Passion Play
He is known for his role on the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, but it is the game of golf that lights Winthrop native Mike Eruzione’s fire since capturing the gold medal
By Gary Trask
When strangers run into Mike Eruzione, the first thing that they want to talk about is “The Miracle on Ice.”
And who can blame them? Eruzione was captain of the 1980 United States Olympic hockey team that literally stunned the world by winning the gold medal at the Games that year in Lake Placid, N.Y. Eruzione is certainly used to dealing with all of the questions and stories he hears from people when they recognize him. He’s been doing it for 23 years now.
But the one thing those fans may not realize is that if they want to keep the conversation moving along with Eruzione after all of the Olympic talk, their best bet is to ask him about golf. Because, as North Shore Golf found out when it sat down with Eruzione, his passion for the game is fierce.
Eruzione stills lives in Winthrop (“I’m never leaving,” he laughed) two doors down from his father, Gene, with his wife Donna, a fellow Winthrop native, and his three kids – Leigh Ann, 19, Michael, 18, and Paul, 15. He plays golf at least three times a week during the season at either Winthrop Golf Club or Tedesco Country Club, both of which he is a member.
But he wasn’t always so enthusiastic about the game. And it is at that point of Eruzione’s life – when he became a legitimate “golf nut” – that we began our list of 18 Questions.
1. North Shore Golf: When did you start playing golf?
Mike Eruzione: When I was real young I caddied at Winthrop [Golf Club]. Caddies could play on Mondays so I would always go down and hit the ball around. But it was never anything serious. I don’t know if I ever really played a complete round or even nine holes. It was just something to do.
2. NSG: When did you get serious about the game?
ME: Well, after the Olympics, Winthrop [Golf Club] gave me a brand new set of clubs and an honorary membership to the course. At that time I started to get invited to play in a ton of charity-type tournaments so I figured if I was going to be playing a lot of golf, I might as well learn how to play well enough so I wouldn’t embarrass myself.
3. NSG: It’s obvious you accomplished that and more since you’re currently a 6-handicap. What is it about the game that hooked you?
ME: I just love that fact that on a beautiful day you’re out there with a group of friends on a gorgeous green course. I play on Thursday nights over at Winthrop in what we call the “Slap Shot League.” It’s a bunch of former Winthrop High hockey players that get together and then go out for a big dinner afterwards. To me, there’s nothing better than something like that.
4. NSG: Are you surprised at how much you ended up loving the game?
ME: Not really. The competitive part of me really came out. And if you love doing something, you’re going to really become involved with it. Golf is just something that I really enjoy. It’s like my wife says, “How can you remember every hole of every golf course that you’ve played in your life, but you forget my birthday.” (Laughs.) She’ll say, “I hear you telling someone about the 8-iron you hit onto the green two years ago at a course in Colorado, but when our anniversary rolls around, you forget all about it.” (Laughs louder.)
5. NSG: What kind of player are you?
ME: Every day is different. It’s frustrating because some days I can be ripping the ball down the middle and then my short game comes apart. That happens to me all the time. I just wish I could be more consistent. But I have to realize that I’m a six-months out of the year type of player. It’s tough to really improve when you don’t play year-round. During the offseason I really don’t play that much except for a charity tournament here or there.
6. NSG: Speaking of those charity tournaments, that’s just one example of the opportunities you’ve been able to take advantage of ever since winning the gold medal. What are some of the other great things that have happened to you since 1980?
ME: I would have to say that the best thing is all of the different people that I’ve been able to meet. That’s the ultimate joy. From Presidents of the United States all the way to the people I see working at the different hotels. From top to bottom, it’s always great to meet different people and hear their stories.
7. NSG: What are some examples of things people say to you when they meet you?
ME: Well, everybody has a story to tell me about where they were and what they were doing when they watched us win the gold. It was an event that people tell me was a shining moment in their life. I’ll have guys tell me that their Dad passed away a couple years ago, but one of the best moments they got to share together was watching us beat the Soviets on TV. Those are the kind of things that are always great to hear.
8. NSG: Now that it’s 23 years later, do you still have to pinch yourself once in a while about the whole thing?
ME: Not really. It’s been so long, I’ve become accustomed to all of the things that I’m able to do. But don’t get me wrong; I don’t take anything for granted. I feel very fortunate, but it’s just that I don’t really get caught up in all the glory. I never did. In fact, it was just a couple of years ago that I finally sat down and watched a tape of the win over the Soviets.
9. NSG: You never watched that game? Why not?
ME: I didn’t have to. I lived it. I remember it. (Laughs.)
10. NSG: What was it like when you did finally watch it?
ME: It was nice because I watched it with my kids. And they got all over me every time I made a mistake. (Laughs.) And there were a lot of them. (Laughs again.) But they really got a kick out of the whole thing
11. NSG: You’ll get a chance to see yourself on the big screen in a little different fashion next summer when the movie “The Miracle” starring Kurt Russell is released by Disney. Do you have anything to do with the movie?
ME: No. Not at all. But I did go up to the filming in Vancouver to meet some of the cast and I’ve skated a few times with Patrick Dempsey. He’s from Danvers and he’s going to play me in the movie. He’s a real nice kid. It was fun to meet all of those guys.
12. NSG: You graduated in 1972 from Winthrop High School where you played football, hockey and baseball. Was hockey always your No. 1 sport?
ME: No, not really. My first love was actually baseball. And I was a pretty good defensive back in football also. I was a seasonal type of kid. I played whatever sport was in season. But I do remember one summer when I played in the Agganis Football game and I was also playing baseball and was in a summer hockey league. Once I played all three sports in one day. That was a lot of fun.
13. NSG: When did you realize that hockey was going to be your ticket?
ME: It was after I spent a year at prep school (Berwick Academy) when I got a chance to play at Boston University. That was a great opportunity for me and we had a lot of success as a team while I was there.
14. NSG: At what point did you decide to try out for the Olympic team?
ME: After BU, I played two years in Toledo [in the International Hockey League], which allowed me to maintain my amateur status. After my first year I made up my mind that I wanted to remain an amateur so I could try out for the team. I think, as an athlete, you never know if you’re going to have the opportunity to play for your country. And with the Games scheduled to be played in the US that year, I had to give it a shot.
15. NSG: How confident were you heading into the tryouts?
ME: I wouldn’t have been there if I didn’t think I had a decent shot of making it. You have to have that mindset going in. But I played pretty well at the tryout. I was elected captain of one of the four festival teams so it was obvious that Coach [Herb] Brooks liked something about me.
16. NSG: Did you ever imagine that the team was actually talented enough to win the gold medal?
ME: I knew we were a pretty good team. But until you play the best, you can never know for sure. But after we beat Czechoslovakia we realized that something special was happening.
17. NSG: One of the most memorable moments of the Olympics was when you were accepting the gold medal for the team and you called the entire team up on the stand to join you. Was that planned, or was it something you just thought of at the moment?
ME: It was reaction. I did it because I didn’t know what else to do. I was standing there looking at them and they were just standing there looking up at me. They were as big a part of the gold medal as me so I just wanted them to be up there with me. I didn’t realize they would all fit.
18. NSG: Some members of that team went on to try their hand in the NHL, but you never did. Any regrets?
ME: None. None whatsoever. There is a time and place eventually for everyone to move on and that was my time to hang up the skates. I knew that I had probably the greatest moment that anyone could ask for as a hockey player already under my belt. I figured that would be tough to top, so why try?
