If you're looking to give a sports nut in the family a book for the holidays, I recommend The Blind Side by Michael Lewis. It's a non-fiction story about the early life of Michael Oher, prototype left tackle at Ole Miss, and the evolution of the Left Tackle position in football.In high school, Oher was 6'5" and 350 lbs with the ability to move and leave a path of destruction behind him unlike virtually anyone else on the planet not named Orlando Pace or Jonathan Ogden. However, he was essentially raised (or ignored if you prefer) by a homeless crack addict, and his high school GPA at the start of the book is roughly 0.6.
-- Hard cover edition
-- Paperback edition
In reality, the book is about one of the poorest, least educated kids in America being adopted by a very rich white family in Memphis who takes him in and gets him academically ready to play football in the SEC. It also discusses the way football has changed since Lawrence Taylor destroyed Joe Theisman's career/leg. But to say that is a gross over simplification of a complex story.
It's impossible to put the book down. If you are a regular reader of this blog or message boards; follow college recruiting; have a favorite team recently coached by Orgeron, Fulmer or Saban; or enjoy the NFL, then the book is for you.
Here are some reviews:
-- An interview with Michael Lewis (part 1) - edsbs.com
-- An interview with Michael Lewis (part 2) - edsbs.com
-- Highlights from The Blind Side - edsbs.com
-- Amazon Review - Amazon.com
-- New Yorker Magazine Review - Gladwell
-- Houston Chronicle Review (he means Tom Lemming, not Matt)
-- Another Review - Sports Prof
It's one of the best sports books that I've ever read. I'd put it along side Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer as one of my favorites.
PS -- Oher is currently a junior at Ole Miss, and he was first team All-SEC this year. His body has been reshaped in the weight room, and you would never believe that he's 330 lbs when you look at him. He looks about 290 lbs because of the way he's put together. In intramural basketball, he plays....shooting guard. That's the type of body control and quickness he possesses.
PWD
(Note: I get no kickback on this one. I haven't gotten around to implementing an Amazon.com store front. So it's a non-biased review)
7 comments:
Good call! This book also appeals to women because of MO's story and education (like an Oprah book). I cannot keep this book on the shelf at my Library (both Hardback and Audio). It includes a scene where MO's foster mother claims she's not going to Athens, GA six times a year, and Richt backs off recruiting.
I read Blind Side about a month ago and I agree that it's fantastic. It would make for an incredible/unbelievable fiction story, but the best part is that it's true. I kept expecting Oher to get hurt and end his career, but halfway through I cheated and looked him up on the Ole Miss roster. I missed the Ole Miss game this year and the worst part about it was not getting to see Oher in person. Lewis does a great job keeping the reader from putting the book down.
I took this book with me on a vacation last year and I literally could not put it down. It is extremely well written and is a terrific story.
On a related note, I am just now finishing the story about the one survivor of the worst day in US Special Forces history: Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell. It is unbelievable, heroic and tragic. Great read for anyone who follows military things. I would put it with Black Hawk Down as a military book that you cannot put down.
I read Liar's Poker just before starting as a trader with Lehman Brothers in 2000. Must say, Lewis tells a good story and does his research - much like Clancy.
A great book. My wife loved it too. I watched him quite a bit during our game with them in Athens this year. He absolutely dominates the left tackle position. We just basically stopped trying to pass rush on him half way through the game.
Agreed. This is a trememdous book. Oher seems like a great kid that will likely be a Top 30 pick after next year. Also, check out Bruce Feldman's Meat Market that recently came out. Follows Coach O at Ole Miss for a season of inside access to their recruiting practices. It's a good one as well.
This is a fascinating story on two levels. First is Oher himself. Second is the residual effect - a no-name OL from out of nowhere on a really bad team getting all-SEC, all-American, and first-round draft notoriety based mostly on the hype from this book.
Evaluating linemen is hard enough to begin with...I wonder how much of his reputation is him and how much is Lewis.
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