The film "Miracle" (Disney, 2004) is a story of two victories. The first, widely reported, is the story of how the 1980 Olympic hockey team won a gold medal with a stunning victory over the Soviet Union. The second, almost unnoticed, is the story of how coach Herb Brooks and his wife, Patti, coped with his obsession for a gold medal. The film depicts a troubled, growing, and changing relationship. The couple struggles to find a balance between work and family.
Finding a balance among work, family, church and community activities is one of the essential disciplines of spirituality in the workplace.
Brooks’ obsession is traced back to his having been cut from the gold medal team in 1960, two days before the games started. After an impressive career as a college coach he interviewed for the Olympic position. Guarding against disappointment, he tells his wife he won’t be selected. When the phone call comes through, he plunges, 24/7, into the task of selecting team players.
Taking charge, Brooks overrides the recommendations of the Olympic committee on practice schedule, selection of players, and style of play. Driving his players mercilessly, he conditions them so well that they will out-skate the Russians in the final period. During a punishing skating drill he exhorts them saying “the legs feed the wolf”.
At home Patti, with a hint of seductiveness, interrupts his film study suggesting that it’s time for bed. In the ensuing conversation, she asks him to help her by driving one of the children to practice the following day. As the scene develops she makes it clear that she is offended by his focus on hockey and resents the fact that he never even asked her before accepting the position as coach. (These scenes are underplayed. I can only imagine that their confrontation was more painful than their matter-of-fact portrayal in the film.)
After a brief reflection, Brooks shuts off his projector and apologizes to Patti, asking her forgiveness and support. “I have to do this,” he says, “but without you, it won’t mean anything”.
Having received a gesture of forgiveness, Brooks follows through by making small steps towards amends, even before Olympic training ends. He leaves a team Christmas Eve party to return to his family, finding that they have left the last tree ornament for him. He makes phone calls from the road and, just before a critical game, skips a press conference to spend time in Lake Placid with his family. After the final victory, he leaves the team celebration and walks up to his family in the stands.
The 1980 gold medal in hockey came as a gift of hope to an American public demoralized by news of Vietnam, Watergate and the Cold War. It came as a result of an obsession that was costly to Herb and Patti Brooks. By sharing their story, Herb and Patti Brooks have given us a second gift. By example, they were coaching us on the importance of finding balance between work and family. While it is obscured by the excitement of the sport of hockey, it should be Herb Brooks’ legacy. He died in an automobile accident shortly after the film was completed.
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