Forty Years Ago Today

Discussion in 'In The Stands' started by TxnByBirth, Feb 22, 2020.

  1. TxnByBirth

    TxnByBirth 1,000+ Posts

    The greatest single sporting even in U.S. history occurred.

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  2. TxnByBirth

    TxnByBirth 1,000+ Posts

    Maybe I should qualify this one with the caveat "in my lifetime." Jesse Owens rubbing Hitler's nose in it in Berlin was awesome as well.
     
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  3. BevoJoe

    BevoJoe 10,000+ Posts

    I was working on another degree at UT when they beat the Russians. Got up early as I recall to watch. I was on the edge of my chair the whole time!

    Side note: I lived on a farm with a family in Germany when I was a teenager. The lady was an English and French professor. The Olympics in Munich were coming up and she told me about her being a translator for the American team at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Jesse Owens was a member of the team she told me about the americans and how they were great athletes they were. It was interesting, especially her describing how after the Olympics were over, there was a banquet which was hosted by Hitler. He came to each person including her and personally thanked her for her "service to the Reich" shook and kissed her hand, then gave her an autographed picture of of himself and an autographed copy of Mein Kampf as tokens of his appreciation for her part in making the Olympics as great success for Germany and National Socialism. Kinda gave me the chills...
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2020
  4. TxnByBirth

    TxnByBirth 1,000+ Posts

    Goodness gracious, I love stories like this! Thanks for sharing it, I really appreciate it.
     
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  5. BevoJoe

    BevoJoe 10,000+ Posts

    You're welcome.
     
  6. Giovanni Jones

    Giovanni Jones 2,500+ Posts

    The other thing from the 1980 Winter Olympics that sticks in my mind is the theme music, Give It All You Got by Chuck Mangione
     
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  7. Austin_Bill

    Austin_Bill 2,500+ Posts

    I was 12 during the 1980 Olympics, and since I wasn't a hockey fan, I didn't understand the significance of this feat. Basically it was on the same level as beating the Dream Team in basketball, the original one.

    I'm most partial to the story of Argentina winning the gold medal in basketball, mostly because I'm such a huge fan of Manu Ginoboli. For a country that has little to nothing to be proud of, that was huge.
     

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