Five Interesting Facts 1. Michael's real name is Michael Jerome Williams, not Oher. 2. Michael has twelve siblings; they shared the same mom but had three different dads between them. 3. Tom Lemming, who writes a list of high school players to watch, said that Michael had no future playing football. 4. Michael only played fifteen games of high school football, and was scouted by college coaches during his first few games. 5. Michael was put in jail for assaulting one of his team members after they made a crude joke about Leigh Anne and Collins.
Reflection: The book The Blind Side written by Michael Lewis, was an emotional story about a family who changed a boy's life forever. I really enjoyed this book because it was written beautifully and genuinely captured the message of the story; you never know how a person will impact your life. This book taught me not to judge people based on their past, race, or how little money and material they had, but on the contents of their heart. Michael Lewis writes that this book is a "tragedy with a happy ending", which means that Michael Oher's life was a tragedy until the Tuohy family saved him. The book has an overall theme of evolution; Michael evolved from a boy who would always run away, but after meeting the Tuohy's, Michael wants to stay. I would strongly recommend The Blind Side to others that are interested in football and Michael's life. I really enjoyed this ORB blogging project. Writing a post each week kept me on top of reading my book and the focus questions forced me to look for meaning in each chapter. I liked that the topic was non-fiction because it gave us a chance to read something different. I liked all of the components of the blog, especially the review because it gave me a chance to reflect upon the book and write out all of my thoughts. I would like to do another blogging project in the future, if given the chance.
Last weeks reading left off with Michael heading to Ole Miss to play football. This week's reading starts off with Coach O, the head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels, informing his football team that their whole team was now being built of Michael Oher. The current quarterback and left tackle, Bobby Harris and Tre Stallings, were impressed by Michael's playing talent, and were scared that Michael would replace them. It turned out to be quite the opposite, Michael sat on the bench for eighty percent of his freshman year. The Rebels lost against their biggest rivals, Mississippi State, which led Coach O to firing his offensive coach and making a new offensive line. It wasn't until his sophomore year, that Michael began playing in games; Michael ended up starting in every game and became and was named to the All-SEC first team. Michael was keeping up with school, with help from Miss Sue, and was dominating on the football field. One night, one of Michael's teammates, Antonia Turner, told Michael that he couldn't wait to sleep with Collins and then Leigh Anne after. Michael was furious and chased Antonio to the tutor center, where he jumped on top of him and beat him up. Michael hadn't noticed, but as he jumped on Antonio, a little white boy was crushed too. Michael ran and wasn't hear from for two days. Antonio and the boy pressed charges against Michael, causing the police to get involved and search for Michael. Leigh Anne called the State of Tennessee Child Services to see if Michael's social worker could help them out. The social worker they talked to said that the state stopped looking for Michael at age seven, because he continually ran away for every foster home he was in. Michael was taken away from his mother at the age of seven. He stayed with his brother Carlos in a foster home and when times got bad, the two brothers would run back to their mom. The cycle continued for over three years, until Dee Dee, their mother, moved the boys to Hurt Village. Michael didn't return to school and played video games and basketball all day. Big Tony tried to get Michael on a basketball team, but Michael was afraid to push the other kids and left in tears. His best friend, Craig, stood by Michael and supported his dream of being the next Michael Jordan. After two days, Michael called Sean and said he was turning himself in to the campus police; Michael went to jail and continued with his everyday life after. The book ends with Michael saying that he is ready to beat Dwight Freeney, the colts pass rushing defense player, and Freeney saying that he will be waiting for Michael. Michael Oher was named a First Team All-American and was the Baltimore Raven's first pick in the 2009 draft. Review: The final chapters in the book really tied up all the loose ends. I really enjoyed how the author spent the last chapter talking about Michael's biological family and revealing the details of Michael's life in foster care. It is scary to think that the state just gave up looking for him and that he managed to escape from every foster home he lived in. Running back to his mom showed Michael's love and commitment to his family. Michael Lewis did an excellent job of describing Hurt Village and the gang violence that occurred. I didn't know that Michael went to jail and the whole fight scene was very intriguing. Running away shows that even though the Tuohy's have changed Michael in a positive way, his old instincts will always follow him. My only disappointment is that the final sentence was from Dwight Freeney addressing Michael's wish to play him," You tell Michael Oher I'll be waiting for him". This sentence is meaningless and in my opinion the author should have put in an inspirational quote from Leigh Anne or Michael. Overall, the final chapters of the book were very insightful to Michael's childhood and show his true character- a talented boy in a lost world.
