Miracle $(2004)$

Two scenes from Miracle, the story of the $1980$ U$.$S$.$ Olympic hockey team, help to demonstrate the importance of balancing the $$me$$ with the $$we$$ in a team setting. The first scene begins just after the opening credits with U$.$S$.$ Olympic hockey team coach Herb Brooks $($Kurt Russell$)$ in a meeting discussing his vision and goals for his team. Brooks explains that he wants to adopt a new style of hockey, based on the Soviet style, for his team that takes the talents of the individual and uses those talents inside a system that is designed for the betterment of the team. He further states that his goal is to beat the Soviets at their own game. One of the participants in the meeting replies, $$Beat the best team in the world? Gold medalists in $64,68,72,$ and $76?$ That$$s a pretty lofty goal, Herb.$$ Brooks responds simply, $$That$$s why I want to pursue it$.$

The second scene $($about $38$ minutes into the movie$)$ begins with Coach Brooks saying, $$Get a whistle.$$ His team has just tied the Norwegian national team in a halfhearted effort. Brooks is seeing too much individualism in his players. When he asks them whom they play for, each responds with the name of his college or university. In an attempt to eliminate this excessive individualism and make his players into a cohesive team, Brooks makes them skate $$suicide$$ drills repeatedly until they are physically exhausted. Throughout the intense ordeal, the coach emphasizes to the players, $$When you pull on that jersey, you represent yourself and your teammates. And the name on the front is a helluva lot more important than the one on the back! Get that through your head!$$ Finally, just as it seems that Brooks will never let them leave the ice, team member Mike Eruzione $($Patrick O$$Brien Demsey$)$ suddenly shouts: $$Mike Eruzione. Winthrop, Massachusetts.$$ Brooks turns to him and pointedly asks, $$Who do you play for?$$ Eruzione responds: $$I play for the United States of America!$$ Coach Brooks says, $$That$$s all, gentlemen.$$

Discussion Questions

Explain Coach Brooks$$s plan for winning a gold medal. What does he hope to train his team to do differently than previous U$.$S$.$ Olympic hockey teams?

What does Brooks mean when he says, $$The name on the front of the jersey is more important than the name on the back$?$

In what ways can too much individualism be detrimental to a hockey team?

Why is Mike Eruzione$$s statement an important turning point for the team?

Do you think Coach Brooks and his players are able to find the right balance between the $$me$$ and the $$we$?$