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?
Sources:
My first source is an article, from the NY Times, about Tom Lemming and Michael Oher's meeting and what Lemming thought about Oher. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/magazine/24football.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
My second source is a Vanity Fair interview with Michael Lewis, the author of the book. The author explains how he got the name of the book and became interested in writing the story.http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2009/11/michael-lewis-explains-the-origins-of-the-blind-side
