Miracle Moms - 20 February 2028

A friend recommended that I watch this new Netflix documentary: Miracle: The Boys of '80." The documentary follows the U.S. men's hockey team—a group of amateur college players—as underdogs who stunned the world by defeating the dominant Soviet Union squad 4-3 in the semifinals, en route to gold at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. Directed by Max Gershberg and Jacob Rogal, the film features 16mm archival footage, present-day reflections from the now-elderly players (including Mike Eruzione and Jim Craig), and insights into Coach Herb Brooks' intense preparation and leadership. Amid Cold War tensions, the victory provided a unifying moment of hope and national pride for Americans. The documentary emphasizes themes of belief, sacrifice, teamwork, grit, and family support, presenting the triumph as both a sporting upset and a profound human story rather than just rehashing highlights.

What jumped out at me while watching this riveting documentary was the US. hockey players' mothers emerging as a powerful theme. The now aged players, reunited in the documentary, spoke frequently about the emotional support and resilience-building contributions of their moms in shaping their lives, both on the ice and in life. While focusing primarily on the team's underdog status, the documentary weaves in reflections and anecdotes on how moms instilled values like perseverance and fostering a sense of community in their sons.

One prominent example is goaltender Jim Craig, whose mother, Margaret, died of cancer just months before Olympic tryouts in 1979. Craig credits her with giving him the inner strength to perform under pressure, viewing her death not as a loss but as a transfer of fortitude.

Another key instance involves defenseman Dave Christian's mother, who played a direct role in energizing the arena atmosphere before the semifinal game against the USSR. As the team took the ice amid roaring crowds, she initiated the iconic "USA!" chant from the stands, rallying spectators and indirectly lifting the players' spirits during a high-stakes Cold War matchup. Her "spunk," as described by coach Herb Brooks' daughter Kelly Paradise in the film, helped create an electric environment that contributed to the team's improbable comeback and victory, symbolizing the broader familial encouragement that motivated the squad.

As I viewed the mom sub-theme in this documentary, I thought of how indebted I was to my own mother for shaping my character and values. But for Gayle DeWitt Taylor I wouldn't have played trombone or keyboard with some level of proficiency. But for Mom, a den mother in Cub Scouts, I wouldn't have benefited from the scouting experience. And of course, bringing home a report card with anything other than A's would trigger Mom's concern... and I worried about that. Sans an engaged mother, my life would likely taken a different, less satisfying trajectory. My wife TIMDT has matched my own mother in putting our own kids on a positive path in life.

Full time moms are under threat. Motherhood, in the eyes of too many, is viewed as a birthing function more than an essential supervisory or shaping function. Two generations of females have been taught that professional success should be prized over full time motherhood. Today marriage is disparaged by many, and birth rates are below replacement. Times change. Cultures change. But show me a cultural paradigm that improves over the patriarchal model, where motherhood is central to shaping the next generation... where a mother's focus on raising children is not a cultural afterthought, but THE principal role in civilizational progress. Jim Craig and Dave Christian, I'm sure, would agree with me.

Meanwhile, let me say this: It was good living at the apex!