Once upon a time, they taught us to believe. They were the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, a blue-collar bunch led by an unconventional coach, and t...
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reviews
Sep 29, 2011
Russell
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Wayne Coffey takes us into the locker room, onto the ice, and into the heads of the greatest hockey team assembled for the US Olympic Team. While I have read just about everything there is to read concerning "The Miracle on Ice," it wasn't until I read "Boys" that I felt I truly understood the players, the game, and the significance of their defeat of the Soviet team on February 21, 1980.
Along with excellent interviews are recaps of the on-ice action from that fateful g More...
Along with excellent interviews are recaps of the on-ice action from that fateful g More...
Feb 14, 2010
Tom
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I decided to read this book because it's coming up on the 30th anniversary of the game and because the Winter Olympics have begun. I was not dissapointed as Wayne Coffey does a great job describing the game and all of it's crucial plays, while also talking in great detail about each player and the team's coaches.
To me, this game is the single greatest upset in sports history (James Braddock, Buster Douglas, the 1969 Mets and the 2008 New York Giants round out the top five). A game l More...
To me, this game is the single greatest upset in sports history (James Braddock, Buster Douglas, the 1969 Mets and the 2008 New York Giants round out the top five). A game l More...
Aug 02, 2011
Emily
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Bound by eligibility rules and definitions regarding “amateurs” and “professionals,” the United States was fielding eclectic teams of talented young college players, many of whom had never played together before. Rob McClanahan, one of the U.S. forwards in 1980 described the team succinctly: “We were just naïve college punks.” The team was recruited and coached by Herb Brooks, an enigmatic man who held his players at arms' length, often publicly berating, demeaning and humiliating them while m
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Aug 29, 2010
Jack
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Even though I'm not a fan of the word "miracle" and am leery of over-used catchphrases to beat in a forced relevance of single events to a nation's history, I read and enjoyed this book about the 1980 Olympic "miracle on ice" mens' hockey team immensely.
It's one of those it-could-never-happen-exactly-like-this-again sports stories, but with an interesting and suspenseful technique. Starting with the players attending the funeral of their former coach almost 25 y More...
It's one of those it-could-never-happen-exactly-like-this-again sports stories, but with an interesting and suspenseful technique. Starting with the players attending the funeral of their former coach almost 25 y More...
Feb 28, 2011
This book was a GREAT example of how a team worked together. It explained the crazy, magical life of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team. It told the story of the teams dream. It explained rules, ways and even some coaching skills of hockey. Although this team had it's struggles and it's ups and downs they made it through the year and to the best but most nervewracking hockey game of their year, some even their life! It's a great book to learn some pills of character with and i would probably reco
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Feb 20, 2010
Jennifer
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In my opinion, this is a 5-star story told in a 3-star way.
The story of the miracle of 1980 when the underdog Americans overturned the reigning Soviet champions against the backdrop of the political drama between the US and Communist Russia, is amazing and truly inspiring and one that cannot be forgotten easily.
First off, I must say that I really appreciate the warmth and enthusiasm that the author exudes in the story. He does a great job pulling you into the player's li More...
The story of the miracle of 1980 when the underdog Americans overturned the reigning Soviet champions against the backdrop of the political drama between the US and Communist Russia, is amazing and truly inspiring and one that cannot be forgotten easily.
First off, I must say that I really appreciate the warmth and enthusiasm that the author exudes in the story. He does a great job pulling you into the player's li More...
Apr 14, 2011
Matt
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Aug 20, 2008
I don't even like sports. Yawn. But something about the Olpympics is making me want to read about Olympians.
Do you want to hear a story about my sister and sports? She knows as much as me. I think I may know more than her, like that "football" and "soccer" are actually the same thing to foreign people. There, she just learned something.
Once when we were kids, we had a competition of naming professional sports teams. I'd name one, then she'd name one, More...
Do you want to hear a story about my sister and sports? She knows as much as me. I think I may know more than her, like that "football" and "soccer" are actually the same thing to foreign people. There, she just learned something.
Once when we were kids, we had a competition of naming professional sports teams. I'd name one, then she'd name one, More...
Jun 29, 2008
Steve
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I was interested in this book because Tim Wendel's "Going for the Gold: How the U.S. Won at Lake Placid" presented a pretty awful portrait of US coach Herb Brooks, which was the first time I had read how brutal his coaching methods were for the gold-medal winning team.
Coffey's book doesn't really delve into the psychological torture, nor does it really discuss the world tour the team took before arriving in Lake Placid. Instead, Coffey uses the game against the Soviets to tell th More...
Coffey's book doesn't really delve into the psychological torture, nor does it really discuss the world tour the team took before arriving in Lake Placid. Instead, Coffey uses the game against the Soviets to tell th More...
Feb 17, 2011
Snail in Danger (Sid)
rated it:
This is a reasonably good profile of the 1980 US Olympic hockey team associated with the "Miracle on Ice." It is sometimes a little overly sentimental, and overly storyline-oriented in that annoying ESPN kind of way. I kinda wish the author had mentioned that Herb Brooks was director of player development for the Penguins at the time of his death, but I concede it was outside the scope of the book. The parts about Warren Strelow, a long-time goaltending coach who recently passed awa
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Mar 18, 2010
Elizabeth
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If you love sports history you'll love this book, even if you aren't a hockey fan. I've had the chance to meet a member of that team and found that i have a lot in common with him. You'll relate to anyone on the team, and see their struggles through life before and after that gold medal game in the 1980 Olympics. You thought the movie Miracle covered the story fairly well, but this book is more about the players themselves. Very good read.
