The Blind Side, by Michael Lewis

[TeaLeaf]

This is not a new book, it was originally published in 2006, but it is a fantastically absorbing read and a highly improbable story which is salient to revisit as recent events have added their own real life postscript.

'The Blind Side' weaves two main stories together:

- the life of a homeless but physically gifted young black boy, Michael Oher, who had an absentee father and a crack-addicted mother, who learnt to fend, feed and care for himself in the 'projects' where he lived from the age of 7.  Life was so tough that he did not find out until he was an adult that he was celebrating his birthday on the wrong day and the name he thought was his did not match the one on his birth certificate.  It chronicles how someone who had repeatedly run away from foster homes and lived rough during his pre-teen years eventually got to know a 'millionaire white prep family' and finally managed to escape the projects for a better life by getting an education (he started with a GPA of 0.3), a new family and by using his (now) massive physical abilities and speed to play football (the american kind, not soccer) at the highest level.

-the story of how the game of football evolved from a predominantly running game to today's pass-dominated game and how coaches came to covet  those rare & exceptionally physically gifted athletes who were able to play the 'Left Tackle' position to defend their quarterback against the newly evolved pass rushing skills of people like Lawrence Taylor (the 'prototype' Outside Linebacker for the New York Giants and now installed in the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio).  As most quarterbacks are right-handed, the left side of the offence is their 'blind side' and that's where most defensive coaches put their best pass-rushers.  Hence the name of the book.

The good thing about the book is that it is a fantastic true story.  Michael Oher exists and so do all the people described in the book; you can look up most of the people in the book on Google or YouTube.  

But the GREAT thing about the book is that the story continued post publication:

Postscript - the real story continues....
Michael Oher was outstanding as a Left Tackle for the University of Ole' Miss, so good that he had the option in 2008 to jump straight from college to the NFL after just 3 years.  He decided to forgo the opportunity to cash in on his success and returned to Ole' Miss for a 4th and final year so that he could finish his degree and graduate.
On 25th April 2009, Michael Oher was selected by the NFL's Baltimore Ravens with the 23rd pick of the 1st Round in the annual NFL Draft of college football players into the pro ranks.  He will now sign a multi-million dollar professional football contract as befits his status as a 1st round draft pick.

6 min video summary of the story.
Long but great summary of the Michael Oher story to the publication of the book.
Text summary (USAtoday).


The book is highly recommended on its own.  The fact that the story continues outside the book makes the book a 'must read'.

[TeaLeaf]

Having first read this book some years ago I have delighted in following Michael Oher's progress through the college football ranks and to eventually, his first pro-football contract.  On 20th november 2009 the story reached another milestone with the release of the film, "The Blind Side". This week it managed to overhaul "New Moon" in the US to take the No.1 spot in the film $ earnings list.

I doubt that this will ever get a UK release seeing as it is a football based film, I also suspect that it will disappoint those who have read the book, but I will admit that when it comes out on disc I will be buying it as the story has fascinated me for 3 years now and just keeps getting better.

If you watch any NFL, keep an eye out for Michael Oher at right tackle for the Baltimore Ravens.

[TeaLeaf]

Given that the bluray of this film is now out I thought it worth a bump.  The film is actually pretty good and it is difficult to spot a scene that did not happen in the non-fiction book.  Lead actress did a cracking good job, way better than she usually does and I'd recommend the film, the book and charades to anyone who likes a fun night in.

PPS: Michael Oher was nominated for NFL Rookie of the Year honours at the end of his 2009 season with Baltimore.

[Tutonic]

I didn't realise he'd signed for the Ravens, that's just plain awesome.

I'll be checking out the film, for sure.

[TeaLeaf]

Oh, and I forgot to mention, he switched to Left Tackle (from Right Tackle) this Spring Training Camp, so he is now on 'The Blind Side'.

[Tutonic]

TL if you've not seen it already, I'd strongly reccomend watching the 'Hard Knocks' behind-the-scenes docs.

This year they following the Jets, and Rex Ryan is one hell of a coach...