The Story of Michael Oher: The Blind Side

Michael Oher was born on May 28, 1986 in Memphis, Tennessee. He is an offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens. A quarterback is normally the highest paid player on an NFL team, but the left tackle is second. An offensive line’s job is to protect the quarterback. The left tackle’s job is to protect the quarterback’s blind side. Michael Oher grew up in a bad part of Memphis with his mom. She was having a hard time with drugs. She didn’t want Michael to see them and think it was ok to take them. Michael went to a public school in Memphis his freshman and sophomore years of high school. He didn’t play his sophomore year and wouldn’t return to the field until his junior year at Briarcrest Christian School. After his sophomore year the Tuohy family adopted him. The Tuohy family had two kids already. He had a great athletic career in high school and was recruited by Tennessee, South Carolina, LSU, Alabama, and his family’s alma mater, Ole Miss, but his grades were not high enough to get in to any of the schools. He needed a 2.52 but had a 0.6 grade point average. He worked his grade point average up to 2.52 and accepted a scholarship to Ole Miss. He declared he would go to the 2008 NFL Draft but two days after he dropped out so he could come back for his senior year at Ole Miss. He went into the 2009 NFL Draft, and with the 23^rd pick, the Baltimore Ravens selected Michael. The Tuohys were there to celebrate with Michael. He started the NFL season out at right tackle then switched to left tackle because of an injury. Later he switched back to right tackle. Michael has started every game this season. Michael is listed at 6 foot 4 inches and 310 pounds. The Blind Side: Evolution of the Game is a book by Michael Lewis and the film, The Blind Side, starring Sandra Bullock, came out November 20, 2009. In my words it is the most inspirational movie. The message is so great. It was the best sports movie I have ever seen.

If any of you have seen this inspirational film, let me know your thoughts about it and the positive message that someone can overcome a bad past and go on to live a great life. I encourage you to go see this movie if you have not seen it yet or to read the book.