Path- Goal Leadeship Theory and Expectancy Theory of Motivation- Applications to the Movie- “Miracle”
Part 1
I have chosen the movie “ Miracle” as an illustration of an individual, Herb Brooks, fulfilling the parameters of Robert House’s Path-Goal Theory .
There are events that one witnesses throughout one’s life that for various reasons leave an indelible imprint on one’s heart and soul. The unexpected victory of the US hockey over the heavily favored Russian team in the 1980 Olympic Games was one of those events. I was at a cocktail party and someone turned on the TV and soon the entire group was gathered around the set, small talk forgotten, as what has been described as the greatest sporting event of the 20th century unfolded.
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He tells them that they don’t have enough talent to win on talent alone and that the name on the front of their jersey means a lot more than the one on the back. He repeats his message of win or loose, play like champions. Over and over Brooks shouts “ Again “, driving the players to exhaustion. He doesn’t stop, ignoring the pleas of his assistants, until the future team Captain, Mike Eruzione, states “ I play for team USA. “ Brooks lets them go and a turning point has been reached. They are finally becoming a team , one of destiny with a common purpose.
This also is another example of Brooks employing directive leadership to reach a goal despite the effect of a subordinate contingency factor, locus of control. When the team first came together, they were group of highly competitive and independent group of young men hwho identified with their past institutions. Their locus of control was mainly internal and Brooks, with his concept of a cohesive tem, dependent upon another and the coach for direction, gradually moving their locus of control toward a more external variety, “ I play for team USA”. He has imposed his will on the team and he is now able to lead direct them completion of their common goal.
A third and clear example of directive leadership occurs during a session in the film room where he instructs the team on the tactics and strategy they will employ to be able to stay
Since 1931, Hockey has meant so much to Canadians that it became a part of our identity. The Summit Series has created a new way of hockey is played , as well it gave Canada it's national title of a hockey culture , known by every hockey fan . This essay will prove how the 1972 Summit Series was a significant part in Canada's Hockey Culture Identity.
The “Miracle on Ice,” where the United States defeated the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York will forever be known as one of the greatest moments in American sports history. This game was about more than just sports though, it signified American strength, even when faced the greatest adversities. The United States was suffering through Vietnam, Watergate, and the wrenching upheavals of the 1960s. Many believe this game was even the beginning of the end for the Cold War. The Soviet Union had won the gold medal in six of the seven previous Winter Olympic Games, and were the favorites to win once more in Lake Placid. The team consisted primarily of professional players with significant experience
The uplifting story of an underdog hockey team at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York is told by the film Miracle. The team is composed of many college hockey players trying to better their game play. Tryouts come and go and it is when Coach Herb Brooks reads the final roster of the 1980 Olympic Men’s Hockey Team that starts the beginning of the greatest moment in sports history.
The beginning of the Olympics went well for them going undefeated, with one tie, and this led them to make the semi-finals where they would play the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union team was so good that they made it look easy to beat the NHL all-star team. Also, theUnited States had just played the Soviet Union and lost miserably right before the Olympics. The Soviet Union was returning to the Olympic to try and win their third consecutive gold medal. Although all of this being said the United States pulled one of the greatest upset in sports history by beating the Soviet Union that day. They went on to beat Finland in the final to win Gold for only the second time in the history of U.S. hockey. Miracle a true story that focuses how the hiring of Herb Brooks and his leadership throughout the story brings together a random group of talented college hockey players and turns them into a gold medal winning
A tale can be told in several different ways. Many people are aware of the astonishing feat of the 1980 USA Olympic Men’s Hockey team, who were huge underdogs in their bid to win the gold medal against the powerhouse USSR. The movie “Miracle”, directed by Gavin O’Connor, is the dramatic journey taken by this team, from the anxiety-filled tryouts in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to the exhilarating game against the USSR in Lake Placid, New York. The book, “The Boys of Winter” written by Wayne Coffey, is based on the same events, but takes a less emotional, more factual approach to the subject. The purpose of this essay is to compare these two resources, and to discuss how they differ in tone, style, and theme.
Synopsis: When the USSR hockey team took on the United States in the 1980 Olympics, more than just a gold medal was on the line. Probably one of the most political games in history, this particular game symbolized one of many “battles” of the Cold War. In the, movie Miracle, this story of the underdog is told over, with a strong focus on American coach Herb Brooks and his relationship with his team. The movie highlights the extremely hard work done by the team and the demanding Coach Brooks unrelenting passion to win no matter what. The crux of the movie lies within the game with the Soviet union and those stomach wrenching moments before the game even started, as players knew that at this point it was make it or break it.
