'Miracle on Ice' Coach Brooks Dies - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 08-11-2003, 08:00 PM

'Miracle on Ice' Coach Brooks
Killed in Automobile Accident

Member of U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

By DAVE CAMPBELL
.c The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (Aug. 11) -- Herb Brooks, who coached the U.S. hockey team to the "Miracle on Ice'' victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics, died Monday in a car wreck. He was 66.

The Hall of Famer was killed when his minivan rolled over at a highway intersection north of the Twin Cities and he was ejected, police said. Weather didn't appear to be a factor.

"It seems like all the great innovators die young,'' said Ken Morrow, a defenseman on the 1980 team and now a scout for the New York Islanders. "Coach may have been the greatest innovator the sport has ever had.''

Brooks was behind the bench when the Americans pulled off one of the greatest upsets ever, beating the mighty Soviets with a squad of mostly college players.

That shocking victory, plus beating Finland for the gold medal, assured the team a place in sports immortality and gave the nation a reason to celebrate at a bleak time in its history.

The hostage-taking in Iran, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the energy crisis cast a pall over the United States.

The young U.S. team was given no chance against a veteran Soviet squad that had dominated international hockey for years and had routed the Americans 10-3 in an exhibition game at Madison Square Garden the week before the Olympics.

On Feb. 22, 1980, the U.S. team scored with 10 minutes to play to take a 4-3 lead against the Soviets and then held on. As the final seconds ticked away, announcer Al Michaels exclaimed, "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!''

It remains one of the most famous calls in sports broadcasting history.

Brooks' leadership helped turn a ragtag team into champions. He had hand-picked each player.

"You're looking for players whose name on the front of the sweater is more important than the one on the back,'' Brooks once said. "I look for these players to play hard, to play smart and to represent their country.''

Players kept a notebook of "Brooksisms,'' sayings the coach used for motivation, such as: "You're playing worse and worse every day and right now you're playing like it's next month.''

Before playing the Soviets, Brooks told his players: "You're meant to be here. This moment is yours. You're meant to be here at this time.''

"When it came to hockey, he was ahead of his time,'' Morrow said. "All of his teams overachieved because Herbie understood how to get the best out of each player and make him part of a team. And like everyone who played for him, I became a better person because I played for Herb Brooks.''

Brooks returned to lead the 2002 U.S. Olympic hockey team to a silver medal. Players from the 1980 team, led by Mike Eruzione, lit the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony in Salt Lake City.

After the Lake Placid Games, Brooks coached the New York Rangers (1981-85), where he reached the 100-victory mark faster than any other coach in franchise history. He coached the Minnesota North Stars (1987-88), the New Jersey Devils (1992-93) and the Pittsburgh Penguins (1999-00). He also led the French Olympic team at the 1998 Nagano Games.

Born in St. Paul, Brooks played hockey at the University of Minnesota, where he later coached from 1972-79, winning three national titles. He was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990.

On Monday, Brooks attended a Hall of Fame celebrity golf event in northern Minnesota.

"He truly was part of our American hockey heritage,'' said Tom Sersha, executive director at the Hall of Fame.

When he decided to coach the U.S. team at Salt Lake City, he was asked why he would return after writing the most improbable story in hockey.

"Maybe I'm sort of like the players -- there's still a lot of little boy in me,'' Brooks said. "And maybe I'm a little smarter now than I was before for all the stupid things I've done.''

Brooks was the last player cut on the 1960 U.S. gold medal team, but he played in 1964 and 1968.

Last season, Brooks was the director of player development for the Penguins. He rejected a multimillion-dollar offer to coach Rangers last summer, saying didn't want to be away from his wife and family in Minnesota.

"It's a great loss for USA Hockey,'' said Bob Allen, who operated the Olympic Center during the 1980 Winter Games. "He was a master motivator, a great thinker.''

08/11/03 19:30 EDT

Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
http://espn.go.com/classic/obit/s/20...1/1594173.html

Produced by SportsLine

Brian Damage · 08-11-2003, 08:22 PM

What a shame.

Kitt · 08-11-2003, 08:39 PM

I watched a program a couple of weeks ago about how Coach Brooks motivated the young Olympic hockey team to do the seemingly impossible. Seems as though he was one of the good guys in the world. Too bad.

TJL · 08-11-2003, 09:29 PM

Man, what a great team that was.

He will be missed.

