I'm reading a fascinating book by Michael Lewis, called "The Blind Side" (Evolution of a Game). It starts out by telling the story of how pro football evolved to the point that the left tackle on Offensive is the second highest player on most teams. The left tackle protects the quarterback's "Blind Side" (assuming right handed quarterbacks). It tells how Lawrence Taylor of the Giants was so dominating that after he ended the Redskin quarterback's career (Joe Theismann) with a blind side tackle, that NFL quarterbacks needed reassurance.
After this intro, the book switches to the story of Michael Oher, a poor black Memphis kid with no home, a mother on drugs, and an IQ of 85. It tells how a wealthy white family took him in and raised him. It is a compelling story.
Oh yes, Michael, as a jun
ior in High School, was 6'-6" and 345, could run the 40 in 5 seconds, could play basketball like a point guard and manhandle 250 lb. lineman like they were children. He had played NO sports before his junior year!
ior in High School, was 6'-6" and 345, could run the 40 in 5 seconds, could play basketball like a point guard and manhandle 250 lb. lineman like they were children. He had played NO sports before his junior year!His transformation is a great story especially bringing his IQ from 85 to 115. When discovered he did not know what an ocean was, had no verbal skills, an knew nothing of the world.
I heard the story on XM Radio and bought the book before the Cotton Bowl. He was starting tackle for Ole Miss and one of the reasons that Texas Tech lost. He is projected to be one of the first taken in the NFL draft.
The book was first published in 2005 and is a great read whether you are a football fan or not.
No comments:
Post a Comment