The Underdog Spirit

The U.S. men's hockey team demonstrated the power of the underdog mentality during the 1980 Winter Olympics against the Soviets, who had an outstanding track record and had recently defeated the U.S. team with a lopsided score. Despite knowing they were not expected to win, the team's members, including John Harrington, rallied around the idea of merely hoping to reach the medal round. This underdog mindset fostered a sense of unity and confidence that grew as the team began outperforming higher-ranked competitors. Ultimately, they found themselves on the brink of a historic matchup, facing the formidable Soviet team with a newfound determination to succeed.