OH HOW WE DANCED, Part 2

"We beat the Russians, WE beat the Russians!"
Not the United States kids, it was "WE beat the Russians!"

And oh, how WE danced!!!!

So part 2 begins with the madness that began about 7:30PM on February 22, 1980 with the U.S. beating the Soviets 4-3 in Olympic Hockey.

The game was aired live on the CBC but ABC (what the hell were they thinking?) decided to tape delay it and show it at 8:00PM. When their broadcast started they showed a live feed from behind host Jim McKay, which everyone was going crazy and McKay had the look on his face where he knew this secret and wanted to share it with everyone but couldn't.

But such was TV in 1980.(Remember that ESPN was just born and they would start broadcasting every evening at 6:00PM. Yes kids, we roughed it back then!)

Most assume that the game was broadcast live (indeed, CTV, which held Canadian rights to the game aired it live); but in reality, the game started at 5:05 pm Eastern Standard Time and ABC decided against pre-empting local and network news (on the East Coast) to carry the game live. Instead, most of it—including the entire third period—was broadcast within the regularly scheduled, prime-time telecast from 8:00 to 11 pm Eastern time (and on a six and a half hour delay on the West Coast from 8:30 to 11 pm Pacific Standard Time). Despite being on tape, the game was one of the highest-rated programs of the 1979–80 television season and remains the most-watched ice hockey game in the history of American television

ABC Radio broadcasted the game live and that is where I listened to the game. I used to work at a supermarket and on Friday's my best friend at the time and I would start what was called "processing orders", which the delivery trucks would bring in the orders and we could start cutting the boxes open and pricing cans and packages, etc. (We still done that in 1980.) So at the bowels of the basement we had the radio on and listened to the game very intensely. That was a night I will never forget as we told the co-manager what had happened and he got up in the office, turned on the microphone and told the final score. I swear everyone in a packed store was screaming. I had never seen this before and have not seen it since.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Jim McKay and Al Michaels names will always be associated with that game.

During the broadcast wrap-up after the game, ABC Olympic sports anchor Jim McKay compared the American victory over the Soviets to a group of Canadian college football players defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers (the recent Super Bowl champions). ABC was the official home of the Olympics every year and of course, Jim McKay was there as the anchor. McKay's performance during the 1972 Munich Olympic tragedy. When the hockey game was over and they threw it back to him, live, Jim McKay looked into the camera and stated "I don't know what to say!" Who could blame him?

Al Michaels was the Cincinnati Reds radio man from 1971 through 1973. In 1974, Michaels left the Reds for a similar position with the San Francisco Giants and announced regional NFL games for CBS Sports in 1975. He signed with ABC Sports in January 1977. Michaels initially joined ABC as the back-up announcer on Monday Night Baseball in 1977. The following year, he was promoted to be lead announcer and was at the network on a full-time basis. In 1980 he was assigned to hockey play by play.

"The Soviets were putting so much pressure on the American team at the end of the game, and it was a one-goal game, the crowd is going absolutely insane, we were on a platform that was shaking, the production truck was going crazy," Michaels recalled.

Michaels says he never gets tired of people coming up to him to talk about that call or that game. He never tires of hearing people say where they were when they heard the call. Of course, it was the first hockey game that many Americans had seen. "That was the beauty of that game," Michaels says. "You didn't have to understand to understand."

He later recalled, "When I look back, obviously Lake Placid would be the highlight of my career. I can't think of anything that would ever top it. I can't dream up a scenario."
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

The Americans defeated Finland two days later to clinch the gold medal, coming from behind in the 3rd period as usual and securing, the Gold Medal and also securing the hearts of a grateful America. Had the US lost this game, the gold would have gone to the Soviets.

Photo by Russ Considine

The gold medal ceremony was a sight to behold. Emotional, passionate, bringing out all patriot emotion in a country who had lost its way. Always remember, the American public of 1980 was so disillusioned. Ayatolla Khomeini had kept Americans imprisoned for more than 100 days. The Soviets had invaded Afghanistan. At home, America faced domestic inflation, unemployment, and economic uncertainty. The United States didn't seem to be as mighty on the global scene as it once was. And then THEY came along.