This is the movie trailer
Focus Question: How to the characters in the book compare to the characters in the movie?
The characters in the movie do an excellent job of portraying the real life characters in the book.The book The Blind Side was created into a major motion picture that received two Academy Award nominations, of which Sandra Bullock won best actress for her performance in the blind side. Sandra Bullock's acting is amazing and you can feel the mother son connection. The movie captures the struggles that Michael had and Quinton nails Michael's appearance and character perfectly. SJ is younger in the movie than he was in real life and the actor does not look like SJ at all. Lilly Collins plays Collins and they look similar. Though the siblings don't exactly resemble each other, they act like real siblings during the movie.
Summary: Last week's post ended with Michael choosing to play for the Ole Miss Rebels. This week's reading started with an investigator,Joyce Thompson, from the NCAA coming to the Tuohy's house to interview Michael. Leigh Anne felt that the investigation was unnecessary and refused to be apart of it, leaving Sean to handle Michael and the investigator. Miss Thompson asked Michael to state all of his siblings, besides SJ and Collins, which ended up being a total of thirteen. He said that he hadn't been close to most of his siblings because they all shared different fathers. Miss Thompson questioned Michael about his living arrangements before the Tuohy's and asked how he had met them . Sean corrected Michael on dates numerous times and asked the NCAA lady to loosen up a bit because Michael was very anxious. Their first visit together ended with Michael in tears and him asking Leigh Anne to never let the lady back in the house again. In order for Michael to go to college, he needed to improve his GPA to meet the NCAA's requirements. Miss Sue, Michael's tutor, helped him take BYU online English classes to replace his former failing grades. Michael received an A in each course, but his cumulative GPA still did not meet NCAA standards. Sean decided to have Michael tested for a learning disability, which he ended up having. Michael was never taught the basics; how to pronounce words, reading comprehension, or basic math, he memorized everything he was taught. Michael didn't know why 2+2=4, but he knew that the answer was four because he had memorized it. Michael was officially classified as learning disabled, and was admitted into the NCAA. The second time the NCAA investigator came to to Tuohy's, Sean spoke to her alone. He informed her that Michael was scared after their first interview and that he doesn't generally open up to people he just met. Miss Thompson understood and asked Sean one final question- if anything was promised to Sean or his family for getting Michael to go to Ole Miss. Sean said that he and his family already had everything that they wanted, which they did. Michael and Collins graduated high school together and would both be going off to Ole Miss in the fall. Chapter 9 was about the San Francisco 49ers left tackle, Bubba Paris, and how the position of left tackle needed someone wide and strong to protect the quarterback's blind side . Bubba was the 49ers first draft pick and won them three super bowl titles, by protecting Joe Montana's blind side. Review:
I really enjoyed this week's reading, apart from the chapter on Bubba Paris, which took away from the story again. Chapter eight ended with Michael graduating high school, leaving me with questions about what would happen next, only to find that chapter nine had absolutely no meaning to the story. I just don't understand why Michael Lewis would include these solely football chapters, because they are plain boring and you end up wanting to skip them. I found the interview with the NCAA investigator really interesting because it made me question if people really would do such a thing. Reading about Michael's reactions to the investigator's questions makes it clear that he doesn't like thinking about his past and shows how insecure he is as a person. Sean's character really shines when he supports Michael through the interviews and makes him seem like Michael's real father. I think it was a good thing that Michael was tested for a learning disorder, because he struggles so much in school. Hopefully now, Michael will receive the proper help he needs in college to get the best grades that he can. As the story is coming to end, I hope to read about Michael's college life and football career.
