Once Cold War heroes, 'Miracle on Ice' team struggles with backlash from donning KAG hats @ rally

[Dennis Donovan]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/once-cold-war-heroes-miracle-on-ice-team-struggles-with-backlash-from-donning-keep-america-great-hats-at-trump-rally/2020/02/24/0a9a0f80-5738-11ea-9b35-def5a027d470_story.html


President Trump listens as Mike Eruzione, captain of the 1980 U.S men’s Olympic hockey team, speaks at a campaign rally on Feb. 21 in Las Vegas. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

By David Nakamura
Feb. 25, 2020 at 6:00 a.m. EST

If he had to do it again, hockey legend Mike Eruzione said, he would not put on the red “Keep America Great” hat.

He and his teammates from the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey squad hadn’t meant to make a grand political statement when they appeared onstage as President Trump’s surprise guests at a campaign rally in Las Vegas on Friday. They happened to be in town to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice” — their shocking upset of the Soviet Union en route to the gold medal, perhaps the most unifying moment in American sports history — when they got a call from Trump’s campaign inviting them to a private photo line with the president.

The next thing they knew, Eruzione said, Trump was introducing them at the rally and a campaign aide was handing them the caps as they took the stage. Four of the former players chose not to wear them — but 10 others did, prompting a huge backlash on social media from Trump’s critics, who view the distinctive red campaign hats as sharply politicized symbols of hate, racism and xenophobia.

“You going to light into me, too? We’re getting killed!” Eruzione said in an interview. Now serving as the director of special outreach at his alma mater, Boston University, Eruzione said he has received angry calls and messages from the school’s alumni. One said he purchased Eruzione’s new book about the 1980 team but no longer intends to read it. His Twitter mentions are a nightmare.

One message read: “In 1980, you beat the Russians, and yesterday the Russians beat you.”

</snip>

They sound a bit PO'd they were used at a campaign event. Well, #ETTD, guys...

[hatrack]

1. Paying attention now? That's nice . . . .

.

[hlthe2b]

2. THEY CHOSE (at least some of them) to appear and wear the damned hats. No sympathy.

No respect. They are cast to the dustbin of history IMO.

[DinahMoeHum]

3. Sportswriter Dave Zirin's take on this. . .

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/olympics-us-hockey-miracle/

(snip)

One could certainly argue, as many have over social media, that this is yet another example of Trump poisoning everything he touches: that he can take even something as pure as the 1980 US Olympic hockey team and turn it into something ugly. This perspective, however, ignores the fact that this is not the first time the 1980 team has been a symbol of right-wing propaganda. We forget that 40 years ago, their victory was less a symbol of unity than a pivot towards reaction.

(snip)

Like with so many things Trump, the rally pulled off the mask and revealed where the team actually stands. As in 1980, the team is using their victory less to bring the country together than to drag it into the past. They aren’t dupes. They are doing this of their own free will. They want to have their cake and eat it too: to cozy up to reaction while insisting that the attendant mud doesn’t tarnish their gold. It doesn’t work that way in 2020. As with anyone who stands too close to Trump, they leave that rally visibly stained, for all to see.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

BTW, who were the 4 players who chose NOT to wear the KAG caps?

[Dennis Donovan]

5. Good take.

[PCIntern]

4. Oh yeah. They had no idea that

Appearing at trump campaign rally at the mic and wearing one of his hats could be construed as political.

Ok then: so if you therefore add up the IQ’s of the team, you’d still have a two-digit number.

Which is it, you racist Russia-loving assholes?

[Drum]

6. "In 1980, you beat the Russians, and yesterday the Russians beat you."

Yup!

[Submariner]

7. They should know not to come back for 50th anniversary get together

because it would all be about being a bunch of Trump dorks at the 40th. What a shame.

I had a 2 hour ESPN 30 ON 30 special on my DVR about the 1980 win, and had to delete it, because I could no longer entertain the thought of caring about their win anymore.

[Fresh_Start]

8. Anyone - jock or not

Anyone - jock or not - who says he doesn't understand that appearing at a campaign rally is a political act, and that wearing the paraphernalia of a candidate makes a political statement, is either breathtakingly stupid or a baldfaced liar.

[DinahMoeHum]

9. +1000s

n/t

[KayF]

10. "whatever you say, sir"

In particular, Trump asked team captain Mike Eruzione, whose name he struggled to pronounce, if the Commander in Chief was a good athlete. Eruzione simply replied by saying "You are. Yes, sir. Whatever you say."

[Progressive dog]

11. If the hat doesn't fit, don't wear it.

They chose to attend a Trump rally, that tells most people where their loyalty now lies, the hat just drives the point home.
I love that one message at the end,
“In 1980, you beat the Russians, and yesterday the Russians beat you.”

[czarjak]

12. I hate hockey!

[Botany]

13. You stand with a monster and praise that monster you get what you deserve

How about Russia's 2016 "Miracle in America" where they installed Trump into the
White House.