That's why Americans loved the 1980 hockey team and their victory over the Soviets. They made America feel like it was back in control.


★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Here is a section from ESPN separating myth from reality:

Myth: The USA beat the Soviets in the gold medal game.
Truth: The USA defeated the Soviets 4-3, then defeated Finland 4-2 to win the gold.

Myth: Mike Eruzione was the USA's top offensive player.
Truth: Eruzione had the game winner against the Soviets, but five other teammates outscored him.

Myth: The USA won all its games.
Truth: The USA tied Sweden 2-2 in the first game.

Myth: The Soviet game was on television live in prime time.
Truth: The game was played at 5 P.M. and was on tape delay.

Myth: The USA overachieved at the right time against a superior Soviet team.
Truth: Maybe it was a "Miracle on Ice," but the USA had a strong team, particularly at center with Neal Broten, Mark Pavelich, and Mark Johnson, and with defensemen such as Mike Ramsey, Dave Christian, Ken Morrow, and Jack O'Callahan, and a hot goaltender in Jim Craig.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

Also do NOT underestimate the great Eric Heiden, who was the best all-around speed skater in history. Any arguments to the contrary are foolish. Not sure? Check this out. At the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics, Heiden won gold in all five men's races, from the sprints to the distance. He finished first in the 500-, 1000-, 1,500-, 5,000- and 10,000-meter races. He set four Olympic records, including one world record. Not only is he the only skater to ever win all five races in a single Olympics, he's the only skater to ever win all five events in any Olympics. He was close to a lot of those players on the hockey team and attended that game. He was (and still is) a soft spoken man who never let big companies make money off of his name. He will be forever linked to these games as well.

What happened over those two weeks and two days in Lake Placid, New York is something I will truly  take to my grave with me. It made a HUGE difference in the way I saw this country and shaped my political beliefs.

These were OUR kids. My GENERATION. They came out and kicked ass. Herb Brooks came out and DEMANDED they kick ass. No other way to say it.

This is in memory of Herb Brooks, Jim McKay, Chris Schenkel, Curt Gowdy, Bill Flemming, Art Devlin, Jack Shea and for the men and women who made these Winter Games possible to a grateful nation. Also for the Rev. J. Bernard Fell, president of the Lake Placid Olympic Organizing Committee who died of cancer in 1985 and who the Rev. J. Bernard Fell Olympic Torch Restoration Committee is dedicated for the restoration and preservation of "The Beacon of Lake Placid's Olympic History".

Lastly this is also in memory of the great Harry Chapin who sadly was killed on July 16, 1981. Harry performed a solo concert at the 1980 Olympic Winter Olympics in the Olympic Village, which Sports Illustrated writer E. M Swift noted that gold medal speed skater Eric Heiden's favorite experiences were the "Harry Chapin concert at the Village and raisin toast". Rest in peace. 

With heartfelt emotion I dedicate this link to all now, and all then


“Now if a man tried to take his time on Earth and prove before he died what one man’s life could be worth, I wonder what would happen to this world.”
- Harry Chapin



❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/joe_posnanski/02/22/miracle.on.ice/index.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/olympics1998/history/memories/80-hock.htm
http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2010/02/20/russians-play-miracle-ice-years-later/
http://voices.yahoo.com/a-tribute-jim-mckay-favorite-us-olympic-athlete-1669231.html?cat=9
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/sports/olympics/22sandomir.html?_r=0
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/22/feb-22-1980-u-s-a-beats-soviet-union-in-miracle-on-ice/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_on_Ice
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_Winter_Olympics
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1124069/7/index.htm
http://espn.go.com/classic/s/miracle_ice_1980.html
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1089198/index.htm
❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

OH HOW WE DANCED. Part 1

Part 1 of 2 

(part 2 will be posted Sunday for obvious reasons)

Official Poster of the Games

It was 33 years today, February 22, 1980, in Lake Placid, New York, as the proverbial saying always went, where on this night the only thing that was placid there was the lake.

The XIII Winter Olympic Games were being held in the tiny village of Lake Placid. It was a spectacular Olympic Games, only matched by the village's audacity to hold those games there. Lake Placid had held the games in 1932 and the good folks there had wanted them back for a long time. 


