The greatest single sporting event of the 20th century, in my opinion. It was 40 years ago today.
For those of you not born yet or too young to remember this game really did unite the country when it was badly needed. As the US hockey team won game after game leading up to that Friday night it was all we talked about in school.
In those days cable TV consisted of stations 2 through 13. And most of those stations were network affiliates. So as a nation we all watched the same programming.
Friday night was appointment television in those days. Everyone was watching. It wasn't until years later that I learned (and probably just about everybody else) that the game had been played that afternoon and taped by ABC for broadcast that night. The game ended about 30 minutes before the broadcast started.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gfD134ED54