Architect of a miracle honored

Brooks, Roy lead Hockey Hall of Fame induction class

Former NHL player Tom Laidlaw said that he disliked Herb Brooks when he played for him. But when Laidlaw didn't play for him anymore, he realized "Herb probably did as much to make me a better player than anyone had."
"Some of the things he brought to the NHL about conditioning and offense were considered strange, or at least different," said Laidlaw, who played for Brooks on the New York Rangers. "Now everyone does them. He was years ahead of the game."

Although the late Brooks is most remembered for coaching the U.S. team to a gold medal at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, it will also be his unique personality and progressive, colorful coaching style that will be celebrated tonight when he is inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Builder's Category.

Brooks is being inducted Monday night in Toronto along with goaltender Patrick Roy and left wing Dick Duff in the player's category and Calgary Flames owner Harley Hotchkiss in the builder's category.

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Brooks, who was killed in a 2003 car accident, coached the Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Minnesota North Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins during his NHL career. He was known as a complicated man and a taskmaster, particularly when he coached the U.S. Olympic team.

He often motivated his players with memorable quotes, which became known to players as "Herbisms".

"You don't have enough talent to win on talent alone," he often said.

Brooks, cut as a player from the 1960 U.S. team, told players at Lake Placid in 1980 that it was their "destiny" to beat the Soviets.

Explaining his personality, Brooks once explained that when people ask him what time it is, he always has to tell them "how to build a watch."



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Anyone alive and cognizant in 1980 remembers the depressing state of affairs in America at that time. Vietnam, Watergate and stagflation had sapped our national confidence.

The USSR was on the march, taking Afghanistan and making inroads into Central America.

The worst president ever blamed Americans for their "malaise".

Then, something unbelievable happened.

A bunch of American college kids and a journeyman named Euruzione (Yay! One of our tribe!) beat the Soviet Red Army hockey team in the greatest upset in the history of sport.

It has long been our contention that everything changed on that day.

More than performing a "Miracle on Ice", Herb Brooks and his men helped a nation regain its confidence, its lost swagger.

Nine months later, America elected Ronald Reagan.

We haven't looked back.

Sadly, Coach Brooks didn't live to see this day, but he is undoubtedly flashing that crooked smile behind that great bench in the sky.

Cheers, Coach Brooks!