On October 13, 1974 the IOC officially awarded the games back to Lake Placid for the XIII Winter Olympic Games.

But the games would be held for the American people who was disheartened and cynical and who could blame them? The Ayatolla Khomeini had kidnapped and held 52 Americans imprisoned for more than 100 days. The Soviets had attacked Afghanistan and here we faced increasing domestic inflation, unemployment, and economic uncertainty (kind of like right now with another Democratic politician and dictator wannabe, eh?). This period may have been the lowest time for American self confidence.

One hockey team would make this country turn the corner. One team, one game and one goal.

Herb Brooks

Herb Brooks was the hockey coach for the University of Minnesota. He was given the job of coaching the 1980 U.S. team. Brooks was no stranger to the U.S. Olympic hockey program. After being the last man cut from the gold medal team's roster in 1960, Brooks went on to play on the 1964 and 1968 Olympic teams, as well as on five other U.S. National Teams. Brooks, who had just finished leading the University of Minnesota's Golden Gophers to the national championship in 1979, now had the responsibility of selecting the 20 players to represent his United States Olympic team. Brooks didn't take any chances, he went with what he knew; local boys. So, while 12 of the 20 players on the final roster were native Minnesotans, nine of those 12 were players whom Brooks had coached as Gophers.

The Americans, who, since the inception of the Winter Games, had won one gold medal (1960), four silver medals (1924, 1952, 1956 & 1972), and one bronze (1936), were eager to bring home some hardware on their native soil. Having finished fourth during the previous Olympics, in 1976 at Innsbruck, Austria, under coach "Badger" Bob Johnson, the U.S. knew it would never have a better opportunity than the one they had in front of them in Lake Placid, N.Y.

The 1980 team as it began exhibition play in September of 1979

In early September, the team began as challenging an exhibition schedule as had ever been organized for an American Olympic squad. Beginning with an initial European tour in early September, the team played a 61-game pre-Olympic schedule against foreign, college and professional teams, ultimately finishing with a 42-16-3 record. It was during this time together that the players were introduced to Brooks' new offensive game plan called the 'weave.' 

Brooks felt that if his club was going to compete against Europeans, they had better learn how to play like Europeans.

The Americans last game on the exhibition schedule was the true "BIG RED MACHINE", the Soviet Union in New York City's Madison Square Garden. It was no contest. The Soviets blew out the Americans 10-3. After the game Brooks stated "Our guys were applauding the Soviets when they were introduced".

So it appeared that the destiny of the two teams were set; the American would finish out of medal contention and the Soviets would blow everyone out and win yet another gold medal. 
I think this is where my grandmother always said "Don't count your chickens before they hatch."

The 1980 Swedes

The first game in the XIII Winter Olympics for the U.S. was versus Sweden who was favored in the U.S. side of the bracket. The U.S. trailed 2-1 with 27 seconds left to play in the game when Billy Baker scored and the U.S. skated off with a tie AND most importantly, one point in that bracket. This would be THE catalyst for the young American team.

Game number 2 for the U.S. was versus the favored Czechoslovakia team and some said the Czechs were the second best team in the world. As Herb Brooks always told his players "use your youth" the Americans skated circles around the Czechs and dominated them 7-3. After beating Norway and Romania  now only West Germany (the team that knocked them out of the bronze medal in 1976) stood in the way of getting into the medal round. Down 2-0 in the first, the Minnesota boys came through big as McClanahan and Broten each tallied to tie it up. McClanahan then scored again on another breakaway in the third, and Phil Verchota lit the lamp late to give the U.S. a 4-2 win over the Germans. This gave the Americans a round robin record of 4-0-1, and a date with the greatest team in the world.

But Herb Brooks had planned this moment for 20 years, studying the Soviets, playing against the Soviets and coaching against the Soviets and he devised a strategy to throw the Soviet game right back at them and take it to a realm they had never seen before. So on February 22, 1980 at 5:00 pm, the puck was dropped and the game of a lifetime began. 

As expected, the Soviets' Olympic team began an immediate offensive assault against the Americans, but the Americans were staying with them. 

