The greatest upset in sports history isn’t just a gold medal for the U.S., but a victory so cataclysmic that it permanently changed a nation. The “Miracle on Ice” and the speech that Coach Herb Brooks gave to his players in the locker room combine to portray elements of pathos, ethos, kairos, and logos that would result in a patriotic nation being united around a single common place: the U.S. hockey team.
Until the “Miracle on Ice”, Americans had an internal fear of the Soviet Union, especially after the Cold War and countless nuclear scares. The Soviets were beginning to re-emerge as the villain of the world, and most of America was retreating to the fearful lifestyle they used to live just ten years prior. However, right when things were beginning to take a downward turn, a solution to America’s problem surfaced: a medal round game between the United States and Soviet hockey teams. The U.S. and Soviets faced off in an exhibition match several months before the games, resulting in a 10-3 Soviet victory. Two months before the games, the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. American moral and confidence was low and coach Herb Brooks knew that their matchup against team Russia wouldn’t just be a hockey game. anymore.
On February 22, 1980, coach Brooks walks into the locker room of the U.S. hockey team. He looks around at each of his players, taking note of the fear and discouragement in their innocent, young eyes. It was obvious what each of them were thinking: “nobody beats the Russians”. After a long period of silence and tension, he opens his mouth and delivers one of the most inspirational and powerful speeches in history. Hours later, the greatest upset of the modern sports era was beheld on that frigid ice in Lake Placid. The US might’ve won on behalf of ability and talent, but it was Coach Brooks’ speech and his use of the elements pathos, logos and kairos to instill belief in his players that truly won the game.
Team Russia was unbeatable for the better part of twenty years. No one thought that the U.S. could win, including the members of the U.S. hockey team. For these reasons, Herb Brooks gave the following speech: ”Great moments are born from great opportunity. And that’s what you have here today, boys. That’s what you’ve earned here today. One game. If we played them 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!”
When looking at the first line, “great moments are born from great opportunity,” it is an extremely pathetic appeal to immediately captivate his players attention. In the lines that follow, coach reassures his players of their accomplishments and continues on with his speech, making a transition into logos and kairos. “One game. If we played them ten times they might win nine. But not this game. Not tonight.” Logos is conveyed in these lines, for everyone in the locker room was aware of how good the Soviets were and how unlikely it was to win (it was undeniable). Kairos comes into play when coach Brooks analyzes the opportunity. They have only this one chance to make a difference, and they had to take advantage of it and make the most of the opportunity.
A theme of persuasion makes its first appearance, a most useful rhetorical device. The U.S., the Soviets, and the world all expected team Russia to win. Coach Brooks knew this and knew that his players knew it. He attempts to establish an argument counter to the worlds opinions, stating that the U.S. would win instead. By convincing his players that beating the Soviets is a possible feat, he knew that victory was well within their grasp.
The next lines might be the most powerful of his whole speech: “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.” The essence of emotion, these lines alone could’ve inspired the U.S. to win all ten games that Coach Brooks referenced earlier in his speech. He doesn’t ask them to play with the Soviets, to skate with them or shut them down. He simply tells them that they are the best team in the world, instead of Team Russia. He tells them that they were meant for the moment, and that they were born to play hockey. All of these statements revolve around pathos and lead to one overarching point that Coach Brooks is trying to convey: the United States is going to beat the Soviets. The U.S. players had the skill, the ability, and the potential. All they needed was the inspiration, the confidence, and the belief.
“This is your time! Now go out there and take it.” A kairotic statement to say the least, Coach Brooks concludes his speech with a seize the day expression to send his players out on the ice with a fire in their hearts. The reign of the Soviets was over; it was time for a new victor in the form of the America. Coach Brooks takes the spotlight away from the Soviets and gives it to the young American players, again instilling them with confidence and belief. It was coach Brooks use of rhetorical elements that prompted the U.S. to win on that cold winter day.
Another important piece that contributes to the union of America around the U.S. hockey team is the game that is referred to as the “Miracle on Ice.” Perhaps the most kaorotic game in the history of sports, this game truly came at the perfect time for America. It united the country during a time where it was beginning to fall apart. Leading up to February 22, American moral was low and tensions were rising high as the ” Second Cold War” was escalating after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. The Soviets had every intention of dominating both the summer and winter Olympics that year. After considering the logos of these facts, one has to understand that the actions of the US hockey team on that day consumed the country in national pride during a time where America needed it most, and it turned around a nation.
Nothing can compare to the raw emotion that went into this game. The Soviets were back as the terror of the world, another cold war was about to begin, not to mention the overwhelming fact that the Soviet hockey team was unbeatable. The U.S. needed a hero, and college kids didn’t strike anyone as the answer. The “Miracle on Ice” wasn’t just a hockey game, it was a battle between superpowers. But how were kids going to win? Well, that’s what makes the victory all the more beautiful: the impossible was accomplished. There is no other game that is as enveloped in pathos as this game. A true underdog story, one can imagine how loud America was on this day.
National pride is an important element that contributes to the ethos. For Americans, pride and patriotism are some of the most important pieces that make up an American. Americans felt that, in order to preserve their pride and international prowess, they had to beat Russia in every facet, including hockey. The U.S. Hockey Team was not alone in their victory, for they had the support of an entire country. These young players brought millions of people together around a common place on February 22, 1980, and to this day America is still united around that team, that day, and that game.
Words cannot provide justice for the ultimate effects of “The Miracle on Ice.” The game that is considered the greatest upset in sports history would not have occurred had coach Herb Brooks not given his legendary speech. Both the game and the speech administered elements of pathos, logos, ethos and kairos that united America during a time of turmoil, tension, and fear. People came together around the U.S. Hockey Team as a common place for national pride and patriotism. Thirty-seven years has passed since the sacred day, and each day that has gone by since, Americans thank the members of that hockey team for the miracle that changed their country.
