Al Michaels is probably known as the voice of ABC’s “Mande Night Football,” Sunday Night Football “of NBC and” Thursday night football “of the ABC’s” Monday night football “. Nevertheless, during a mythological career in sports broadcasting, Michaels has called almost every game that has been contested during its nearly 60 years in Mike.
This includes a medal round ice hockey matches at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Plasid, New York between the United States and the Soviet Union.
This Saturday, on 22 February, the team is the 45th anniversary of the USA’s impossible “Miracle on Ice”. In the miracle?
Surprisingly, as Michaels told on the “The Rich Easen Show” on Friday, 1980 “Miracle on Ice” was the only second hockey game she ever said. One of the major reasons he has received assignments because someone else had never called a hockey game before in ABC. Howard Cosel and Jim McKake were not going to do so, nor Frank Giford or Bob Beatty.
“You know, it’s fun because I really wanted speed skating,” Michaels told Esen. “Because Eric Hyden was going to be a big story of those Olympics and was clearly. He was expected to win five gold medals and won five gold medals. But he gave Keith Jackson.”
“When I received hockey, I was not disappointed because among other things, if you are doing Winter Olympic games, is it not better to stay out from outside?” He said. “When I did the 1972 Olympics in Sapporo, Japan – this is the place where I did that one hockey game – among other incidents I covered that there was a biteon on 10 below Hokkaido’s island. So that assignment was on 10. It was very good to get. “
Michaels admitted that the game of the USA-Soviyat Union was the most prestigious moment of his sportscasting career, even with 45 years of work. Does anyone remember the call of Jim McKay’s figure skating from the 1980 Olympics? Or Frank Giford on Downhill Skiing?
Michaels said, “Nothing will never be defeated.” “People say, ‘What is your favorite?” And I ‘really?’ I mean, I got a top five, but it is one, two, three, four and then number two number five.
Esen then reminded the audience that the team was not winning the Soviet Union for the gold medal. Americans still had to defeat Finland to win the tournament and Michaels punctured the victory with another great call, “This impossible dream is true!”
Michaels also reported that the game was played at ET at 5 pm and the tape was delayed in prime time. If the USA-Russia was played outside prime time nowadays, ABC used to reduce less probability for broadcast and Michaels’ calls were already on social media, which looted the audience so drama and happiness to the audience of happiness. .
Michaels said, “Within one and a half seconds, it is near Tik Took or near X or wherever it is,” Michaels said. “In those years, it is as if we are working with an orange juice and a string, is it a separate animal.”
A more attractive footnote for the “Miracle on Ice” broadcast, courtesy of Michaels, is that ABC used to live and analyst Ken Drudon for other semi -final games between Sweden and Finland. They called the game on the tape, if there was any technical difficulty for the USA-Russia Prime Time Broadcast, it should be played.
“Think how ridiculous it was,” Michaels said. “So Kane and I had to do Sweden-Finland in a game now that no one went to anyone else.”
Thankfully for our sports and broadcasting history, there were no technical difficulties and generations can listen to the unforgettable call of Michaels.