Jim Craig

Goalie Jim Craig looked sharp, as sharp as he ever had. The U.S. team was gaining confidence as the first period progressed, even if they were getting out-shot badly. With his team trailing 2-1 near the end of the first period, Mark Johnson skated through two defenders to drive hard to the net after Dave Christian cranked a long shot. Vladislav Tretiak, acknowledged by all the  greatest goaltender in the world and maybe ever, inexplicably let a rebound bounce off his pads as if it had a spring attached. It went directly to Johnson, who drilled it past him with one second left. The goal gave the USA a major lift going into the second period. After Johnson's goal, Soviet coach Viktor Tikhonov stunned one and all by removing Tretiak and replacing him with backup goalie Vladimir Myshkin.

Years later, when Mark Johnson found himself playing on the same New Jersey Devils team with Slava Fetisov and Alexei Kasatonov, members of the 1980 Soviet team, he asked Fetisov why Coach Tikhonov had pulled Tretiak. Fetisov just shook his head and said two words with his thick Russian accent: "Coach crazy."

The Soviets went ahead quickly in the second period and they skated off the ice with the Soviets ahead 3-2 going into the third and final period.

The third period began and Vladimir Krutov was sent to the penalty box at the 6:47 mark of the third period for high-sticking. The Americans, who had managed only two shots on Myshkin in 27 minutes, had a power play and a rare offensive opportunity. Myshkin stopped a Mike Ramsey shot, then U.S. team captain Mike Eruzione fired a shot wide. Late in the power play, Dave Silk was advancing into the Soviet zone when Valeri Vasiliev knocked him to the ice. The puck slid to Mark Johnson. Johnson fired off a shot that went under Myshkin and into the net at the 8:39 mark, as the power play was ending, tying the game at 3-3.

At this point Brooks was short-shifting his players to keep them fresh. Two minutes after Johnson's goal, Team Captain and Boston's own Mike Eruzione jumped off the bench with a burst of energy. 

And now everything lines up for the shot heard around the world.

THE shot .... and the lead!

Eruzione ended up in the slot, where Pavelich found him with a pass. Eruzione fired a 25-foot wrist shot that skipped through a screen and past Myshkin. In that arena, as well as all over, ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE! The USA 4, THE USSR 3. Problem was.... there was still 10 minutes to play.

USA celebrating after the Eruzione Goal

Minute by minute, shift by shift and it seemed the minutes were hours. The Soviets, trailing for the first time in the game, attacked furiously. Moments after Eruzione's goal, Maltsev fired a shot which ricocheted off the right goal post. As the minutes wound down, Brooks kept repeating to his players, "Play your game. Play your game." Instead of going into a defensive crouch, the United States continued to play offense, even getting off a few more shots on goal. The Soviets began to shoot wildly, and Sergei Starikov admitted that "we were panicking." As the clock ticked down below a minute, the Soviets got the puck back into the American zone, and Mikhailov passed to Vladimir Petrov, who shot wide. The Soviets never pulled Myshkin for an extra attacker, much to the Americans' disbelief. Starikov later explained that "We never did six-on-five", not even in practice, because "Tikhonov just didn't believe in it." Craig kicked away a Petrov slap shot with 33 seconds left. Kharlamov fired the puck back in as the clock ticked below 20 seconds. A wild scramble for the puck ensued, ending when Johnson found it and passed it to Ken Morrow. As the U.S. team tried to clear the zone (move the puck over the blue line, which they did with seven seconds remaining), the crowd began to count down the seconds left. 

Sportscaster Al Michaels, who was calling the game on ABC along with former Montreal Canadiens goalie Ken Dryden, picked up on the countdown in his broadcast, and delivered his famous call:
“11 seconds, you've got 10 seconds, the countdown going on right now! Morrow, up to Silk. Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles?! YES!”

The end of the game and pandemonium! 

Click here for last minute

"No words necessary, just pictures."
- Al Michaels 

The celebration that followed the game felt surreal to the players involved. Craig was buried by the crush of his teammates, and sticks and gloves were scattered everywhere. Euphoria reigned, and for the next few hours, players were besieged by well-wishers. Fans lined the short distance between the arena to the media center, forcing the team bus to inch it way toward the press conference. As fans banged on the bus, one player, most seem to think it was Neal Broten, started singing, "God Bless America." Other players quickly joined in.

