Sports Field Guide

By H. Darr Beiser/USA TODAY

Sports writers love hyperbole – a breathtaking, stupefying, mind-blowing way to attract fans to read stories, watch ‘big-time’ events, and read more stories.

Grantland Rice started much of it in the 1920s by calling Babe Ruth the ‘Sultan of Swat,’ Red Grange the ‘Galloping Ghost,’ and Jack Dempsey the ‘Manassas Mauler.’ In the 1980s, we depicted our Olympic hockey victory over the Soviets as a ‘miracle on ice,’ a moniker that was more a political statement than a religious one. Last night, that ecclesiastical nickname was resurrected before, during and after the USA’s hockey game vs. Canada, our dear friends to the north. The game was ‘epic,’ ‘astounding,’ ‘unbelievable.’

Even now, ESPN is broadcasting a tribute to ‘the miracle on ice‘ held 30 years ago in Lake Placid, N.Y. (going so far as to interview Klinger!, who had watched the game from the stands.)

On Sunday night, Canada had seemingly shut down the country in order to prepare for its hockey game against the United States – much like Americans lock down for the Super Bowl. Some writers likened the pre-hockey game atmosphere in Vancouver to the Mardi Gras. The United States defeated Canada 5-3 for the first time in 50 years at the Olympics after securing the win with a last-minute empty-net goal to stun everybody.

How big was this game for us Americans? It was shown on cable, bumped from the national broadcast for the ice dancing and skiing shown on NBC. Epic.

Let’s see how the print media assessed, puffed, and embellished the game from both sides of the border.

• The New York Daily News’ Filip Bondy broke out a reference to Al Michaels’ famous quote, writing: “Do you believe in mega-meltdowns? Because that’s what we have here in Canada – a full-blown, red-and-white, maple-leaf-shaped panic.” His column offered the historical context for the game.
• The Associated Press believed in hyperbole in its lead:

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The Americans didn’t believe in miracles. They just believed.

And they pulled off the biggest Olympic hockey upset since the Miracle on Ice, stunning Canada, 5-3, yesterday to advance to the quarterfinals of an already mixed-up tournament.

• The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Phil Sheridan also referenced Al Michaels, characterizing the game as the proverbial ’statement game.’

VANCOUVER – This miracle on ice didn’t win any medals. The way Team USA played, its 5-3 upset of Team Canada tonight wasn’t even a miracle.

The Americans, an unknown quantity coming into this keenly anticipated Olympic tournament, declared themselves serious medal contenders by taking a quick lead and then responding to a furious effort by Canada’s team of all-stars.

Practically speaking, the U.S. team (3-0) advanced directly to the quarterfinals while Canada (2-1) must play a classification game to advance. But this game was much more than that. It was a statement game for the young, fast and gritty Americans, who now have to be considered serious medal contenders.