The Miracle on Ice Essay

Introduction

The USA, 38 years later since the match in 1980, still celebrates the 4-3 win on the Olympic hockey match when they played against the Soviets, the veterans of hockey sports by the time (Budowsky 1). This victory opens the way for the US to take gold medal two days later. The film, Miracle on Ice has the elements of a paradigm shift, esprit de corps, and synergy. This work discusses these three aspects of the team in association with long shot and perseverance and gives examples that depict them in the Miracle on Ice.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

The paradigm shift is an important change that occurs when a usual way of doing something is replaced by a new, totally different way. In the film The Miracle on Ice, this shift of paradigm occurs when the USA amateurs decide to change the tactics in the pitch to win the match's favor against the USSR, who were the hockey champions and had won six of seven of the past tournaments. The long shot is the new tactic that favors the team. The player and the team captain of the USA team, Mike Eruzione, executes this paradigm shift tactic by giving a long shot that gives his team the victory over the Russians (Budowsky 2). His goal gives a chance for the USA to win the gold medal two days later. The USA team members are best described as the long shot underdogs effectively utilizing the chances. The team, despite being amateurs, illustrates determination and self-confidence in the match.

Another important aspect to note is the team's esprit de corps, which is the comradeship shared spirit or in other words teamwork among the group. The US team shows teamwork element in the game. The winning cannot come easily until the players show respect, support, and commitment to work together as one. Every player knows his role in the team. The best hockey player for the team is Mark Johnson, but he cannot be effective if the players on the left and right wings do no play their role (Budowsky 2). All the players in the team understand their responsibilities, beginning from the goalkeeper up to the striker.

Conclusion

The last aspect to highlight in the USA team that favors its victory is the synergy, a belief that a combined effort (corporation) is greater than the sum of individual efforts, and its implementation. The coach of the American hockey, Herb Brooks, knows that his team will play the Russians, the defending champions, and he prepares them day after day conditioning their minds and bodies to the tough match ahead (Budowsky 3). The perseverance of the American team is seen when they do not relent after the first score by the USSR. They all work with synergy, and corporate, beginning from the team's goalkeeper, Jim Craig, the defenders, the midfielders, and the strikers, who focus on utilizing the chances that they get and converting the long shots into goals. The US team makes several comebacks and finally that finally lead them to win the gold medal after the final match against Finland, two days later. The true perseverance of a team is tested when it is behind, and the Americans proved this aspect.

Work Cited

Budowsky, Brent. "When American Patriotism Lit the Skies: the 'Miracle on Ice,' 1980 Olympics." TheHill, 10 Feb. 2018, thehill.com/opinion/international/373180-when-american-patriotism-lit-the-skies-the-miracle-on-ice.