Where were you 32 years ago today? I was in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Bill Bonds was an iconic local news anchor in Detroit in the 1970’s and 80’s. Other than maybe size-of-ego, he was nothing like the character Ron Burgundy in the movie “Anchorman”. Bonds was in fact the top-rated anchor in the market for years, on Action News on the local ABC affiliate, and one of the most highly respected major market news men in the country.
He was also alleged to be a pretty hefty drinker. Whether or not that played a part in a monumental screw-up on February 22, 1980, though doubtful, remains unknown. There are those who theorized at the time Bonds committed the “error” on purpose, simply to gain (more) attention. I don’t buy it. I think he just accidently committed the ultimate, ultimate on-air faux pas, for lack of a more accurate description.
The USA/Soviet Union hockey game from Lake Placid was taped delayed when it aired that Friday evening on ABC. After two periods, the score was USSR 3, USA 2. I was a teenage hockey fan, a huge one, relishing in the fact that my sport was getting all of this national attention. I was also nervous as hell, pacing around my bedroom as I watched the game on our 13-inch portable black-and-white RCA television.
I had chewed my fingernails to the bone. I had butterflies in my gut. My heart was beating fast. I couldn’t wait for the start of the third period, while at the same time I feared it. I was praying Team USA would win.
I was watching the game as if it were live; I didn’t even know it had been tape delayed.
Cue Mr. Bonds. On one of those little ten-second news breaks, which are still common today, when the local news anchor appears during a commercial break to tease the upcoming news, Bonds gave it all away. He said, right before his entire viewing audience was about to watch the third period on ABC, paraphrasing, “Team USA beats the Soviet Union in Olympic hockey 4-3, highlights coming up at 11”.
“What?!!” Wait. What the hell? My next oldest brother was away at college, presumably watching the game there. My oldest brother was out of state, presumably watching the game somewhere. My mom was in the kitchen, while dad, who had been watching in the living room on the “big TV”, was working on something in the garage between periods.
“We won, we won!” I shouted as I ran around the house looking for anyone to share the news with. Via the radio and the Olympic schedule in the sports section, I managed to confirm Bonds wasn’t crazy. The game had actually finished already. Mom was like “oh, that’s nice”. Dad knew already. “I didn’t want to spoil it for you.”
Instead, Bill Bonds did.
I have to admit I was only partially disappointed. The joy/relief of watching the third period knowing Team USA would pull it off was actually kind of nice, stress-free; like watching a thriller movie and knowing the ending. But it also kind of sucked; like watching a thriller movie and knowing the ending.
Bonds apologized that night on TV and the next morning in the newspaper. The anchorman who "ruined" the miracle.
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