Miracle on Ice is the only one that can plausibly beat USSR vs USA in basketball in 72. Yet it's not even an option. Shame.
I can even argue that 1972 was a BIGGER upset than the Miracle. Here is why.
* Prior to 1980, USSR pros had lost in hockey to USA amateurs, in 1960.
* Americans were on home ice.
* Soviets were having an underwhelming tourney.
* Soviets were extremely overconfident vs USA.
* Prior to 1980, USSR pros had lost in hockey to USA amateurs, in 1960.
* Americans were on home ice.
* Soviets were having an underwhelming tourney.
* Soviets were extremely overconfident vs USA.
* Prior to 1972, USA college all-stars never lost A SINGLE GAME at the Olympics.
* Moreover, not a single game was ever in doubt.
* Soviets changed their head coach, for political reasons, immediately before the tourney.
* Soviets barely survived the semifinal against Cuba...
* Moreover, not a single game was ever in doubt.
* Soviets changed their head coach, for political reasons, immediately before the tourney.
* Soviets barely survived the semifinal against Cuba...
And whatever you think of the officiating in the 1972 final, the fact is the US team HAD NO BUSINESS LEADING BY JUST ONE POINT at that stage of the game. That had literally never happened before. The mere fact that USSR was this close was already a giant upset.
And the ending!
And the ending!
Like, seriously, earlier in the tourney the US beat Brazil by only 6 or something, without really trying very hard at all (Brazil was a World Cup runner up two years previously), and everyone thought that was a giant surprise. To only be up by 1 with 0:03 in the final was insane!
Though it's true that the 72 team was not really the best America had to offer. Bill Walton declined to go, and there weren't any huge stars on the roster. It also featured a lot of underclassmen. The Soviets had a battle-tested veteran team.
Still the US was an enormous favorite
Still the US was an enormous favorite
Overall, it's a tough call, with good arguments to be made for either game, but simply because the USA was 100% undefeated in 36 years of Olympic participation, I have to give it to 1972. It was as dramatic and as unbelievable an upset as they come.
