I love this story. I remember this event taking place as a child; the joy, hysteria, very happy excited adults talking about it at the time etc.. but to be fair if The USA hockey team had dominated the Olympic games, hardly ever losing for two decades, and a team comprised of young Russian guys (or any country) beat the lauded undefeated Americans in an improbable Olympic game I'd have been happy for them.. We've all so much in common after all.

[billny]

When the opposing captain from the former Soviet Union admits he underestimated you and gives you credit for being spirited in the game where he was defeated, it just confirms what a miraculous victory that truly was for the US, exactly like we perceived it to be, even in the eyes of the vanquished.

[l-wolverine]

A shame that these Soviet Men are more Humble than most it today’s “men”, including those from their own countries.

[tyleru]

This kind of mindset is why he was one of the all-time greats in the history of the sport.

[amazinmets]

Hey look! It's Stan Laurel! =D =D =D

[SouthBaySteelers]

I still remember the 1972 US basketball team being cheated out of an Olympic gold medal to the Soviets. And even though I was only 16 then and watched that game on TV, it is obviously still a sore point. There are no two ways about it. The US team was cheated. How many times did they replay those final 3 seconds? 3 times, or until the Soviets put in the winning shot. After this game, I think a lot of people were thinking revenge for the 1972 basketball game.

As for this hockey game, which was broadcast for the first time AFTER everyone knew the score, that Soviet professional team would have beaten the US 98 times out of 100. They happened to catch the US team on one of the two times out of a hundred on a night which determined who would move on to play in the gold medal game.