Michael Oher talking about his new book I Beat the Odds Focus Question Consider being Michael's NCAA investigator. Analyze the Tuohy family's motive for taking Michael in. Was it out of the love in their hearts, or did they see football potential in Michael and wanted him to play for their alma mater school?
Joyce Thompson, NCAA
If I were the NCAA investigator, I would question the Tuohy's motive for helping Michael. It is very rare that an all white, christian, rich family would go into one of the poorest neighborhoods and help out a black kid on the street. Sean had been watching Michael play at basketball games and could have brought his friends from Ole Miss to recruit Michael. Michael received numerous offers from colleges all over the country and really wanted to go to the University of Tennessee, Ole Miss's biggest rival, but in the end he picked Ole Miss. He said it was because he wanted to be like his family, but if Michael had chosen UT would he still be living with the Tuohys? Though Sean and Leigh Anne are very wealthy and fortunate, they could have made a deal to insure Collins acceptance to Ole Miss or be receiving numerous payments for Michael. While interviewing I would take into account Michael's behavior; is he nervous, does he look at Sean every time before he answers a question, is he afraid of the Tuohys, is he afraid of me? After hearing Michael and Sean's responses(the same ones from the book), I would come to the conclusion that the Tuohy family took Michael in because of the love in their heart. Sean answers each question with confidence, and though Michael is nervous he feels comforted by Sean. The Tuohy's created a stable environment for Michael to live in, they helped him improve his grades greatly, and they kept him from drugs and alcohol. If I were the NCAA investigator, I would make sure that Michael was admitted to the NCAA and deny any allegations that the Tuohy family took Michael in so that Ole Miss would have a star left tackle.
Last weeks reading ended with Michael feeling at home with the Tuohy's and realizing his own football potential. This week's reading started with Michael digging into his past so he could apply for a drivers licence. In order to get his licence, Michael needed legal proof that he existed; like a social security card, birth certificate, or proof of residency. Leigh Anne sent Michael to visit his mother in Hurt Village, to get his birth certificate. Michael returned with a birth certificate that didn't match up with his childhood. His name on the birth certificate was Michael Jerome Williams, instead of Oher, and his birthday said May 26th, but he had always celebrated his birthday on the 28th. Michael didn't care and said that the birth certificate "had it wrong". Leigh Anne then took Michael to the DMV to take his test, which he ended up passing. Michael was out driving SJ( Sean Junior), when he slid on ice and collided with a big rig truck. SJ was rushed to the hospital, where he was told that hewas extremely lucky to be alive.When Leigh Anne told Michael that SJ was going to be ok, Michael showed her the burn on his arm from the air bag, and told Leigh Anne that he blocked the air bag in front of SJ. Michael was not the most intelligent person around, but he had protective instincts and a big heart. Michael was being approached by numerous colleges offering scholarships and a starting position as left tackle. Michael narrowed down his choices to LSU, University of Tennessee, and Ole Miss. Each of the head coaches from these teams came to the Tuohy's house for dinner to try and convince Michael to pick their school. Michael asked very little questions and just let the coaches talk to Leigh Anne and SJ. Ed Orgeron, the new Ole Miss coach, was the only coach that Michael showed interest in. Michael asked him questions and received the answers he wanted to hear. Coach O was honest with Michael and took him seriously. Later that month, Michael announced that he would be following in his family's footsteps, and playing playing for the Ole Miss Rebels.
Michael & SJ
Review: During this week's reading, I got to know Michael more as a person than a football player. I read about how he played mini basketball with SJ in his room, how he and Collins argued like siblings, and how Leigh Anne came to be his mother. Michael Lewis does such an amazing job describing the Tuohy's family life, that it makes you feel apart of their magic. I have watched Michael transform from a poor boy from the projects with one change of clothes, to a proper boy with a family who loves him. Reading about each of Michael's visits with the college coaches makes me wonder about college and how I would feel if in his shoes. Michael is faced with the decision of choosing the school that he wants to go to, or the school his family wants him to go. In the end, I understand why Michael picked Ole Miss over Tennessee. For the past sixteen years Michael has had no direction; he was a waste of space in his mother's eyes, and a dumb kid with no hope in his teacher's eyes. The Tuohy's have become Michael's family, and he wants to be just like them. By going to Ole Miss, Michael is fulfilling his dreams of having a bright future, and a connection to his family.
