Oh say can you see: U.S. Olympic memories

The Olympics are back in a Communist-held country. Hey, it's like 1980 all over again!

Though American memories of Olympics in the '80s probably always will start with the U.S. hockey team's "Miracle on Ice" at Lake Placid, there are scores of other moments worth savoring. So while you enjoy the majesty of beach volleyball in Beijing, think back to a simpler time and take a look at these achievements. (Special thanks to SIT80s correspondent Jane for pulling this together.)

By the way, my own personal achievement? I could play the Olympic fanfare theme on my "Merlin" back in those days.

TOP 5 U.S. OLYMPIC MOMENTS OF THE 80s:

5. THE BOYCOTTS: In 1980, the United States led a boycott of the games in Moscow to protest the USSR's invasion of Afghanistan. More than 60 other countries joined the boycott. In turn, the USSR and 14 allies boycotted the 1984 games in Los Angeles, mainly out of "security concerns." (Watch 1980 opening ceremonies)

4. 1984 TRACK AND FIELD: In 1984, Carl Lewis makes the first of his four Olympic appearances and matches the 1936 performance of Jesse Owens, winning four gold medals: 100-meter, 200-meter, 4x100-meter relay and the long jump. (Watch his long jump.)

3. 1988 DIVING: In Seoul, Greg Louganis won both the platform and springboard events, even after suffering a concussion when he hit his head on the diving board. (Watch the accident)

2. 1984 MEN'S BASKETBALL: Perhaps the best amateur team in history, the gold-medal team included Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Sam Perkins, Chris Mullin and coach Bobby Knight. (Watch medal ceremony)

1. 1984 GYMNASTICS: At the '84 games in Los Angeles, Mary Lou Retton won the gymnastics all-around competition after scoring perfect "10s" on floor exercise and vault. (Watch her final vault)

One international highlight: In Seoul, Canadian sailor Lawrence Lemieux surrenders a certain silver medal to save two Singaporean sailors who fell into the water. Though he lost the medal, he won a commendation from the International Olympic Committee for bravery and sacrifice -- surely the greatest of Olympic ideals.

Comments

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[Spiky Sandy]

What about the USA Hockey team's victory to win the gold medal? That was awesome!

[Marissa]

Hey, sorry Neil. I had it written more clearly, but the anti-spam buster on the blog halted my comment.

I was in the scary hotel watching the closing ceremonies. We'd been forced to take a detour and got a little lost. We were dead dog tired at that point and just stopped at the nearest Bates Motel.
OK, it wasn't named that, but it was that style of motel where the rooms are all on one level.

[Neil]

Marissa:

I am sort of confused about your story. Were you in LA for the closing ceremonies? What was so scary about the hotel, was it in a bad area?

[jane]

The Correspondent says: While the Miracle on Ice is totally worthy, it's a Winter Olympics thing. Kinda wanted to keep the highlights to the Summer Games to correspond with well, the current Summer Games.

And I just realized that when the 2010 Games take place in Vancouver, it will be the 30th Anniversary of that amazing hockey game. Wow.

[sparky]

I remember that the game was tape delayed but I remember knowing we won way before over the radio.

[Al]

Ironically, Sparky, the TV broadcast of the 1980 semi-final win of the Amerk hockey team was tape-delayed, it was not live.

And thanks for pointing out Lawrence Lemieux.......I had never heard of that story. Cool stuff.

And by the way, the Amerks (and Canada unfortunately) "boycotting" Moscow just because of Afghanistan? Please.......that's just as likely as Red Dawn's Wolverines triumphing over the Soviet invasion (and I am a RD fan). The Americans didn't want to be embarrassed on Soviet turf by losing the medal count.

[sparky]

Hmmm, seems kind of strange that nobody is mentioning "DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?!?!?!"

80 US Hockey Team. Won on home ice no less.

[Neil]

Ray:

I was thinking about that same thing. I used to eat McDonalds all the time, I loved when they had that Olympics promotion. I heard that hurt them pretty bad at the time even though I do recall them still doing the same promotion for the 88 Olympics. I loved watching the Olympics back then. One thing I remember but I didn't see in the little video was Mary Lou Retton spitting on her hands before she did the vault.

[Lori]

BTW: thanks, Correspondent Jane.

I know a man who qualified for the Olympics in track and field in 1980, the Moscow boycott. I don't know how he feels about it, but it's sure sad to me that he missed that once in a lifetime opportunity.

[Lori]

Good grief, how time does fly. I can't believe that the year Greg Louganis dived was twenty years ago already. I, too, remember watching it live, and then his comeback dive. Riveting. My strongest memory of any Olympics. Remember the video they (NBC?) put together with Whitney Houston's "One Moment in Time," which featured Louganis? Choked me up every single time.

I was at the Orioles game where Cal Ripken broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive game streak. When the ovation wouldn't stop and Cal spontaneously took off on that lap around the field, the sound folks eventually started playing that song....probably over and over, but I don't recall for sure. Forever after, that song is doubly guaranteed to cause my heart to swell and tears threaten.

[Spears]

If Danny Elfman composed our Olympic themes, we'd never lose at a single sport.

[Michelle]

I am such a sucker for the John Williams' Olympic themes.

[Mark in East Texas]

Anyone else buy the "soundtrack" album from the 84 games? I remember it had some cheesy cuts on it from a wide assortment of groups like Toto, Loverboy, Quincy Jones, Bill Conti,Herbie Hancock, Bob James, plus the latest John Williams theme. I think I still have my copy somewhere.

[jane]

Ray, that is awesome -- and your best Olympic moment has just become mine as well. God Bless the USA indeed.

[Marissa]

I guess a girl can't talk about her jaunt across the USA at age 19. (let's see if anti-spam gets me on that)

I watched the closing ceremonies from the '84 Olympics from a hotel room with my best friend. We left around 2 a.m. because we both feared becoming an 80s horror movie style statistic if we fell asleep.

[jane]

Hey! It looks like I got a promotion from Cub Reporter to Correspondent. Cool.

I remember watching that Louganis hit live when it happened. Scary, scary stuff.

[Ray]

The indisputable best Olympic (can I even use this word without permission from the IOC?) moment from the 80s is the 1984 McDonald's "When The US Wins, You Win" campaign.

With all the communists countries gone from the 84 games, I ate Big Macs every day for a month. God Bless the USA.

[Marissa]

Anti-spam choked my comment. And it wasn't dirty! I swear.