In the aftermath of the game, Sports Illustrated reported in the Sportsmen of the Year issue of December 22, 1980 the immediate reaction that was going on around the country that was typical EVERYWHERE:

"In Babbitt, Minn., hometown of Forward Buzzie Schneider, guys went into their backyards and began firing shotguns toward the heavens. Kaboom! Kaboom! WE BEAT THE RUSSIANS! In Santa Monica a photographer heard the outcome of the game and went into his local grocery store, a mom-and-pop operation run by an elderly immigrant couple. "Guess what," he said. "Our boys beat the Russians." The old grocer looked at him. "No kidding?" 

Then he started to cry. "No kidding?"

In Winthrop, Mass., 70 people gathered outside the home of Mike Eruzione, who had scored the winning goal, and croaked out the national anthem. Not God Bless America, which is what the players were singing in Lake Placid. The Star-Spangled Banner.

One man was listening to the game in his car, driving through a thunderstorm, with the U.S. clinging to a 4-3 lead. He kept pounding his hands on the steering wheel in excitement. Finally he pulled off the highway and listened as the countdown started...5...4...3...2...1...WE BEAT THE RUSSIANS! He started to honk his horn. He yelled inside his car. It felt absolutely wonderful. He got out and started to scream in the rain. There were 10 other cars pulled off to the side of the road, 10 other drivers yelling their fool heads off in the rain. They made a huddle, and then they hollered together—WE BEAT THE RUSSIANS! Perfect strangers dancing beside the highway with 18-wheelers zooming by and spraying them with grime."

Years after the event, it's easier to see that the Soviets badly underestimated the Americans' talent. After soundly beating the United States in Madison Square Garden, the Soviets never entertained the possibility that the Americans would give them a better game in their next meeting.

In part two I will explore the final game versus Finland and aftermath.

(Obviously this blog couldn't be written without Wikipedia, USA Hockey, ESPN, Sports Illustrated and I take absolutely no credit for it. After 33 years I still can't put this into words and translate it and live up to the standard it so richly deserves. I celebrate this day every year and it does not go by without me thinking back and tearing up.

I will cite all my references then.)

1980 U.S. Olympic Roster

No. Name Ht. Wt. Born Hometown College 30 Jim Craig 6'1" 190 5/3/57 North Easton, Mass. Boston University 1 Steve Janaszak 5'8" 160 1/7/57 White Bear Lake, Minn. Univ. of Minnesota 6 Bill Baker 6'1" 195 11/29/56 Grand Rapids, Minn. Univ. of Minnesota 3 Ken Morrow 6'4" 210 10/17/56 Davison, Mich. Bowling Green State 17 Jack O'Callahan 6'1" 185 7/24/57 Charlestown, Mass. Boston University 5 Mike Ramsey 6'3" 190 12/18/60 Minneapolis, Minn. Univ. of Minnesota 20 Bob Suter 5'9" 178 5/16/57 Madison, Wis. Univ. of Wisconsin 9 Neal Broten 5'9" 155 11/29/59 Roseau, Minn. Univ. of Minnesota 23 Dave Christian 5'11" 170 5/12/59 Warroad, Minn. Univ. of North Dakota 11 Steve Christoff 6'1" 180 1/23/58 Richfield, Minn. Univ. of Minnesota 21 Mike Eruzione 5'10" 185 10/25/54 Winthrop, Mass. Boston University 28 John Harrington 5'10" 180 5/27/54 Virginia, Minn. Univ. of Minn-Duluth 10 Mark Johnson 5'9" 160 9/22/57 Madison, Wis. Univ. of Wisconsin 7 Rob McClanahan 5'10" 180 1/9/58 St. Paul, Minn. Univ. of Minnesota 16 Mark Pavelich 5'7" 160 2/28/58 Eveleth, Minn. Univ. of Minn-Duluth 25 Buzz Schneider 5'11" 180 9/14/54 Babbitt, Minn. Univ. of Minnesota 8 Dave Silk 5'11" 190 1/1/58 Scituate, Mass. Boston University 19 Eric Strobel 5'10" 175 6/5/58 Rochester, Minn. Univ. of Minnesota 27 Phil Verchota 6'2" 195 12/28/58 Duluth, Minn. Univ. of Minnesota 15 Mark Wells 5'9" 175 9/18/57 St. Claire Shores, Mich. Bowling Green State Head Coach: Herb Brooks, Univ. of Minnesota Assistant Coach: Craig Patrick, Oxon Hill, Maryland General Manager: Ralph Jasinski, St. Paul, Minn. Trainer: Gary Smith, Minneapolis, Minn.

