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U.S. victory over Russia underscores world of change
By Lee Benson
Deseret News columnist
Unlike the last two times the United States and Russia met on a Olympic hockey rink somewhere in America, there were no miracles Friday in the E Center. No echoes from Squaw Valley 42 years ago or Lake Placid 22 years ago, when the United States, on both occasions, beat the Russians/Soviets in stunning semifinal upsets.
The United States did win again, but no one fainted or found religion. The final score was 3-2 on the ice, roughly 3,000-2 in flags flying in the stands, and 49-30 in shots-on-goal. The only thing the Russians won was penalties, 6-4. And wouldn't you know that would happen? The conspiracy plot thickens. Every U.S. goal came during a five-on-four power play advantage. How do you think that's playing in Gorky Park?
Still, as the shots-on-goal suggests, it was overall a lopsided match. The Russians mostly sleepwalked through the first two periods, when they had 11 shots in 40 minutes while America had 38, and three of those biscuits ended, as they say in Edmonton, in the basket.
How bad was it for the Russians? So bad that no one was even thinking of asking anyone for a blood sample.
It was only a furious start to the third period when Russia scored two goals in just over three minutes that made things interesting. The United States had to nurse a one-goal lead through 16 1/2 anxious minutes, which, given the history of U.S.-Russia/Soviet hockey, was no given. Even when the teams lined up for a face-off in front of the U.S. goal with one second remaining, no one was leaving early.
But in the end, no wizardry, no magic, no stories to tell the grandkids, just $325 ticket stubs for the scrapbook and a 3-2 verdict that sends the United States into a gold medal match Sunday against Canada, which is like little brother playing big brother, and Russia into a bronze medal match today against Belarus, which is like the varsity playing the junior varsity.
As it was, the U.S. dominance through two periods provided plenty of opportunity to think deep thoughts about all that has transpired since Al Michaels said "Do you believe in miracles?" at Lake Placid 22 years ago.
Well, as deep as thoughts can get at a hockey game.
The world has changed. Leningrad isn't Leningrad anymore, for one thing. And Russia doesn't come in as the dominant province in something called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics anymore for another thing.
It was a different world and a different Olympic hockey tournament in Lake Placid just 22 winters ago.
In 1980, the only true "professionals" were the Soviet players, bought and paid for by their government. In 1980, hardly any of the players knew each other. In 1980, the National Hockey League yawned through the Olympics and didn't think of interrupting service. In 1980, there was no NHL franchise in Tampa Bay. In 1980, the Soviets were distracted by a war in Afghanistan, their players went by "comrade" and they sure weren't wearing uniforms provided by Nike. In 1980, the United States was threatening to pull out of the upcoming Summer Olympics, which it would eventually do.
Now, almost all the players are professionals, the medal round is more like an NHL All-Star Game, the NHL has suspended play during the Olympics, almost all the hockey players know each other, the Russian goalie plays for the NHL franchise in Tampa Bay, Russia and America are both outfitted by Nike, and it's the United States that's distracted by a war in Afghanistan and the Russians that are threatening to pull out of the upcoming Summer Olympics.
Weird when you think about it, isn't it?
Another thing that's changed is a genuine stage for David-and-Goliath type upsets. It could still happen. A country of 22-year-olds — like the U.S. boys of 1980 who lit the Salt Lake Olympic caldron and the U.S. boys of 1960 before them — could come out of nowhere and shock the world
But it won't be happening anytime soon when the United States plays Russia. Twenty-two and 42 years ago, they were as different as communism and democracy; now, if you're not careful, you could confuse one swoosh for the other.
Lee Benson's column runs daily during the Olympics. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.
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February 23, 2002
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