Nov 19, 2009
Lois
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I was afraid when I started reading this book that it was just going to be a play by play description of the medal game between USSR and USA in 1980 Olympics but it is so much more. Talks about the players' and coachs' upbringings, the Russian players and what they thought, and what happened to everyone after the games. I liked how the author broke up the game with these other stories. I'm a sports fan but not necessarily a hockey fan and this book has renewed my interest in and respect for t
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Nov 01, 2009
Nathan
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The perfect story - underdogs prevail over a country in a victory with major political and national implications - has to compete with writing that is at times generic, at others overwrought. The story does come out on top though; it is a great story, about a beautiful game, and this book manages to capture both the eternal drama of this story and the beauty of hockey in general. Good, quick, enjoyable.
Nov 29, 2008
Heather
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I was at this game. My father said I played very nicely with my coloring book on the floor (hey, I was four). He to this day, doesn't know a thing about hockey, but was thrilled we beat the Russians. A wonderful look back at an amazing coach, the players he made into a team, and an incredible underdog story that gave a country going through a bad patch something to feel good about.
Feb 27, 2010
Katie
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To get me into the Winter Olympics spirit, I picked up this book from my library and I'm so glad I did. This book is a very compelling, quick read and you don't have to be a huge hockey buff to understand or appreciate it. Coffey does a great job explaining the historical and political context of 1980 Olympics and he wisely includes player biographies mixed into the hockey action.
Jun 27, 2009
Lennie
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"The Boys of Winter" is about the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team who beat the Russians and went on to win the Gold Medal. I borrowed this book from my husband and even though we don't share the same taste in reading, I really wanted to read this book after seeing the movie, "Miracle" with Kurt Russell. This is such a great story and it makes you feel proud to be an American!
Oct 25, 2010
Kathryn
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Thank you Dan Nelson for recommending this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Correction, I was mildly obsessed with it for a a few weeks. There is of course a fair amount of play-by-play, but it is tempered with biographical info about each player on the team, albeit some receive more attention than others. After reading the book I wanted to: 1. Watch the movie Miracle, which I did, more than once. 2. Move to Minnesota and start raising a family of hockey players. 3. Run some Herbies.
Dec 18, 2009
Heather
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So I am truly a hockey mom, but this book is so good anyway. It's one of those that like the movie Miracle, also about the 1980 Olympic Hockey game is just touching and reminds us that it's not about who is best over all, but what we do with each moment. It's even more fun listening to Tom read it and the kids respond. It's also just plain funny in parts.
Aug 11, 2011
Jeff
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Good book, certainly a great story. I didn't care for the way the author mixed action from the game with flashbacks to tell the personal stories of the players. Thought it made for kind of disjointed reading. But the stories were worth the telling. I also liked the way the author told the stories of the Soviets alongside the Americans.
Jan 06, 2009
Erin
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Thought it was interesting how Coffey would, in the middle of the Russia game would go off on a tangent about players he was talking about, giving background and other stories.... there were moments when I felt like saying "get back to the game" and then he just would, almost on cue. Great story, of course.
May 10, 2011
Cat
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I absolutely adore this book, and always find myself re-reading it. The way Coffey tells the story is interesting. He uses the game as plot - there's play-by-play of the entire game, and he'll use certain points (a goal, a penalty, a big hit) to tell that player's story. He delves into the Soviet side of things a bit, too. I can name the entire US roster off the top of my head, but I didn't know a single Russian player, with the exception of the goaltenders, captain, and coach. Now...Okay,
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Nov 03, 2010
Lexi
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A really interesting look at the 1980 Miracle On Ice - even if you think you know all about it, this book provides new insights and stories, including many quotes from members of the USSR team. It was this Soviet perspective that I found most interesting, since it is generally overlooked. There is also a history and update for each member of the US team, much of which I hadn't heard before. Overall, a well written and entirely new look at the 1980 US Olympic hockey team. Worth reading, though if
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Dec 22, 2009
Jaime
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It's a very interesting story, and very inspiring. The book was a little more difficult to follow - it jumped back and forth between commentary on the US-Russia game, and telling the stories of the players' lives.
Jul 10, 2008
Ann
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Let me start by saying that I am not really a sports fan nor especially interested in hockey. However, I AM a fan of the cheesy motivational sports movies that Disney makes and "Miracle" just happens to be my favorite. For that reason, I decided to read this book and shock of shocks, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It was fascinating to learn about the lives of the players before and after the Olympics. What could have been a dry subject is made incredibly interesting by the mix More...
It was fascinating to learn about the lives of the players before and after the Olympics. What could have been a dry subject is made incredibly interesting by the mix More...
Apr 27, 2009
Jenny
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A GREAT sports book. If you like this genre, check this one out.
This story is so much more than HOCKEY. I loved reading about the individual players. What a great group of talented kids.
This story is so much more than HOCKEY. I loved reading about the individual players. What a great group of talented kids.
Apr 15, 2010
Sonia
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Obviously I was going to love this book, but I didn't expect it to be so well written. The author is a true storyteller, and the way he weaves the personal stories of the players (both American and Soviet) into the narration of the game made this book really a delight to read.
Jan 17, 2012
Suzanne
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You do not have to like or understand hockey to love this book! What these boys did in 1980 was amazing. I also recommend watching the movie, "Miracle."
Jun 08, 2011
Hayden
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An inspirational story about a rag tag team of college hockey players that end up beating the undefeated U.S.S.R to win the Olympics.
Feb 11, 2010
Tyger
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I wanted more about the Soviets. It is of course about the United States team, and Herb Brooks!