Everything In Life Has a Price On It

My mother turns 74 today. She has survived breast cancer and although she is weak, to quote the band Chicago, she’s “getting stronger every day”.

My father will turn 75 in April and he is not slowing down one bit, which is a trait of his family. Being an only child the burden of responsibility falls solely on me but I am not complaining. I think (at least to me) it comes naturally and I do not think about it.

However it makes one think about his mortality. I was talking to one of my best friends, Bob Santmyer, Sunday and we broached that subject. Bob lost his mother last summer.  She was ill and he and his family knew it was just a matter of time. Still I don’t think he could “brace” himself for what was about to happen. I sincerely believe no one can.

I had another friend tell me one time that you could be the toughest man alive but when you lose your mother it can bring you to your knees. I thought my father was that man until my grandmother passed. He was upset to the likes I had never encountered.

So yeah, I agree with all of this. I think you have to have your priorities in line and arranged in this life. Also I believe, certainly in my situation, you have to have some kind of home base (family) to touch. I certainly have that in my cousins, especially Julie, Todd, Billy, Wendy, Scott and Amy. Using Facebook we came back together and if you count my “besties” (you don’t think I get off on the BIG BANG THEORY?) Richie, Bob, Scott Hager, Tiffany and Kristen I believe I have turned out OK. I will never be alone and my parents have prepared so I would never want for anything till the day I die.

You ask about my child. I do NOT have a child, at least none I recognize now. Sad I know, but I am long over it. As my grandmother used to tell me "we all make our own paths in life, for better or for worse". I never thought my ex was such trash and looking back now, all of those feelings I had in my gut; turns out my gut was straight on target. Now all of those things about her add up.  As decent as her mother and father were (and they were decent people), something was crossed up in the conception of her and her brother. She was pure sleaze, pure trash and sad to say her son is the same way. Now I honestly don't know if he is my son. It is sad for him but again life is about making your own path. I blame myself for it however. In looking back I don't believe I loved her. In fact I think I never did. I made two MAJOR mistakes in my life, one begat the second one. 

I am one who does not forget or forgive and there is nothing anyone can say to me about that. My mother chastises me about that trait constantly but it’s just the way God made me. I cannot help it. You live and you learn.

The bottom line is that I no longer wish to be a part of all of this. I believe in God and he has made me see now that they are a threat to everything I hold dear in my life, up to and including that degree I have worked my ass off for and to everything I have built for myself now.

I had aortic valve replacement in 2005 and though my doctors told me the changes I would go through, I did not quite believe them. Well, I should have. I thought before the surgery I saw things in black and white. Turns out those were only shades of gray (all of this is figuratively speaking of course). Since the surgery I see some things as “gray” and most things “black and white", meaning it is simple or crystal-clear to me.

And because black and white are so obviously distinct, it would be only natural for me to assume that understanding how we must be equally straightforward.

My family and my true friends have been behind me and supported me on all of this along this journey.

If you are NOT for me, you are MOST CERTAINLY against me. Again I NEVER forget.

But between my dogs and friends and family, I have fallen on my feet again.  And between these people mentioned I have learned to love again, at a basic level, using that black and white (as Tiffany would say) “thang”!! These guys bring some color into my eyes and world, including those two 4 legged kids of mine.

So I look around. Not the wreckage that lies behind; but the promise of a new life and a new world.

I love where I am at in this life and I am VERY excited about the horizons that look over.  You could very much say I was standing atop of Whiteface Mountain, looking over my life.

On top of MY world!

FRANCO HARRIS: Forever a Pittsburgh Legend

Before Franco Harris joined the Pittsburgh Steelers they had never made the playoffs. Then, in his rookie year of 1972, the Steelers ran off 8 straight playoff years with 4 of those years ending in a Super Bowl championship (4 in 6 years). After all of these years and four more Super Bowl seasons (two the Steelers won) it is still the greatest dynasty in the history of pro football. 

