Week 2, Post B

My reaction to this section of the book (pages 50-96), is quite surprised. What i didn't see coming was that the novel would describe some of the players accomplishments, and their life stories and historical backgrounds. I never knew that some of the players had such interesting lives. For example, the player biography on Jack O'Callahan: "He grew up in Charlestown, Massachusetts, a tough Irish-Catholic enclave across the river from Boston. His house was a short walk from the site of the Battle of Bunker Hill......O'Callahan, Boston University captain and All-American, MVP of the NCAA Tournament in 1978, seemed to relive it every timehe hit the ice," (pages 68-69). Reacting to this quote, I'd have to say that O'Callahan was pretty good growing up? But that's my opinion. He seemed like such an amazing person to play with, even when others would say "he's the kind of guy who could hang with the president of the U.S.A., or the Hell's Angels," (page 69). This is just one player. There are others, like Buzz Schneider, Jim Craig, Joe Micheletti, and other greats. Another reaction I had, was impressed, because of the way the Americans played in the first period, scoring at the end to have some momentum to ride with into the 2nd period, in which they scored with 00:01 left. Overall, I was intrigued for this week.

Week 2, Post A

1.) Vocabulary

-Ubiquitous: existing or being everywhere, esp. at the same time; omnipresent (page 55).
-Brandished: To wave or flourish (a weapon, for example) menacingly (page 85)

2.) Figurative Language

-Simile: "......and could skate by people as if they were mannequins, and he was the most valuable player on his American Legion team," (pg. 62). This is a simile because it's saying that the player is very quick with his feet when skating.
-Onomatopeoia: "......he shot the puck, and it made a sudden 'ding!' off the crossbar of the hockey net...." (page 76). This is an Onomatopeoia because it describes the sound that was made off a shot onto the crossbar.
Quote: "It was not a question if there was any time left. It was a good goal," (page 76). This quote is significant because it's stating that the goal counted no matter how much time is left, and also that the team would carry the momentum of that goal into the next period.
One Emerging Theme: An emerging theme is the one carrying over from last week. The Americans are riding the momentum from the goal they scored into the next period, to give the team a little boost of confidence against the Soviets.

Week 1, Post B

To respond to this, I would have to say that I am impressed with what has happened. The USA 1980 Olympic team was made up of kids in their early 20's, or kids in their late teens. It was a surprisingly young group of talent, in which they worked hard, and earned what they fought for. In the first chapter, for example, on page 48, it says: "After Krutov's goal, the anxiety in the building was almost palpable. The whole place seemed tight, American players and fans alike." It is saying that the American team had high hopes at the time that happened. the entire American fan section at the arena was behind them one hundred percent, and that would help them out down the stretch of the game. For a Olympic team to be made up of kids that are right out of college, play against one of the best teams in the world? That's pretty impressive on their part for what the outcome was. Also, Herb Brooks, the coach, was by far one of the most eager of the team to win the gold medal, because he was cut from the 1960 U.S. Olympic team. So for him to win this, would just redeem himself for being cut.

Week 1, Post A

1.) Vocabulary

Debunk- to expose or excoriate (a claim, assertion, sentiment, etc.) as being pretentious, false, or exaggerated. Page 26.

Plyometrics- a type of exercise using explosive movements to develop muscular power, esp. bounding, hopping, and jumping. Page 39

2.) Figurative Language

Simile- "...and then began to spin, 360 degrees in a blur, the puck on his stick as if it were glued," (pg. 26). I know this is a simile, because it's saying that the player has excellent stickhandling skills, and is being compared using "like" or "as," which is what a simile is.

Imagery- "...the players charged out of the locker room, turned right and then right again. At the threshold of the ice, Craig paused and looked up for a second. The building was shaking from the cheers," (pg. 25). This is Imagery because it gives you a vivid example in your head of what's going on at the precise moment.

Irony- "...Petrov and his teammates, was 13 days earlier, in Madison Square Garden, where the Americans didn't lose so much as get annihilated," (pg. 25). This is Irony, because it's saying that the Soviets were dominating the Americans in the prior meeting of the 2 teams, but what's Ironic, is that it dooesn't happen again and that the Soviets get too full of themselves.

Quote- Ken Dryden said on page 33: "You can make 49 different kinds of mayonnaise. You can teach Dolphins to do the most complex tasks. Why can't you teach your hockey players to pass the puck more than 2 meters?" The significance of this quote, is that Ken is implying that the American team is not yet complete. Their passing game isn't the greatest, and Ken is putting that on the coaches shoulders that it's his fault.

Emerging Theme- An emerging theme from the story, is that the team is prepared for vengance from their devestating loss to the Soviets in their prior meeting.

Outside Reading 2nd Quarter Book Approval

1.) "The Boys of Winter," by Wayne Coffey.

2.) The book was published late December of 2005, early January of 2006.

3.) This book is Nonfiction.

4.) This book is 272 pages long.

5.)This book is sufficiently challenging for a high schooler because of the history involved in the story, and the challenging names that have to be pronounced (Russians).

6.) I chose this book because I wanted to read a book about hockey, which this is what it's about. This story is about the miracle team, the 1980 U.S.A. Olympic team that played at Lake Placid, and the about the journey of the U.S.A. team when they beat the Soviets to earn the Gold medal.