The aftermath can add to the significance

In sports, historic moments and games happen all the time, but in some instances the significance becomes even bigger because of what happens later.

Tuesday was the 30th anniversary of "The Miracle on Ice," when the 1980 United States men's hockey team defeated the heavily favored Soviet Union 4-3.

However, that was only a semifinal game.

Most people tend to forget the United States defeated Finland 4-2 only two days later to win the gold medal.

I have always wondered if "The Miracle on Ice" would be as highly regarded if they had lost to Finland and not received the gold medal.

Another good example of forgetting the aftermath in sports came in the 1986 World Series.

Everyone knows about Mookie Wilson's grounder passing under the glove and between the legs of Boston Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner in the 10th inning of Game Six.

Let me reiterate the fact that it was only Game Six, and the hit merely tied the series at three games apiece.

Would "Buckner's blunder" have been as remembered and renown as one of the biggest gaffes in sports history if the Red Sox had pulled out a victory in Game Seven to end the "Curse of the Bambino," almost 20 years earlier than the team was able to?

In Boston, of course it would be, but overall, I doubt it.

These are only two of many other instances in sports history where the "prelude" is more famed than the outcome.

Here are a couple other historic moments and games that still remain bigger than what followed:

* "The Drive" -- John Elway led the Denver Broncos on a 98-yard drive to tie the 1986 AFC Championship Game against the Cleveland Browns. However, kicker Rich Karlis was the one who clinched a trip to the Super Bowl by kicking a 33-yard field goal in overtime for the win. Then the Broncos went on to lose Super Bowl XXI 39-20 to the New York Giants behind Phil Simms' amazing passing performance, and

* "Jordan over Ehlo" -- In the first round of the 1989 NBA playoffs, Michael Jordan hit a memorable shot over Cleveland Cavaliers guard Craig Ehlo at the buzzer to win the game and series, in what has since been immortalized in numerous commercials. While the Bulls did upset the New York Knicks in the next round, they were humbled by the eventual NBA Champion Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals, four games to two.

So the next time you see something in sports that may be historical in nature, take a step back for a minute, and if it is not the final game of the season, sit down and enjoy the rest of the ride because it may only add to the mystique of the moment.