1980 Winter Olympics

We know that in the past ten years (70's) the United States self-esteem was very low with highlights such as Watergate, The oil embargo, Nixon resigns, Veatnam, Pong, etc. The U.S. was in a slum.

1980 Winter Olympics come. We boycotted the summer ones because they were in Moscow, and we hated those commie bastards. The Soviets were hevily favored to win the gold. But the U.S. had a well grouped team of collage kids and in the final of the 1980 we beat the Soviets. This started a chain of events that would eventually lead to the downfall of the Soviet Union.

But...

What If we lost...
 

Jasen777

Donor
The U.S. beat Sweden in the last game, the tournament was in a round robin format and thus had no "final". It is indeed the upset over the Soviets that is the Miracle on Ice however.

I doubt a U.S. loss will significantly impact global politics. At least directly...
 
The U.S. beat Sweden in the last game, the tournament was in a round robin format and thus had no "final". It is indeed the upset over the Soviets that is the Miracle on Ice however.

I doubt a U.S. loss will significantly impact global politics. At least directly...

Jasen, you met Finland in the final game, not Sweden
 
(snipped) What If we lost...

First just getting to the Medal round was a success, so losing to the Soviets, won't totally, erase the impact of the US team, a close lost, (3-2, 5-4), would still be considered a big deal, and the at least in Moscow viewd poorly. **with as strong (metally and stamia) and confident as the team was by medal round and a Soviet blow out, like New York, is doubltfull, basically Brooks had built that team to hang with Russians. And if we then beat the Finns, we're talking away with at least Bronze, which would have been beyond expectations.

Not sure i'd say that Lake Placid started the collapse of the Soviets or recovery of US self-confidence... but the direct changs on the teams;

For the Russians, if they take Gold, but have to fight the USA to the wire, and then the USa wins Bronze or Silver, public joy in Moscow, the lemin is happy, but not totally with route of the American College Kids, but unless no shake up of Russian hockey (and no dirve to get the Gold back in 1984)

For the US, with the exception of a complete medal round collapse, blown out by both the Russians and Finns... Joy, Brooks still gets credit and maybe his system gets more credit and is used in 84. As for the 1984 team, they go in with lower expectations ....
 
What is this all about?

Some Eddie "the Eagle" Edwards type exploits? Also, I wasnt aware that the Winter Olympics had one medal............
 
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