Herb Brooks

Herb Brooks in 1980 (http://www.legendsofhockey.net/graphinduct/)

Herb Brooks was the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey coach. Herb was a guy who had a lot of perseverance and always kept a positive attitude when people doubted what he dreamed of doing. He also had hope, that he could win against the Soviets and win the gold medal in the Olympics as well as having something he never got when he played for the U.S. hockey team in 1960 and was cut right before the Olympics by Coach Riley, the coach of the team at the time. He also believed that what it took to defeat the Soviets required a change in the practices in schedule, making it tougher and much more competitive. The style had to change to what he was wanting to adopt: a hybrid of the Russian school and the Canadian school for hockey. Most importantly, he believed that, with team chemistry and the right players, he could achieve the goals he set for them and for the nation.

Herb Brooks interview (http://www.legendsofhockey.net/graphinduct/)

My hero is Herb Brooks. Herb has black hair and and is sort of a tall guy at height of 6’1” and a weight of 216 lbs. He lived in St. Paul, Minnesota and coached the University of Minnesota Gophers hockey team from 1972-1979 then went on to coach the U.S. Olympic hockey team in 1979. Getting the job was a bit of a challenge for him because the AHA (Amateur Hockey Association) had a hard time with accepting his ideas on how to coach the team and to change the schedule because they were used to the regular schedule they used for the last 20 years since Squaw Valley in 1960. Although he kept trying to persuade them and convince them that there needed to be a change in the way the practices were scheduled and designed, he never gave up helping them understand what it would take to defeat the Soviets. After getting the job a few days later, scheduling for the family brought conflicts among them and caused a lot of stress on him and his wife, especially emotionally-wise. Working through the conflicts helped them grow more and realize how important this deal was and what this would mean to them and America to win the gold medal.

1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team celebrating after d (http://web.timesunion.com/specialreports/tu150/stories/graphics/)

My hero made a difference in America by showing America the chance forever not only to dream, but the chance once again to believe when winning the gold medal. Herb punished the players of the U.S. hockey team when he noticed some loafing and not working the first few games as a way to wake them up and to let them realize what it was going to take to defeat the Soviets if they wanted to win the gold medal. He also helped the players who were old rivalries to come together and start becoming a team at the first day of practice and that if they wanted to settle old scores, that they would only make enemies out of themselves and that nothing would get done with them fighting. Herb taught his players how to face challenging times and how to handle them when they were thrown at them the best way. He also protected the players from any distractions that were thrown at them whether it was the press wanting to interview them or just people in general wanting to wish them luck so they could be prepared for every game they played. He let the players know that every day on the ice they were with him that their above and beyond effort they gave him would pay off when facing the Soviets in the Olympics.

Herb personally inspired me to not easily get distracted and to always keep focused and not lose heart. He also inspired me by helping me handle tough times the best way and to think before doing something, what the best thing to do in a situation like that would be. I was motivated to always shoot for the best and to always dream and to never give up on goals I set for myself and do the best I can to reach them so I can succeed. He also helped me understand that when you fail, take those moments as learning opportunities so you will never make that mistake ever again. Lastly, he would also motivate me to believe in myself and never doubt myself because that could always lead to a downfall and to never listen to others that put you down because then you’ll most likely not want to go any further in the goals you have set for yourself.

Herb Brooks later in life (http://assets.usoc.org/assets/documents/attached_file/filename/5421/)

All in all, Herb Brooks was an inspiring man who never lost heart in what he believed in and wanted to pursue. He also inspired America to keep believing in themselves and to keep confidence in the nation and that they could make a difference in the world. Herb will always be remembered for the gifts he gave to America when he and the U.S. hockey team won the gold medal in the 1980 Olympic Winter Games. His lifespan was from 1937-2003 and lived to be only 63 years old due to a fatal car crash he was in. When Walt Disney pictures did a movie about him, he never got to see the final version although he lived to see it being filmed, but the greatest thing was that he actually lived the moment.