The “Miracle on Ice,” where the United States defeated the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York will forever be known as one of the greatest moments in American sports history. As recently as 1999, Sports Illustrated ranked the “Miracle on Ice” as the top sports moment of the 20th Century. This game was about more than just sports though, it signified American strength, even when faced the greatest adversities. As Noelle Nikpour of the Sun-Sentinel states, “The United States has suffered through Vietnam, Watergate, and the wrenching upheavals of the 1960s.” Many believe this game was even the beginning of the end for the Cold War. In 1979, the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, leading to anti-communist changes in Western foreign policies. The threat of nuclear war was at a high point and neither country wanted to budge. As a response, United States president Jimmy Carter boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, while the Soviets responded by boycotting the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. But neither country backed out of the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York where the “Miracle on Ice” was able to happen. The 1980 American Hockey team was led by coach Herb Brooks, a stern and hard nosed coach that pushed his players to their limits. According to Jamie Fitzpatrick on About.com, Brooks was known for his “prickly personality and fanatical preparation.” The American team itself was made up of NCAA hockey players because American professionals were unable to play in the Olympics at this point in time. It seemed that this group would have no chance against the professionally led Russian team, which had dominated international hockey at this point in time. In the year prior to the 1980 Olympics, the Soviet squad defeated the NHL All-Star team 6-0. If the NHL All-Stars were crushed by the Soviets, it seemed the 1980 Olympic team of college athletes would have no chance. A true D