RedWhiteBlueGold

Here's the first two lines and the last line of the Associated Press' (the major global news source) recap of USA's win over Canada: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 on Sunday to advance to the quarterfinals of an already mixed-up tournament.
...
And the Miracle on Ice team? There?s links to this team: Ryan Suter, who had two assists, is the son of 1980 defenseman Bob Suter. And defenseman Brooks Orpik, steady throughout, is named for Herb Brooks, the 1980 coach.

And here's a poll on ESPN.com with more than 5,000 votes

Do you know who Ryan Miller was before Sunday night?
Yes 39%
No 30%
Still don't know 32%

That just about sums up the U.S. media and the general American public's reaction to yesterday's big game. You've got to be kidding me! It is maddeningly frustrating that everything about U.S. hockey has to somehow be related to the 1980 Miracle on Ice. That was a significant outcome in its own right, but for last night's game to be compared to it? Seriously? It just comes to show you how much Americans in general (not hockey fans) know about hockey and its history. Canada was a solid favorite, and most were expecting them to win, but this isn't earth shattering, like Mike Richter said (LITY's question). It's the preliminary round. Canada and the U.S. may very well meet again. There are still good teams like Sweden and the Czech Republic. Pardon the rant; I really enjoyed USA's win, but I'm really annoyed by the how much U.S. hockey has to revolve around the Miracle on Ice in most Americans' eyes and the bandwagon effect of USA's win over Canada last night.
Amen to that; I don't ever want to hear about Tiger Woods again (I won't mind because I could care less about golf).
We all know how much ESPN cares about hockey, but I think that poll says more about American sports fans than ESPN. This one made me laugh out loud:

Who should start in net for Canada in its next game?
Brodeur 40%
Fleury 28%
Luongo 31%
(1,747 votes)
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/fp/flashPollResultsState?sportIndex=pollindexpollId=8 6579

Thankfully 63% of NY knows who Ryan Miller is http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/fp/flashPollResultsState?sportIndex=pollindexpollId=8 6554

SpaceNeedle

It makes me sick seeing how the U.S. media is acting like this is so monumental. It's a preliminary round game, just like you said. Big deal. Anyone who compares it to the Miracle on Ice has absolutely no grasp of hockey, or of history. That game was so enormous on so many levels, both athletically and politically, that it's on a whole different level. I agree -- the reaction to last night's game just shows how ignorant most Americans are about hockey. And the networks don't help, when they bury the game on a cable channel, while NBC shows freaking ICE DANCING.

I've seen people on here today acting like the U.S. team was a bunch of ragged amateurs taking on a Canadian powerhouse. I don't think some people even realize that the U.S. and Canadian teams are both made up of NHL players. These guys are teammates during their day jobs!

JoeB-VersionIV-GetbetterVik

Any poll from ESPN can be thrown out the window when it comes to hockey..

Was it the Miracle on Ice Part 2? No BUT it was the first time that the US has beaten Canada since 1960..It was also on their home soil..Add to it that it was the 30th anniversary of the Miracle Today..So you have to understand the significance of it..Also, you had to notice all of the pre game dealing with Lake Placid..Mark Johnson, Eruzione and Jim Craig with Al Micheals..

When Notre Dame beat UCLA in College Basketball to snap their 88 game winning streak in 1974, that was a great event, because it had been so long since anybody beat UCLA..Was it the Biggest upset ever? No but still a great win for an underdog team.

I am very happy the US won last night but I know they are far from winning a Medal, let alone a Gold Medal right now..

ps..Anything is better than listening to ENDLESS discussions on Tiger Woods.

ScarJokes

I don't think the 1980 team compares to the 2010 team at all. That 1980 team was legendary, they were a bunch of college kids who beat the veteran and experienced Soviet Union team. This team is very talented, their are some NHL Stars, and a lot of decent players. They are not as star powered or known as the NHL Stars on the Canadien team, but they have more heart. It's about the fact that the US is a faster team, they are weak on defense, but the US can score quickly. This team isn't a miracle, they can EASILY win the gold if they play well.

SouthSideBomber

To be honest the Miracle on Ice is a good story, great movie.... but if you were to poll anything about that game to 100 Americans about 3 would know a players name, the final score or where they were when it happened.

To America, hockey is a niche sport like Soccer or Bowling. Hockey is not our national past time and that game last night gets talked about because it was such a huge upset but we didn't win anything. The Americans who do know about 1980 are hockey fans and thats what the media is trying to do, grab your attention in case it happens again, which it can. Americans in general think the NHL playoffs and Stanley Cup championship are the same as the World cup, a game played by other countries and in the way of regularly scheduled programming.

Hockey is the best sport but thats in my opinion, ask 99 other Americans and they will tell you it's Football (American), Baseball and Basketball. To each their own and true hockey fans know the real reason this was in no way close to 1980 and when it's all over we wont care about the outcome unless the USA does in fact win it all, I love hockey but the NHL is front and center for me. It's who wins the cup that matters.

detroit

LOL, 62% people never heard of ryan miller? wait, it's espn.com... no wonder.

BkS

I think it's great to see Americans into hockey for once. But lol @ the biggest Olympic upset since the miracle on Ice? Belarus eliminating Sweden in Salt Lake City was a MUCH larger upset.

The one thing that gets me about this is how everyone is going on about how much of an underdog the U.S. team was and how Canada thought they were a joke. Excuse me? Maybe that's cause you don't really follow the sport. Anyone who's a serious fan of hockey, and most of us up here recognized that the U.S. team was one of the best going into the tourney. I had them ranked only behind Russia and Canada. Ya this was a crushing loss, but it was not nearly as big of an upset as getting shutout by Switzerland in the quarterfinals last Olympics.

Copas---GetwellsoonVik

Cant say it any better than Joe B already has..

Big win??? Duh!!!
Biggest ever?? No..
And probably nothing this years team does will closely resemble what the 80 team accomplished..

For what its worth-- this is a time and moment that lots of Americans can get behind a team for.. Why not give the moment a little oomph if nothing more than to grow the game.. But, lets take it for what its worth at the same time-- a BIG win over arguably one of the best hockey teams to ever hit the ice in a NON MEDAL match up..
Gold is the goal-- just enjoy the ride for now..

one_schrute_buck

I totally agree! And I pray the ESPN poll is inaccurate, because that's just SAD.

sgoldperson

I thought the Czech Republic beating Russia in the Gold Medal game in '98 was a bigger upset then this was. How could this be the biggest upset since the '80 team? Can't they simply get people who know hockey instead of writing puff pieces?