|
Michael Oher: The "Biggest"
Underdog
|
|
by
Michael
Abromowitz, 8/13/07
|
|
 Being an avid bookworm, I
am always looking for a great read as I spend my last football less
weekends outside relaxing with a book instead of having my eyes shut to
a television. I may be a football fanatic, but it does not
prevent me from reading my beloved crime/mystery novels, primarily
written by great authors such as John Grisham and Dan Brown. I
used to read James Patterson novels before he started selling out and
producing a novel a month (always written with another author).
But another author that interests me is Michael Lewis, the genius
behind the bestseller Moneyball,
the story on how the Oakland Athletics
are able to be competitive despite one of the smallest budgets in Major
League Baseball. I have now read another one of Michael Lewis’
great books, this one coincidentally about football, called The Blind Side.
| To be honest, when I bought the book, I
bought it for two reasons:
Michael Lewis and football. I did not even spend the time
to figure
exactly what the book was about. I just knew it was going to be
good.
Was I wrong, the book was great! It even had a few sobbing
moments in
it. But, what makes the novel so relative to this site is that
the
protagonist of the book is Michael Oher, the left tackle for Ole.
Miss. Oher, a junior, also happens to be one of the top offensive
lineman prospects for the 2008 NFL Draft, if he chooses to
declare. At
the massive size of 6’6, 322 lbs., NFL scouts are already
salivating.
Oher’s future looks to include millions of dollars, but from the book,
readers learn that this was not always the case. |
|
Not to ruin the book for potential readers (I actually hope that you go
out and buy it), but the book centers around how Oher miraculously
overcame a life of hardships, such as very little parental guidance,
lack of education, and of course poverty. With the help from some
people, primarily the Tuohy’s, an affluent family that took him in,
Oher’s life started to get on track, he was enrolled in a private
school in Memphis, and his junior year began playing football.
That’s
right; he did not start playing football until his junior year.
Oher
was an unknown to mostly every college until somehow Tom Lemming, the
Mel Kiper of high school football saw his tape and named him to his
All-American team. Lemming did this just by seeing him on film;
his
size was so impressive to him.
The rest, you can call is history: Oher now stars at Ole. Miss
and his
future looks brighter than ever. As a draft analyst, I have only
studied his game, but after reading this book, I am now a Michael Oher
fan. How can you not root for a player who has gone through the
struggles that he has. Not too long ago, Oher’s future looked
bleak,
many expected him to fail life with either death or prison as his
fate. With the help of some amazing guardians, Oher is on the
cusp of
beginning a wonderful NFL career. Rooting against him is just
wrong,
and as I update and maintain my draft rankings I so much want him to be
high in my rankings. I could manipulate these rankings, so Oher
is a
top 3 offensive tackle, but after watching him play, it would not
matter. Oher is a top prospect. He is that good. Even
for his
massive size, he has exceptionally quick feet. He also has
something
you can’t learn: character. He has overcome so much in his
life, that
the transition from college to the NFL should not be a
problem.
Even if you are in Starkville, and a huge Mississippi St. Bulldogs fan,
don’t be ashamed to root for Michael Oher. He may play for your
rival,
but you have to respect and root for him. Stories like Oher’s are
the
ones that should be glamorized, instead of guys like Michael Vick,
Terrell Owens, and Pacman Jones getting the press. Football is
just a
game, but for many players it can be a life changer. Numerous
college
athletes are able to receive a college education because of their
natural talent. Almost all of them will never earn an NFL
paycheck,
but at least it should help them earn a paycheck. Michael Oher is
one
of the lucky few with an NFL career ahead of him. But, to him I
don’t
think that really matters to him. Because if you ask him he would
say
that he is already lucky.
Go out and read The Blind Side,
I promise that after you finish reading the book you are going to be a
Michael Oher fan too.
|
|
|
|