TJ · 08-11-2003, 09:50 PM

I was very sad to hear about this. I was just watching a dvd of a documentary on the 1980 USA Olympic hockey team the other day. Herb Brooks was a great coach for many years, this has been a sad summer in hockey with so many tragic events.

passionsfan79 · 08-11-2003, 11:09 PM

I actually never knew who he was but it was sad to hear. i was just happened to turn on our local news and it said breaking news. during our news coverage. even fox9 inturpted a tv show because of it. Iam from MN about 2-3 hours away from minneapolis-st.paul

08-11-2003, 08:00 PM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	'Miracle on Ice' Coach Brooks Dies 'Miracle on Ice' Coach Brooks Killed in Automobile Accident Member of U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame By DAVE CAMPBELL .c The Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS (Aug. 11) -- Herb Brooks, who coached the U.S. hockey team to the "Miracle on Ice'' victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics, died Monday in a car wreck. He was 66. The Hall of Famer was killed when his minivan rolled over at a highway intersection north of the Twin Cities and he was ejected, police said. Weather didn't appear to be a factor. "It seems like all the great innovators die young,'' said Ken Morrow, a defenseman on the 1980 team and now a scout for the New York Islanders. "Coach may have been the greatest innovator the sport has ever had.'' Brooks was behind the bench when the Americans pulled off one of the greatest upsets ever, beating the mighty Soviets with a squad of mostly college players. That shocking victory, plus beating Finland for the gold medal, assured the team a place in sports immortality and gave the nation a reason to celebrate at a bleak time in its history. The hostage-taking in Iran, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the energy crisis cast a pall over the United States. The young U.S. team was given no chance against a veteran Soviet squad that had dominated international hockey for years and had routed the Americans 10-3 in an exhibition game at Madison Square Garden the week before the Olympics. On Feb. 22, 1980, the U.S. team scored with 10 minutes to play to take a 4-3 lead against the Soviets and then held on. As the final seconds ticked away, announcer Al Michaels exclaimed, "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!'' It remains one of the most famous calls in sports broadcasting history. Brooks' leadership helped turn a ragtag team into champions. He had hand-picked each player. "You're looking for players whose name on the front of the sweater is more important than the one on the back,'' Brooks once said. "I look for these players to play hard, to play smart and to represent their country.'' Players kept a notebook of "Brooksisms,'' sayings the coach used for motivation, such as: "You're playing worse and worse every day and right now you're playing like it's next month.'' Before playing the Soviets, Brooks told his players: "You're meant to be here. This moment is yours. You're meant to be here at this time.'' "When it came to hockey, he was ahead of his time,'' Morrow said. "All of his teams overachieved because Herbie understood how to get the best out of each player and make him part of a team. And like everyone who played for him, I became a better person because I played for Herb Brooks.'' Brooks returned to lead the 2002 U.S. Olympic hockey team to a silver medal. Players from the 1980 team, led by Mike Eruzione, lit the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony in Salt Lake City. After the Lake Placid Games, Brooks coached the New York Rangers (1981-85), where he reached the 100-victory mark faster than any other coach in franchise history. He coached the Minnesota North Stars (1987-88), the New Jersey Devils (1992-93) and the Pittsburgh Penguins (1999-00). He also led the French Olympic team at the 1998 Nagano Games. Born in St. Paul, Brooks played hockey at the University of Minnesota, where he later coached from 1972-79, winning three national titles. He was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990. On Monday, Brooks attended a Hall of Fame celebrity golf event in northern Minnesota. "He truly was part of our American hockey heritage,'' said Tom Sersha, executive director at the Hall of Fame. When he decided to coach the U.S. team at Salt Lake City, he was asked why he would return after writing the most improbable story in hockey. "Maybe I'm sort of like the players -- there's still a lot of little boy in me,'' Brooks said. "And maybe I'm a little smarter now than I was before for all the stupid things I've done.'' Brooks was the last player cut on the 1960 U.S. gold medal team, but he played in 1964 and 1968. Last season, Brooks was the director of player development for the Penguins. He rejected a multimillion-dollar offer to coach Rangers last summer, saying didn't want to be away from his wife and family in Minnesota. "It's a great loss for USA Hockey,'' said Bob Allen, who operated the Olympic Center during the 1980 Winter Games. "He was a master motivator, a great thinker.'' 08/11/03 19:30 EDT Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL. http://espn.go.com/classic/obit/s/20...1/1594173.html Produced by SportsLine

08-11-2003, 09:29 PM	#4
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Man, what a great team that was. He will be missed.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

08-11-2003, 11:09 PM	#6
passionsfan79 Proud to be Sara fan Senior Member Join Date: Sep 13, 2002 Location: MN Posts: 2,265	I actually never knew who he was but it was sad to hear. i was just happened to turn on our local news and it said breaking news. during our news coverage. even fox9 inturpted a tv show because of it. Iam from MN about 2-3 hours away from minneapolis-st.paul
	__________________ Americas band The Beach Boys Member of the Sara Evans fan club since Dec 05 2005 forever

08-11-2003, 08:22 PM	#2
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	What a shame.

08-11-2003, 08:39 PM	#3
Kitt James Dean Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 16, 2001 Location: California Dreamin' Posts: 6,115	I watched a program a couple of weeks ago about how Coach Brooks motivated the young Olympic hockey team to do the seemingly impossible. Seems as though he was one of the good guys in the world. Too bad.

08-11-2003, 09:50 PM	#5
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,748	I was very sad to hear about this. I was just watching a dvd of a documentary on the 1980 USA Olympic hockey team the other day. Herb Brooks was a great coach for many years, this has been a sad summer in hockey with so many tragic events.