47. Mike Eruzione and the Miracle on Ice

It's the greatest moment in the history of sports. A group of amateur kids from America taking on the most powerful hockey team in the world, the USSR. Tied at 3 in the 3rd period the youngsters from the U.S. were doing everything they could to keep up with the Russians when the captain of the team let one rip... and in the blink of an eye Mike Eruzione had given his squad a 4-3 lead and sent the fans in Lake Placid, NY into a frenzy, while the entire country watched with their own eyes the impossible come true. From there, the Soviets came at them with everything they had, but on this night, it wasn't enough. ABC's Al Michaels summed it up with this iconic call "5 seconds left in the game. Do you believe in Miracles? YES!" And with that win, coupled with Michaels remarks, the Miracle on Ice team was forever etched into the annals of American history. Working with Michaels was Hall of Fame goaltender Ken Dryden, who was saying that American goalie Jim Craig was working too hard right when Eruzione cut him off and blasted one into the net. Dryden is on the cover of this week's issue of SI and Eruzione talks about what kind of man the former Montreal star was and how their paths have crossed over the years. But on this night, it was Dryden in the booth, and Eruzione on the ice. And that's where miracles happen. Now, almost 45 years later, Captain Eruzione recounts that night and that win... how head coach Herb Brooks told the team they would "take it to their f'ing graves" if they didn't beat Finland in the Gold Medal game... how he prepped for the game against Russia like he did most other games in his life, and how the win changed his life forever, but didn't change the man much at all. A wonderful talk about a wonderful night in February of 1980 with the one and only, Mike Eruzione. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices