Through the Mail Success – Mike Eruzione

Player Name: Mike Eruzione

Player’s Current Team: Retired (Known for being on the Team USA 1980 Hockey team)

Player’s Current Address: 1 Sherborn St, 7th Floor, Boston, MA, 02215

Date Sent out: 11/29/08

Date Returned: 12/6/08 (8 days)

Why go after this autograph: If you were born before 1973, I don’t even have to explain this to you.  For those of you who were born 1973 and later it might be a stretch for you to remember where you were when Team USA played the Russians in the first medal round of the 1980 Winter Olympics.  I remember where I was, the country was going through a similar economic and political time as today, it was a very dreary time in US history, but this US hockey team wouldn’t quit.  The emotional leader of the team was Mike Eruzione, his shot was the game winning goal that put away the Russians.  A Russian team that was like an all star NHL team.  Here was this group of college kids that stared them down and beat them.  As a nine year old, I remember it bringing a nation together.  I remember staying up to watch the game with my dad.  Not fully understanding the implications, but hearing my dad cheer with ever goal, I got into it.  I understood nothing of the game at the time, but I knew that this game was a very important game.  The next day at school our teacher explained why it was such an important victory.  I’m sure it didn’t sink in there, but as I grew older and watched the influx of Russian players into the NHL, I started to get it.during the 10th anniversary of the game I was in college and ESPN replayed it.  I must have seen that game a million times and that “Do you believe in miracles?” call from Al Michaels sends chills down my spine.  I knew what the game meant, I had seen the biographies of the players involved, I am still amazed as to how the US players upset not only the Russians but also the Fins for the gold.  In short I went after this autograph because he has always been a personal hero to me.

Any Current Certified Autographs Available: I am sure there are, but I couldn’t find any.