The Steelers first two Super Bowl wins came with the league primarily running the ball first and passing second which Franco thrived in. The last two Super Bowl wins of the 1970’s came in 1978 and 1979. 1978 was the year “Mel Blount Rule” came into effect. To open up the passing game, defenders were permitted to make contact with receivers only to a point of five yards beyond the line of scrimmage. That only applies to the time before the ball is thrown, at which point any contact is pass interference. Previously, contact was allowed anywhere on the field. Mel Blount of the Steelers was considered the biggest offender of this play; hence it would be forever called the Mel Blount Rule. The idea was to loosen up receivers to encourage passing. 

Encourage it did. The league encouraged Terry Bradshaw to have his greatest year of all time which in my estimation, 1978 secured his entrance into Canton. And it also guaranteed entrance for Lynn Swann and John Stallworth. If you never saw these two work their magic or time has made you forget, they were simply incredible. 

And Franco? He still gained over 1,000 in seasons 1978 and 1979 (1,082 in 1978 and 1,186 in 1979). And in 1979 the Pirates and the Steelers became World Champions to give credence to the City of Champions moniker. 

Franco’s real contribution was jump starting the Steelers in a miraculous way. On December 23, 1972 I was a 13 year old kid, watching the game alone because my parents went out to do some last minute Christmas shopping (this still being a time when you could stay alone without fear and I was surrounded by family anyway.) I vividly remember playing a Strat-O-Matic baseball game between the 1970 Orioles and 1970 Reds in front of our TV and "multi-tasking" at the same time. I remember that I stopped playing to watch the last 5 minutes and being really disappointed when Kenny Stabler scrambled for about 30 years and gave the Raiders the lead with under 2 minutes to play. 

The Steelers had the ball on their own 40-yard line with 22 seconds remaining in the game and no time-outs when Bradshaw went back and threw it down the middle to John Fuqua who collided with Raiders safety Jack Tatum. The ball bounced back to Franco who caught it before it hit the ground. This is what this kid heard and saw…… 

"Last chance for the Steelers. Bradshaw trying to get away. And his pass is...broken up by Tatum. Picked off! Franco Harris has it! …….and he's over! Franco Harris grabbed the ball on the deflection! Five seconds to go! He grabbed it with five seconds to go and scored!" 
"You talk about Christmas miracles. Here's the miracle of all miracles. Watch this one now. Bradshaw is lucky to even get rid of the ball! He shoots it out. Jack Tatum deflects it right into the hands of Harris. And he sets off. And the big 230-pound rookie slipped away from Warren and scored." 
— Curt Gowdy, calling the play on NBC television 

Jack Fleming was a long time Pittsburgh Steelers play by play announcer (1965 to 1993) and announced for the West Virginia Mountaineers (football and basketball) from 1947 to 1996. Steelers fans only had the radio broadcast because the NFL people declared that a local home game could not be broadcasted live on TV. I think that was in a 70 mile radius. Living in Charleston, West Virginia, that was not a problem for me. So here’s what Steeler fans heard: 

"Hang onto your hats, here come the Steelers out of the huddle. Twenty-two seconds remaining. It's down to one big play, fourth down and 10 yards to go. Terry Bradshaw at the controls. And Bradshaw... back and looking again. Bradshaw, running out of the pocket, looking for somebody to throw to, fires it downfield, and there's a collision! And it's caught out of the air! The ball is pulled in by Franco Harris! Harris is going for a touchdown for Pittsburgh! Harris is going...
5 seconds left on the clock. Franco Harris pulled in the football, I don't even know where he came from!" 
—Jack Fleming, on the Steelers radio broadcast 

Of course I went crazy and met my mother, who was a Steelers fan, at the door proclaiming I had just saw the greatest miracle of all time (Friday, February 22, 1980 would by FAR eclipse that) and that Pittsburgh had won the game. The Steelers would lose to the undefeated Dolphins the next week but they didn't go into the night quietly. All of this was because of a match thrown on a gas fire. That match was Franco Harris.

Forever a legend and one of my forever heroes.