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There have been a lot of great teams in history. They were expected to do well. The Steelers, the Cowboys of the 90′s, the Lakers in the last decade.

No surprises.

What made the Olympic Hockey Team of 1980 so incredible, is they weren’t the best team there. Playing the Russian hockey team during the Cold War would have been like putting a kindergartener in a fist fight with Ali. They weren’t the best, but they beat the best.

People call it the greatest moment in sports history for that reason. I can’t think of any other time a group of underdogs worked so hard in so short of a time to accomplish so much. It’s the epitome of teamwork and something Goalie Jim Craig still tours and talks about much today.

He is a professional, motivational speaker. People pay a lot of money to hear what he has to say, but Mr. Craig recently took some time to answer questions sent to him by our own SJ members. The following is a compilation of those answers and questions. A special moment for us all and we thank you Mr. Jim Craig, and his wonderful administrator Lisa Sullivan of goldmedalstrategies.com

NYSportsRule: How realistic was the movie compared to what really went on behind the scenes?

Jim Craig: The movie was very realistic. As a Consultant, it really helped to keep it as close as you can for a 2 hour movie.

NYSportsRule: How difficult was it to stay focused and beat Finland after such a huge win in the semi-finals? Is the team still close today?

JC: It was just the makeup of the team made it easier than most because we knew we hadn’t reached the final goal and the characters of the players on the team made it easier because they were focused on a team goal versus individual goals.

Yes and probably more than you could imagine based on only being together for 6 months.

Reg: What was the mood of the team going into that final game?

JC: We were apprehensive, so close to our goal that we couldn’t get excited and everyone was encouraging and expected each player to do their job.

G-Men: Do you still get chills when hearing Al Michaels call at the end of the game?

JC: Of course it reminds me of all the personal sacrifices parents, team members, coaches everyone made for our country.

Tilly: That match and its outcome inspired a lot of kids to take up hockey and created a new crop of future NHL players. What was your inspiration to start playing?

JC: First, the love of the game, and that I had my own superstars and players that I looked up to – like Bobby Orr.

Mark: What are your memories of Herb Brooks?

JC: A great mentor a father like figure, a person that could help us reach a goal that no one else believed possible.

Becky: My question: What made YOU agree to accept the challenge that so many others thought was “too hard” and did you ever regret doing so?

JC: I think when you’re young it is more of an opportunity to represent my country – never thought about the challenge.

Deb: With all the memories, with the achievement, and hard work…what are your thoughts about the the Olympic dream teams of today? Of professional athletes meeting up to play. Has it hurt the Olympics? Are the miracles not as bright?

JC: First the best players are now playing from a fan standpoint. Right now the Olympics are seeing the best athletes in the world. The problem is that they are maybe not as committed as amateurs were because they are already professional athletes making a living. I don’t think there are miracles anymore when you have the best athletes competing against each other – no longer pros playing amateurs.

SoonerChuck: What did you enjoy most about your Olympic experience besides the hockey games?

Did you get much opportunity to visit with athletes from other nations & cultures?

JC: Representing my country, the Olympic spirit, opening ceremonies.

We had a chance to visit in the Olympic village during the meals and watch them perform.

GSOM: Who was your biggest idol growing up?

Coming into the Olympics, what were your expectations for team USA?

JC: IN sports, it was Bobby Orr, Bill Russell, Bart Star (football) and Tony Conigliaro (baseball).

To have everyone play up to their capabilities and to be proud to have everyone represent our country.

Todd: (NovaSteelers): Was Mikhailov (Boris) the toughest goal scorer you ever faced? If not, who?

Was the Russian team in your opinion overconfident and cocky going into the 1980 Olympics?

What Goalie growing up was your role model?

JC: There are a lot of great goal scorers. He was one of many…Wayne Gretzky, Mike Bosse, Marcel Dionne, Guy Lafleur.

They were the greatest hockey team ever put together and we were amateurs – so they were overconfident and they had just beaten us 10 to 3.

Gerry Cheevers and Gump Worsley.

Dalton: What’s it like now looking back on the game? Does it seem like it was all a dream, or can you still feel every emotion you felt then?

What’s it like being such a huge story here in the USA? Did your everyday life change after that, or did everyone still treat you like normal?

JC: It just seems like it was a long time ago and I remember it vividly, but a different part of my life.

Everything changed after that and I had to get used to that and figure out how to become normal.

Jon: You played the Russians at the Garden right before the Olympics and lost 10-3. What if anything did you learn about their style of play in that game that helped you when you played them in the semi-finals?

JC: I think we were such big fans that we learned that you have to learn to compete, and the loss and embarrassment helped us prepare.

RoatanCharlie: What do you feel when someone brings up the conspiracy theory about the game being fixed?

JC: I laugh!

(Lisa Note – When I asked Jim this question his response was – a laugh and then he said “don’t think I’ve ever been asked that before – good question”.)

Thanks again to Mr. Craig, Lisa, and goldmedalstrategies.com. Please check out his site at jimcraig.net. There are some wonderful features.

Check out this story and many, many others in the Dec Issue of SJ Magazine