judgesmails
02-05-2005, 12:01 PM
I just finished reading "The Boys of Winter". A book written by Wayne Coffey that centered around the 1980 US Olympic hockey team's victory over the Soviet Union.
I was originally going to title the post "What makes you cry?" an post it in the Psychology forum.
The stories of these young men, and thier families, is Americana at its purest form.
Innocence, pride, skill, love, and ambition - blendend to perfection by a visionary coach at a time their country needed them most.
What choked me up most, were the details of how the families of the players sacrificed everything to make sure their childredn had every opportunity to be successful. The modeset families of the Iron Range of Minnesota, the hardscrabble streets of Boston, the tough neighborhoods of St. Paul.
These children, who turned into heros, were loved unconditionally by wise and nurturing parents. The family structure of each man was a common thread for these teamates. Few were first or only children.
Noncoincidentally, the best players on the team had no trouble sacrificing personal goals for the betterment of the team. When a person grows up in humble circumstances, accepting hand-me-down clothing as a way of life, being the third line center on a US Olympic Team is easy medicine to swallow.
As someone who grew up in similar circumstances, in the same geographic area as many of these players, this book struck a raw nerve for me.
I see how difficult their childhood was - compared to mine, and see what they made of themselves - and I feel proud of their accomplishments. I am from the same stock they are.
But at the same time, I feel more shame than pride. My parents loved me just the same and gave me all the support in the world, yet I do not feel like I have ever fulfilled my potential like these individuals did. Nor do I think I ever can match the effort and output these men displayed that month in early 1980.
That makes me cry. Not just my failure(s). But the beauty of their accomplishment. The pureness of their motive. The flawlessness of their execution.
Those of us who have had the privilege of participating in team sports in our lives know the deep meaning and sanctity of the locker room. The bonds that are implicit in sharing the physical and emotional sacrifice that sport demands. We all consider ourselves lucky to have had the experience.
The 1980 Olympic Hockey Team had the greatest experience in the history of sport. This book gives all a shiver of that experience and a rekindling of our own experiences.
I was originally going to title the post "What makes you cry?" an post it in the Psychology forum.
The stories of these young men, and thier families, is Americana at its purest form.
Innocence, pride, skill, love, and ambition - blendend to perfection by a visionary coach at a time their country needed them most.
What choked me up most, were the details of how the families of the players sacrificed everything to make sure their childredn had every opportunity to be successful. The modeset families of the Iron Range of Minnesota, the hardscrabble streets of Boston, the tough neighborhoods of St. Paul.
These children, who turned into heros, were loved unconditionally by wise and nurturing parents. The family structure of each man was a common thread for these teamates. Few were first or only children.
Noncoincidentally, the best players on the team had no trouble sacrificing personal goals for the betterment of the team. When a person grows up in humble circumstances, accepting hand-me-down clothing as a way of life, being the third line center on a US Olympic Team is easy medicine to swallow.
As someone who grew up in similar circumstances, in the same geographic area as many of these players, this book struck a raw nerve for me.
I see how difficult their childhood was - compared to mine, and see what they made of themselves - and I feel proud of their accomplishments. I am from the same stock they are.
But at the same time, I feel more shame than pride. My parents loved me just the same and gave me all the support in the world, yet I do not feel like I have ever fulfilled my potential like these individuals did. Nor do I think I ever can match the effort and output these men displayed that month in early 1980.
That makes me cry. Not just my failure(s). But the beauty of their accomplishment. The pureness of their motive. The flawlessness of their execution.
Those of us who have had the privilege of participating in team sports in our lives know the deep meaning and sanctity of the locker room. The bonds that are implicit in sharing the physical and emotional sacrifice that sport demands. We all consider ourselves lucky to have had the experience.
The 1980 Olympic Hockey Team had the greatest experience in the history of sport. This book gives all a shiver of that experience and a rekindling of our own experiences.