Miracle on Ice coach Herb Brooks has been honored in a variety of ways after he led the U.S. to Olympic glory and since his passing in 2003. There's a statue in his honor in St. Paul. Kurt Russell paid tribute to him in a hit film.The line "Do You Believe in Miracles?" is a sports mantra.
This week, perhaps the greatest honor arrives for the legendary coach: The man who gave the world "Eye of the Tiger" will sing in tribute to Brooks.
That's right: The National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn., is hosting "HerbStock," celebrating "the music and memories of Herb Brooks, USA Hockey, University of Minnesota Hockey and the 1980 Miracle on Ice."
Herb Brooks' 1980 U.S. Olympic Gold Medal will be on public display for the very first time during HerbStock, a Sept. 9 concert benefit scheduled in Blaine. The gold medal will be available for personal photo opportunities with a $10 donation to the Herb Brooks Foundation.
Net proceeds at the event will benefit the Herb Brooks Foundation, whose mission is to grow the game of hockey and give kids a positive hockey and life experiences.
The musical acts booked for HerbStock include the Headline Band:
Jimi Jamison, former lead singer of Survivor.
Alex Ligertwood, former lead singer of Santana
Derek St Holmes, current lead singer guitar player in the Ted Nugent Band
Pat Balder, who sings Journey covers.
Special guest Zed Leppelin, the nation's premier Led Zeppelin experience.
OK, so it's not exactly Hendrix, The Who and the Dead. But at least one of the artists held a special place for Brooks, as his son Dan Brooks explained in a promotional spot for the event:
"I remember it was the summer of 1982. He was coaching the New York Rangers at the time, and we were here in Minnesota in between seasons. We went to "Rocky III" … he was so pumped and so jacked, he made Madison Square Garden play 'Eye of the Tiger' when the Rangers hit the ice."
Tickets are $30 for VIP, $15 for general admission and children are free. See details here. They also promise that Minnesota and NHL hockey legends will be on hand for HerbStock. There has to be at least one dude named Broten there, right?
But if you're planning to attend: Please don't take the brown acid, or else you're going to have to do an addition 50 sprints in practice. (Blows whistle … "Again!")