Every hockey player has heard the soundbite of Al Michaels shouting “Do you believe in Miracles? Yes!” after the 1980 American team took down the international powerhouse of the Soviet Union. During a time of uneasiness and frustration towards the current political climate, the young American hockey team gave the public something to be proud about. A true “miracle on ice” gave the country a strong presence within the hockey world. Going into the game against the Soviets in the semifinals of the 1980 Olympic games, Herb Brooks gave one of the most inspirational speeches known to date. This speech was portrayed word for word in the Disney film, Miracle, released in 2004 directed by Gavin O’Conner. Although Herb Brooks’ rhetoric sounds as if he is referencing the Cold War, that did not seem to be the case. Herb’s rhetoric seemed to be solely hockey driven: his significant playing and coaching career as well as his astonishing dedication to the game uncover his motivation prior to the miracle game. Close analysis and research reveals Herb and his players have rejected many attempts of being used as a political pawn after defeating Russia in the miracle on ice. This victory indeed boosted the nation’s spirits regarding the war, but the game had little to no impact on the outcome between the two governments.
The most memorable moment in hockey history came thirty-four years ago with the 1980 Miracle on Ice. The Americans defeating the dominant Soviet team at the Olympics was not only an important triumph for USA Hockey, but for the entire nation. Contrary to popular belief, the underdog win was not only the result of a miracle; it was also the result of a hard-working team led by Coach Herb Brooks. With increasingly negative views on the position of the United States in the Cold War, the Miracle on Ice and the gold medal win lifted the spirits of the nation and brought hockey into the American spotlight.
History has framed the Miracle On Ice as one of those rare sporting achievements that transcend sport. The two hockey games that comprise the “miracle” – the 4-3 win over the mighty Soviets and the 4-2 gold medal clincher against Finland – are credited with lifting Americans from a decade of gloom and despair, reviving patriotism and foreshadowing a national renewal.
One of the factors that successfully reduced the majority of prejudice within the team was superordinate goals. The goals set by Boone were made purposely unachievable by a single member. The only way for these goals to be achieved is the cooperation of the entire team. As he told the team, their game must be “a team effort in order to achieve perfection”
Herb Brooks took a lot of risk before and during the course of the olympics. He understood the pros and cons of each decision and took the chance of a bad outcome. For example, instead of using the full week given to pick 20 players for the team, he picked them only having seen them a few trial practices. He also choose not to did pick the best players, instead he chose the players that were coachable and willing to learn which was a huge risk he took. When Brooks pushed the players as hard as he could, that was a risk.
Examples of the author’s leadership style are once everyone is on the same level; the leader organizes people into groups focusing on particular tasks. The leader oversees everyone and every committee. He or she has to make sure everyone is doing what should be done and takes advantage of everyone’s skills in order to get the job done. When a new problem arises he or she reacts quickly and efficiently to solve it. For example if a discussion arises among two of the committees dealing with a particular task, the leader determines what the problem is and solves it by having someone else accomplishing the task.
When Team USA beat the Soviet in 1980 it was important for the US hockey world because that team was seeded seventh entering the game against the Soviet Union. During the 1980 Olympic run the average was 22 and all the players were that year were both amateur and college players and the Soviet’s team was mainly professional and experienced players. This win gave coach Herb Brooks a place in history because he did something no other USA coach has done for the last twenty years and that is beat Russia, and he was named sportsman of the year in 1990.
The photo of the US National Hockey team celebrating their victory over the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY, symbolizes a national triumph over a longstanding political rival. This photo is one of the most famous in sports history and is among the 100 Greatest Sports Photos of All-Time by the magazine Sports Illustrated, for which it was also a cover photo for March 3, 1980. The photo captures the pure emotion experienced not only by the team, but the fans as well, which has a lot to do with who we beat in the game. At the time, the US and the USSR were mired in the thick of the Cold War, still feeling the effect of the Soviet-influenced Vietnam War and then watching the beginning of a Russian invasion of Afghanistan.
The “Miracle on Ice” was more than just the United States Olympic Ice Hockey Team winning a game. The win for the United States had major political impacts on the United States, the Soviet Union and the Cold War.