'Miracle' flame forever burns bright in O'Callahan

Jack O'Callahan might go a day without thinking of the "The Miracle on Ice."

Except that no one will let him.

The greatest upset in sports history, the game that serves as the emotional and dramatic standard by which all other sports victories will be eternally judged, is what also defines O'Callahan's very existence in the eyes of those who stumble across his path.

And while next Monday will mark the 30-year anniversary of Team USA's victory over the Soviet Union in Lake Placid, to those who meet O'Callahan it might as well have been yesterday.

"What's amazing is what it means to people even after so much time," O'Callahan said Sunday. "You meet someone and tears come to their eyes when they start talking about it.

"They want to tell you where they were and who they were with when they saw the game. They want to introduce you to their kids and grandkids.

"It never ceases to amaze me what that game - what that team - means to people."

More than just his talent, it was O'Callahan's tenacity that got him to a magical place in time and allowed him to be an integral part of something so special.

It also explains why he didn't stop living his life following a few games that have - for better or worse - defined the lives of every member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team.

The Glencoe resident had a nine-year pro career, raised a family, and has run a successful financial services firm.

"Life is fun and full of challenges in every aspect of life, and nothing's easy," O'Callahan said. "The challenge is what makes it worth living. That's how I look at it.

"What we did in 1980 was great, and I'm proud of it, but that wasn't the end. I can't imagine returning to life and doing nothing after that. I couldn't sit around. I'm not sure how people do it. I don't think any of our guys have really done that."

O'Callahan sees his former teammates as often as possible, and a group of about a dozen gets together for golf every summer. But, surprisingly, there has only been one time when all 20 players on the roster were together again.

It was at Herb Brooks' funeral.

"We thought we'd have everyone for the (caldron) lighting in Salt Lake City in 2002, but Mike Ramsey was coaching or something at the time, and by the time he tried to get in, they had the air space shut down," O'Callahan said. "It's hard to believe, but since we went to the White House after winning the gold, the only time we've all been together was Herbie's funeral (in 2003).

"You'd think at one of these Olympics, we'd all be together again."

They won't be in Vancouver, though O'Callahan will be closely watching the games.

"It's the best hockey you'll ever see in your life, and the games are like an hour and 47 minutes," O'Callahan laughed. "They're dropping the puck during commercials. They ought to do that all the time. Keep the game moving and use all four lines.

"I was on the edge of my seat watching those games in Salt Lake. It's just phenomenal hockey.

"But I like all the events in the Winter Games. I watch them all, and as a bonus, my daughter Rachael is working for the games in Vancouver."

With the 30th anniversary coming up Feb. 22, there's no doubt the story of Lake Placid will be told again frequently as a professional version of Team USA takes the ice this week.

And as 1980 is relived, it will bring out new fans of a miraculous moment in time, one that could have been so very different.

"A bounce here or a bounce there. It was just meant to be," O'Callahan said. "When you think of the quality of teams we were facing, every one of them a professional team with the best players in the world, our margin was razor thin.

"The thing is, we didn't go there to finish sixth. We went there to win and represent our country well, and we did both.

"I'm grateful every day that people still want to talk about it. I take the responsibility seriously because it means so much to people. When you see someone cry as they're talking about it, you understand your duty to treat the moment with dignity.

"Because of the movie ('Miracle'), there's been a whole new generation of fans born that understand it, and now they want to talk about it, too.

"I'm glad to do it. I feel fortunate that people still care. I feel fortunate to have been on a team that moves people to tears.

"How many people in life will ever be able to say something like that?"