Favorite Olympic Memory
People always ask me, “Jimmy, what is your favorite Olympic memory?”. I can’t speak for my teammates, but for me it is a tie between two separate memories. Each memory I cherish for different reasons… but I don’t think I could choose one, “favorite”. It’s funny, most people recall the game when we upset the Soviets 4-3; but that wasn’t the Gold Medal game! Everyone in our locker room enjoyed that victory for a brief second before Herb reminded us that our job wasn’t done and the Olympics was far from over. Of course, beating the Russians felt AMAZING! To have the support from unwavering fans screaming, U-S-A, U-S-A from the rafters at a sold-out game was something I cannot accurately put into words. I still get chills thinking about how our team came together and could take the same dream and transform it into a shared dream under the leadership of Herb Brooks. Our country needed to feel good again, and my teammate Jack O’Callahan said it best when he stated that when we put on that USA jersey it was like our own fight against what was going on during the Cold War. I think that is why our team’s story is still so relevant today – people were invested in that game beyond the ice rink. We could show that when all the odds were against us, the United States could not be stopped. The first memory of mine is one that was a very intimidate moment between me and my father that was captured by the media. A lot of people do not realize that to achieve your dreams and goals it takes the love, support, and sacrifice of those around you. Although we were celebrating my success, I wanted to share that moment with my family. Without the love and support of my dad and mom I would not have had the opportunity to be an Olympian. Seeing the joy on my dad’s face and how proud I made him that I was his son is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. The second memory is when Mike Eruzione called up our team during the medal ceremony. It was a miracle that we could get 20 grown men onto one podium! But being there, surrounded by the family we started the adventure within Lake Placid, was a perfect ending to an incredible ride. Singing our national anthem loud and embracing each other while we watched the United States flag being raised higher than all the other competing countries was the proudest moment of my life. What we accomplished was amazing, I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to represent our country and have a platform now that I truly believe I help companies and individuals reach the best of their abilities. With hard work, determination, and the right leadership, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite sayings that I think is relevant, “Don’t ever let your memories be bigger than your dreams.”
GO USA!
Jimmy