NOTE: Today’s Daily News Article is a human interest news story. Human interest stories differ from the regular news – they are sometimes referred to as “the story behind the story.” Human interest stories tell of how those happenings have impacted the people or places around the story. These stories take a break from the more serious news material to highlight something light or funny, something unusual and often something inspiring.

1. Where were the 1980 Winter Olympics held?

2. Why was the American victory over the Soviet team “a miracle”?

3. How do you know from this article that U.S. goalie Jim Craig played a great game?

4. What U.S./world events made 1980 a time of strife?

5. The U.S. and since-collapsed Soviet Union were at odds in 1980. Russian Olympic competitors were full-time athletes whereas the U.S. team was made up of college players and long-shot pro aspirants like Eruzione and Buzz Schneider. They defeated a Russian program that had dominated the Olympics since 1964. The U.S. team beat a Russian team that had seven players from the 1976 Olympic team and one player who had played in three other Olympiads. Mike Eruzione said, “The real story for me was they only scored three goals. Throughout the tournament, they were scoring seven, eight, nine goals a game. Not only was Jimmy (Craig) solid, actually, the defense and the defensemen were outstanding in that game.”

a) How does the story of the U.S. Olympic hockey team inspire you?
b) Ask a grandparent if he/she remembers this victory.