This is a video of Sean & Collins Tuohy talking about how Michael's Tutor changed his life
Focus: Focus Question: How has living with the Tuohys changed Michael's attitude and View on life as a whole? Living with the Tuohy family has changed Michael for the better. He now has people that love him unconditionally and care about his future. Growing up in Hurt Village, Michael was surrounded by drugs, alcohol, and gang violence. Nobody ever cared enough to teach him basic etiquette or read him a bedtime story. His teachers gave him straight D's so that he could pass him along and not have to deal with him ever again. He had no value. The Tuohy family gave him value, they saw him as a real person with a big heart. They took him into their home and gave him a new life. They nurtured him and introduced him to football, and for the first time in his life, Michael felt loved. Michael feels at home with the Tuohy's and trusts Leigh Anne like a real mother. Michael realized his strength and abilities and he worked hard to become the top high school left tackle. The Tuohy's have invested time in Michael and have groomed and taught him to be the best man he could be. If Michael hadn't met the Tuohys, he could still be stuck in Hurt Village dealing drugs or stealing cars to make money. Michael's attitude has changed from " I don't know" to " I care", he stands up strong for what he believes in and protects his family. Michael protected SJ during the car accident because of the values the Tuohy family had taught him; family always comes first. The Tuohy family has changed Michael's attitude and view on life for the better, and he has changed theirs.
Summary: Last week, I left off with Michael being accepted to Briarcrest Christian Academy, on the agreement that he would not play sports, and focus on improving his grades. Michael's first weeks at Briarcrest were tough, he had no friends and his teachers thought he was a lost cause. With help from his resource teacher, Michael managed to get high D's instead of low F's, and was allowed to start playing sports. At six foot five and weighing over three hundred pounds, Michael was wanted on the basketball, football and track team. It was basketball that lead Michael to Sean Tuohy, a basketball alumni who helped out the colored kids at Briarcrest. Sean saw something in Michael that reminded him of himself, and decided to help Michael out. Sean paid for Michael's lunch card, basketball supplies, and part of his tuition. Sean's wife, Leigh Anne, takes Michael clothes shopping in hurt village, Michael's hometown.Soon after, Michael moves in with the Tuohy family and begins to finally feel at home. Michael realized his football potential during a game against an out of town team, where Michael was called names and bullied. To prove himself he played his hardest and protected his team. His team won and his coaches saw potential in Michael. Before he knew it, Michael had college coaches coming to watch him at practice. They were blown away by Michael and wanted them on his team. For once, Michael had a family who loved him and a bright future. Chapter five, was all about the evolution of football and how the left tackle came to be the highest paying job. Bill Walsh developed a strategy to protect the quarterback's blind side, which he later names his "nickel and dime" offense. Walsh proves his strategy and the left tackle position value increases dramatically.
This is a video of a boy who was raised in Hurt Village and is telling his experiences of growing up in the projects.
Review:
Michael at a Young Age
The more I read this book, the more I fall in love with it! Michael Lewis has proved to be an excellent author, portraying Michael Oher's story as if it was his own. The farther I get into the book, the more I learn about Michael's past and struggles. Reading this book ,makes me realize how fortunate I am to have a family that loves me, clothes on my back ,and something as simple as a bed. I've found that the history of football plays an important role in this book, as chapter five is all about the evolution of football and developing strategies. Though I feel these strictly football chapters take away from Michael's overall story, I'm beginning to realize their importance. Also, I've learned how hard it was for Michael to open up and let people in. Imagine being in his shoes, would you move in with an all white rich family that you just met? I know I wouldn't! I hope that the remainder of the story will be as interesting as the chapters I read this week!
