16 quotes
Countdown to a Miracle Moment
Al Michaels
Johnson over to Ramsey! Bilyaletdinov gets checked by Ramsey! McClanahan is there! The puck is still loose! Eleven seconds, you've got ten seconds, the countdown going on right now! Morrow, up to Silk! Five seconds left in the game! Do you believe in miracles?! YES!!!
[original audio broadcast]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Greatest Moment in Sports History
Taglines
The story of the greatest moment in sports history.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Team Identity Over Individual Recognition
Herb Brooks
You better think about something else, each and every one of you. When you pull on that jersey, you represent yourself and your teammates...and the name on the front is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back. GET THAT THROUGH YOUR HEAD! AGAIN!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Encouragement Amidst Injury and Doubt
McClanahan
Doc told me I can't play.
Brooks
Yeah, yeah, yeah I know. You got a bad bruise. You know what? Put your street clothes on because I got no time for quitters!
Brooks
You worry about your own game. Plenty there to keep you busy. A bruise on the leg is a hell of a long way from the heart, candy ass.
[to McClanahan; mutters as he walks away]
McClanahan
What'd you call me?
Brooks
You heard me!
McClanahan
You want me to play huh? Is that what you want?
[rushes Brooks]
Brooks
I WANT YOU TO BE A HOCKEY PLAYER!!
McClanahan
I AM A HOCKEY PLAYER! YOU WANT ME TO PLAY ON ONE LEG? HUH? I'LL PLAY ON ONE LEG!
Brooks
That'll get him going.
[walking out of the locker room with McClanahan still screaming]
Craig Patrick
Oh yeah. I'll clean up!
McClanahan
GET OFF ME! THERE, WOULD THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY, HUH HERB?!?! I AM A HOCKEY PLAYER!!!!
[as other players calm him down]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Unity and Belief in a Historic Victory
Herb Brooks
Two days later, the miracle was made complete. My boys defeated Finland to win the gold medal, coming from behind once again. As I watched them out there, celebrating on the ice, I realized that Patti had been right. It was a lot more than a hockey game, not only for those who watched it, but for those who played in it. I've often been asked in the years since Lake Placid what was the best moment for me. Well, it was here - the sight of 20 young men of such differing backgrounds now standing as one. Young men willing to sacrifice so much of themselves, all for an unknown. A few years later, the U.S. began using professional athletes at the Games - ]. I always found that term ironic because now that we have Dream Teams, we seldom ever get to dream. But on one weekend, as America and the world watched, a group of remarkable young men gave the nation what it needed most - a chance, for one night, not only to dream, but a chance, once again, to believe.
[Epilogue voiceover; [w:Dream Team|"Dream Teams"]
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More Than a Game: A Deeper Meaning
Herb Brooks
I got a telegram from a lady in Texas today, and you know what it said?
Patti Brooks
What?
Herb
Beat those Commie bastards." We're playing a hockey game against the greatest team in the world, and they're the best that's ever played this game. Why can't we just leave it at that?
Patti
Because this is more than a hockey game to a lot of people.
Herb
Yeah and I keep running through them all. Johnson on Mikhailov. Broten on Petrov. Pav against whoever-Ov. We just ... We don't match up, Patti.
Patti
You might want to skip that when you talk to the boys tomorrow. Herb, there's no disgrace in losing to this team.
Herb
Yeah, I know.
Patti
The important thing is, you got this far.
Herb
The important thing? The important thing is that those twenty boys know in twenty years, they didn't leave anything on the table. They played their hearts out. That's the important thing.
[leans over and kisses Patti on the cheek, while she rests her head on his shoulder]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Belief in Yourself Leads to Miracles
Taglines
If you believe in yourself, Miracles can happen.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Seizing the Moment in Sports
Herb Brooks
Great moments...are born from great opportunity. And that's what you have here, tonight, boys. That's what you've earned here tonight. One game. If we played em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game, not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them...and we shut them down because we can! Tonight, we... are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players. Every one of you. And you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time. Their time...is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team the Soviets have. Screw em! This... is your time! Now go out there and take it!
[Addressing the team before the US-USSR game]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Rallying Call for Team Unity and Determination
Herb Brooks
Listen to em (the crowd chanting ]). That's what you've done. We've come from behind in every game in this tournament so far and we can do it again. We can beat ]! Everybody in! Let's go! Let's do this! Who do you play for?
[Speaking to team during the last intermission in the US-USSR game; [w:U-S-A! cheer|U-S-A!; team blankly stares; [w:Soviet Union national ice hockey team|these guys]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Finalizing the Team Roster Challenge
Herb Brooks
Take a look at this.
Craig Patrick
What's this?
Brooks
Twenty-six names. The tough part will be getting it down to 20 before the opening ceremonies.
[pause]
Patrick
This is the final roster? You're kidding me, right? This is our first day, Herb. We've got a week of this. What about the advisory staff? Aren't they supposed to have a say in this?
Brooks
Technically, I guess. I don't know.
Patrick
You're missing some of the best players.
Brooks
I'm not looking for the best players, Craig. I'm looking for the right ones.
Patrick
You have Jim Craig to back up ]?
[[w:Steve Janaszak|Janaszak]
Brooks
Other way around.
Patrick
Other way around? I'm sorry didn't Janaszak just win you a national championship?
Brooks
Janny is a solid goal tender, but we're not playing for the national championship here, Craig.
Patrick
You know people I speak to say that Craig's game has been off since his mom died.
Brooks
They ever see him when his game's on?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Belief in Miracles
Taglines
Do you believe in miracles?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Winning Through Spirit and Teamwork
Taglines
Their game made them winners. Their spirit made them heroes.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Miracle Beyond the Hockey Game
Taglines
What America needed was a miracle. What it got was a hockey game.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confusion Over Strategy in Team Meeting
Herb Brooks
Boom he can hit him. Boom. Boom. Boom. We're opening up options. We've got four options off of one play. Allright. Any questions? Good, let's go.
[silence]
Buzz Schneider
What the hell is he talking about?
Rob McClanahan
No clue!
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Building Team Unity in Hockey
Herb Brooks
Well, how bout it boys? Look like hockey to you? Looks more like a couple monkeys trying to hump a football to me, I don't know. What do you think Craig?
Craig Patrick
Yeah.
Brooks
You wanna settle old scores, you're on the wrong team. We move forward starting right now. We start becoming a team RIGHT NOW! Skating. Passing. Flow. Creativity. That is what this team is all about, gentlemen, not old rivalries. So, why don't we start with some introductions. You know, get to know each other a little bit. Where you from. Who you are. Go ahead.
[looks at McClanahan]
Rob McClanahan
Rob McClanahan. St. Paul, Minnesota.
[rolls his eyes]
Brooks
Who do you play for?
McClanahan
I play for you, here at the U.
Brooks
Jack?
[looks at OC]
Jack O'Callahan
Jack O'Callahan. Charlestown, Massachusetts. Boston University.
Brooks
Over here.
[looks at Ralph Cox]
Ralph Cox
I'm Ralph Cox. I'm from wherever's not gonna get me hit!
Brooks
Very good. Everybody on the line, let's go!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Talent Alone Is Not Enough to Win
Herb Brooks
You think you can win on talent alone? Gentlemen, you don't have enough talent to win on talent alone.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.