By Veronica An
Tommy Lasorda, former Dodgers team manager, leads the United States Olympic team to victory in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. This marked the first year MLB players were allowed on the Olympic team; previously only collegiate players were selected. According to NBC Sports, the final team was not selected until 10 days before their flight to Australia and Lasorda was not familiar with the players. Despite these unfavorable odds, the U.S. team went on the beat Olympic-favorite Cuba and walk away with the gold. This unexpected victory broke Cuba’s 21-game Olympic winning streak with a 4-0 shutout and gave the U.S. team its first Olympic victory in baseball. Lasorda valued the Olympic win over his two World Series crowns, according to NBC Sports. The U.S. team’s win inspired the book “”Miracle on the Grass.”