Focus: Author's Point of View
Michael Lewis
Michael Lewis has written many other novels including Moneyball, Liar's Poker, and The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. Michael Lewis and Sean Tuohy grew up together, and when Lewis heard that Michael Oher was being hounded by college football coaches who saw him as a future left tackle in the NFL, Lewis met with Sean for dinner. After hearing Michael's story, Lewis began to learn about the game, so he could do his best in portraying every aspect of Michael's life. Lewis met with people from the NY Giants, the Indianapolis Colts, and the San Francisco 49ers, to gather up as much information as he could. He interviewed the Tuohy family and Michael's teachers and teammates."When I asked Michael about his past, he claimed not to recall it and couldn't understand why I found it interesting"(339-Author's Note). After a year of learning every detail in Michael's life, Lewis began writing. He wrote the novel from a third person point of view, making it seem as if he was really there. Lewis brings Michael Oher's story to life through his fluid writing a excellent details.
Summary: The Blind Side begins with a second by second replay of an old football game between the New York Giants and the Washington Red Skins. Joe Theismann and Lawrence Taylor are being compared for their football skills and positions. The author talks about the importance of a left tackle and how they need to be big and strong , tall and thick, trustworthy and reliable, and that he has the most important job of all; protecting the quarterback. The second chapter is about Tom Lemming, a football scout, and how each player is ranked for college. Michael Oher is first introduced in this chapter when he meets with Tom. Tom asks Michael questions about what he wants to do in the future and asked him to fill out a form. Michael just sits there and stares at the ground, without speaking a word or filling out the form. Tom was shocked at Michael's behavior and didn't know what to do, so he decided to leave Michael alone, but not to hold a grudge. The third chapter is about Big Tony trying to get his son, Steven, and a kid from the neighborhood, Big Mike(Michael Oher), enrolled in Briarcrest Christian Academy. Big Tony had promised his dying mother that he would get his son out of the Hurt Village public school system, and get him a proper Christian education. Big Tony takes both Steven and Big Mike to Briarcrest where they meet with the basketball and football coaches. They review Steven and Big Mike's transcripts where they notice Big Mike had missed almost everyday of school and has an IQ of 80, making him an unfit student for Briarcrest. The principal, Mr. Simpson, makes an exception and enrolls Big Mike in Briarcrest, informing him that he cannot play sports until his grades improve.
Review:
The beginning of this book gave me mixed feelings. I thought the first chapter was uneventful and boring. The only connection I found between the story and the chapter was the importance of the left tackle, which Michael Oher ends up playing. I admit I'm not a football fan and don't understand the terminology of it all but I just don't understand how an old football game could excite the reader. I found the second chapter more entertaining that the first, but I still don't think it had much meaning to the overall story. I found it amusing that every college in the country based their decisions on one man's book of players, what if Lemming misjudged someone or was payed off? To me, the story really began in the third chapter when Michael's life came into play. It's amazing to me how a poor, abused, abandoned kid from the junction who had so little could become so successful later on in life. This chapter showed me that it only takes one person to make a difference. Big Tony made a difference in Michael's life when he took him to Briarcrest, and even when the principal told him Michael didn't have a chance, Big Tony didn't lose hope. He continued to fight for Michael until he was enrolled, and that to me is a true friend.
Focus:
This week's focus was "questions." These are the questions I had while reading:
What is the significance of the first chapter, and what does it have to do with Michael Oher's story?
Why do colleges make their decisons based off of Lemmings book? What if he misjudged a player or was paid off to write good reviews?
Why did Michael Oher not speak to Lemming? Was he afraid or intimidated by him?
Why did Lemming say that he didn't consider Michael Oher as a real football player?
What did Big Tony see in Michael? why was he so passionate about enrolling Michael in Briarcrest?
How did Michael feel about going to an all white school? How would I feel if I was in Michael's position?
The book The Blind Side written by Michael Lewis, was an emotional story about a family who changed a boy's life forever. I really enjoyed this book because it was written beautifully and genuinely captured the message of the story; you never know how a person will impact your life. This book taught me not to judge people based on their past, race, or how little money and material they had, but on the contents of their heart. Michael Lewis writes that this book is a "tragedy with a happy ending", which means that Michael Oher's life was a tragedy until the Tuohy family saved him. The book has an overall theme of evolution; Michael evolved from a boy who would always run away, but after meeting the Tuohy's, Michael wants to stay. I would strongly recommend The Blind Side to others that are interested in football and Michael's life.
