Top 10 List

1.) Herb Brooks- Herb Brooks was an amazing man. He was the coach of the U.S.A. men's 1980 Olympic team who won the gold medal. Herb was very influential, which made him very important in this book. His style of coaching (hard nose, zero tolerance) was what made his team so good to win the Gold medal, and also pulled off one of the biggest upsets of all time against the Soviets. Herb Brooks died recently, and this book, and the movie "Miracle" were dedicated to him.

2.) Underdog- The way that this is important is that it's a motif. The U.S.A. team was an underdog for the game against the Soviets, and they proved people wrong by pulling off the upset.

3.) Miracle- This is another motif, which relates to the "Underdog." This was a miracle on ice, because as underdogs, they were supposed to lose to a team who's been undefeated for approx. 4 olympic games (?). Winning this game was one of the biggest feats in sports history.

4.) Madison Square Garden- This was the setting for the Olympics, and it's important because its where history was set. I don't know what else I'd have to say about this, but that's the significance of it in my top 10.

5.) 1980 Olympics- Soviets were once again predicted to win the gold. Would this happen? No. The U.S.A. team would pull off the upset, make history, and the 1980 Olympics would go down as one of the most memorable years in sports history for such an upset.

6.) Gold Medal Game- The U.S.A. team played Soviets, won, then went to play Sweeden for the gold medal game. They won the game, and the U.S.A. team won their first gold medal since Herb Brooks played for the team.

7.) Lou Nanne- Your probably wondering why Lou Nanne is in this top 10. Well, he is significant because of the recognition he gets from Brooks. He gets praise, and gives it back too to Brooks also. Nanne is an influential role model on the game of hockey, and still is as of today.

8.) Herb Brooks Quote- "This year was a challenge for all of us. A challenge to: Live and work as a unit. Play a positive game-a creative way. Make the most out of our dreams. You met those challenges and conquered them. If there was any team I ever wanted to identify with on a personal basis, this was the team. Hopefully that day will come." This is significant because it's Brooks' reflection on the team from a successful run to the gold medal.

9.) Brooks' Death- When Brooks died, alot of people were hurt. Companions, players, family members, friends, etc. But the people that it touched the most, were the players that he coached. He was a real hard-ass (pardon the french) but the players loved him. He was a great coach, and he was the best coach you could ask for.

10.) The Team- The U.S.A. team was the most significant, for many different reasons. They played as a team, they pulled off the biggest upset of all time, and most of all, they trusted eachother. Trust is the biggest part of a team's success, and obviously, it showed, as they completed their goal of winning the gold medal.

Week 7, Post B

Overall, I thought this book was very good. Wayne Coffey is an excellent writer, and I say that because of the way this story was written. It was written from a different perspective. A fan's point of view. Interviews, recalling events of the players from their past times. This book was an interesting novel to read, and I would definently recommend it. This book describes player's past times, and it gives u a feeling of how they lived their lives from today. It's interesting to see the difference from then and now. I loved this book, and I would recommend this to all hockey lovers.

Week 7, Post A

1.) Vocab

Flogging: to sell, esp. aggressively or vigorously (pg. 249).

Permutation: A complete change; a transformation (pg. 253).

2.) Figurative Language

Simile- "and all of a sudden, the stadium burst out with a roar as if the stadium just collapsed. Thats how loud it was," (pg. 258).

Onomatopeoia- "'U-S-A! U-S-A!,' is what the crowd was chanting after solidifying the victory..." (pg. 260).

Quote- "This year was a challenge for all of us. A challenge to: Live and work as a unit. Play a positive game-a creative way. Make the most out of our dreams. You met those challenges and conquered them. If there was any team I ever wanted to identify with on a personal basis, this was the team. Hopefully that day will come," (pg. 263).
One Emerging Theme- There are no themes left to the book, because i'm finished with it.

Week 6, Post B

This week was about the third period. It was an exciting 3rd period overall, but anyways, Jim Criag played an outstanding game for them in the first 2 periods of this huge game for the U.S.A. The Soviets stuck right with them, and this third period would be intense the entire way through. If you do not know already, this game went down as one of the biggest upsets in all of sports, because the U.S. beat the Soviets. Mike Eruzione was the biggest star of this game, because of the game winer in this period. The final score was 4-3. Eruzione was the game winer, Soviets were beat, and the U.S. moved on to the gold medal game against Sweeden.

Week 6, Post A

1.) Vocabulary

Habitually- of the nature of a habit; fixed by or resulting from habit (page 209).

Jarring- to have a harshly unpleasant or perturbing effect on one's nerves, feelings, thoughts, etc (page 211).

2.) Figurative Language

Simile- "...and the U.S.A. team started as if they were ready to pounce all over the Soviets like tigers...," (page 216).

Onomatopeoia- "...and all of a sudden, a loud 'roar' overcame the teams from the crowd when the U.S.A. scored..." (page 227).

Quote- "If you woke him up at 3 in the morning and told him you were going to have a little pickup game at the Boston Skating Club in Brighton, he'd be out there backchecking and forechecking like crazy, " (page 225).

One Emerging Theme- An emerging theme is the 3rd period of the game between the U.S.A. and the Soviets of the 1980 Olympics.

Week 5, Post B

What this week is about is the second period intermission of the game between the Soviets and the U.S.A. Jim Craig, the goalie, has an entire chapter on him about "the puck stops here." He was pretty poor growing up, so he was fortunate to be playing hockey. He grew up a great goaltender, and a great person. During the 1980 olympics, his dad was very poor, and Jim was doing this for his dad to make him proud. The second period was a glorifying period for the U.S.A, but the Soviets would stick with them.

Week 5, Post A

1.) Vocabulary
Concocting- To prepare by mixing ingredients, as in cooking (page 165).
Instantaneous- occurring, done, or completed in an instant (page 172).

2.) Figurative Language

Simile- "...Marakov was as mad as a tiger that didn't get his food for dinner..." this is a simile because of the comparison between the 2 things. It's also funny too.
Onomatopeoia- "...and all of a sudden, Brooks statred to yell 'Ahhh!' in an excited way, since he and the team were so pumped up and had all the momentum..." This is an onomatopeoia because of the "ahhh!" since it's a sound.
Quote- "Whether I had a good period or a bad period, that was my signal that it was time to start over," (page 179). This is a significant quote because Jim Craig actually lived up to his word in this quote by actually doing better like he said.
One Emerging Theme- An emerging theme is the 3rd period of the Gold Medal game.