"I know that Brian will be inspired," said Craig, the goaltender on the 1980 gold-medal team. "I know the Canadian skater will be inspired. Even the poor luger who lost his life, something good will come of that. There's always some positive that comes out of death."
Thirty years ago tomorrow, draped in a flag after the United States completed its impossible dream by defeating Finland, 4-2, in the gold-medal game, Craig tearfully sought his father in the stands. The two had grown close after Margaret Craig lost her battle with cancer in 1977, had somehow together channeled the strength of a hockey mom who drove her son toward a destiny that still defines him today. Jim took over pieces of her job, like checking on the academic progress of two younger brothers. Dad became more of a hockey dad. They did things to honor her, he said, and they became better men because of it.
A gruff man known for his indelicate candor, Burke arrived here a week ago minus his game face, fielding questions, sharing his emotions, breaking down a few times even as he discussed the loss of his younger son only months after Brendan made international news by publicly disclosing he was gay.
Burke stood by his son that November day, later marched with him in a gay rights parade. A senior at Miami of Ohio, the kid showed "a lot of jam" coming out, the father said then.
"He was a courageous kid, a gregarious kid, a compassionate kid," Burke said when he met with the media 9 days ago. The manager of the hockey team at Miami of Ohio, Brendan was with a friend heading back to school after looking at Michigan State University as a potential place to pursue a law degree. The friend, Mark Reedy, also died.
