Politicians Are Finally Doing Something Good, Introduce Bill To Award 1980 US Men's Hockey Team With Congressional Gold Medals
Steve Powell. Getty Images.Associated Press -- A bill to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” Olympic hockey team was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate on Wednesday.
The ongoing effort, which included the bill being first introduced in October, needed to be submitted for consideration again in the 119th Congress. Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., reintroduced the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act in the House along with co-sponsors
USA Hockey executive director Pat Kelleher said he encourages fans to contact their congressional representatives to express their support for the bill’s passage. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the league enthusiastically supports the legislation.
Great moments are born from great opportunity. That's what the 119th Congress has here, boys. That's what the 119th Congress has EARNED here.
I'm sick and tired of hearing about how much politicians are absolutely shafting the American people up the hoop. If you introduce 10 bills in congress, 9 of them are probably finding a way to send tax payer money overseas. But not this one. Because this bill is celebrating the greatest hockey team in the world.
Just the fact that there's legislature in the US House of Representatives right now titled "The Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act" gives me hope for the future of America. It let's me know that there are some elected officials out there who get it. Guys who understand that Herb Brooks wasn't looking to pick the best players for the 1980 US Men's Olympic Hockey Team, but he was looking for the right ones. Guys who would buy in to doing what it takes to beat the Soviets as a team. To be able to skate with them, to be able to clog up the middle of the ice to frustrate the Soviet's offense and keep them along the perimeter, and most importantly--to be able to go low blocker when the country needed it the most.
The moment this team chased Vladislav Tretiak out of the net after that 1st period, they should have been awarded the Congressional Gold Medal right then and there. It's crazy that it's taken 45 years for them to receive this honor. There were people at that game who didn't know the difference between a blueline and a clothesline, but that didn't matter. It was the biggest hockey game in American history, and a group of kids went out and did what was previously thought to be impossible.
You think about how far American hockey has come then. Sure, the Olympic gold medals haven't come along with the development of USA Hockey, and this was still the last US team to stand on top of that podium. But year after year, USA Hockey is pumping out some of the most talented players in the world. Legitimate superstars in the world of hockey. A lot of that is thanks to this team's impact on American hockey and inspiring the next generations to go out and do the same thing. Which is exactly why the Congressional Gold Medal is awarded in the first place.
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Sidenote: Unfortunately they'll be down a few guys once they finally get this recognition. RIP to Mark Wells, Mark Pavelich, Bob Suter, and of course, Herb Brooks.