The True Story Behind The “Blind Side”

 

Michael Was A Better Football Player Than They Depicted On Film

 

During an interview with the Sioux City Journal, Leigh Anne said she was amazed at how quickly the book had been turned into a film. She explained: “It was a fast-track for a major motion picture. And we didn’t understand why there was all this fuss. People all over the country were doing far greater things than we were, but it happened. It was all so quirky and unprecedented, I don’t think it was an accident. It was God-driven.” She added that the script was “fairly accurate for Hollywood. Michael was a better football player than they showed but the fact that they didn’t screw things up was a miracle.

 

The Film Negatively Impacted Michael’s Career

 

Michael became an All-America left tackle, and in 2009 was a first-round draft pick by the Ravens. But the film affected how others view him. In 2015, Michael told ESPN: “I’m not trying to prove anything. People look at me, and they take things away from me because of a movie. They don’t really see the skills and the kind of player I am. That’s why I get downgraded so much, because of something off the field. This stuff, calling me a bust, people saying if I can play or not … that has nothing to do with football. It’s something else off the field. That’s why I don’t like that movie.”

 

Michael Was Released From The Panthers Over Health Concerns

 

Michael played with the Baltimore Ravens for five years. He was with the Tennessee Titans before moving on to the Panthers. In July 2017, the veteran offensive tackle was released with a failed physical designation. His coach Ron Rivera said: “The most important thing is his health. Our only concern is him getting healthy. Michael’s health always came first. We were not going to force the issue. Michael understood and we expressed that to him.” Michael struggled to recover from a concussion he received the previous season. Michael tweeted in July: “The Brain is a scary thing. You have to be careful with it.”

 

Leigh Anne Used Her Fame To Inform Others

 

In 2015, Leigh Anne explained how the film was still impacting her life. “We’re five years removed from the movie and nothing has died down,” she told the Sioux City Journal. She showed off her interior design skills on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and gave several speeches in the United States about topics including racism and adoption. She noted: “It’s mind-boggling. We realize we do have a mission. We have the opportunity to change lives. If that sounds narcissistic, screw it. Racism is alive and well in this country; we have to learn how to love someone who doesn’t look like us.”

 

Oher Set The Record Straight With A Highly-Praised Autobiography

 

Michael Oher wasn’t 100% pleased with the way the movie portrayed him and he set out to explain what really happened in his autobiography, “I Beat The Odds: From Homelessness To The Blindside.” The book, which speaks directly to the NFL player’s personal struggles growing up, became a New York Times bestseller. Amazon reviewers have even given his work a 4.5 out of 5 stars rating. The Washington Post heaped praise on the book, proclaiming, “With the release of his memoir…Oher finally takes ownership, filling the gaps in the familiar narrative and somehow managing to make his journey from the streets to stardom seem even more amazing and compelling…”

 

His High School Tutor Really Did Follow Him To College

 

At the very end of “The Blind Side,” Michael’s tutor, Miss Sue (Kathy Bates), is shown on his college campus making a comment about moving her things into an apartment nearby. In real life, Sue Mitchell continued to work with Michael Oher, ensuring that his accelerated education would continue. Oher was a D and F student when he started attending Briarcrest but finished his high school year with A’s and B’s. He still had some catching up to accomplish when he enrolled at Ole Miss and his new adopted parents had the means to help him succeed off the field.

 

Oher Wasn’t A “Dumb” Kid Or Teenager

 

Michael Oher may have been failing out of high school before he met the Touhy’s but it had nothing to do with his level of intelligence. In his autobiography, Oher says the movie, “… portrayed me as dumb instead of as a kid who had never had consistent academic instruction and ended up thriving once he got it.” He’s not sure why the film’s director felt the need to use very basic visuals when explaining football to his character, such as a ketchup bottle for player positions on the field. In reality, Oher was a student of football’s intricacies since he was very young. Oher did graduate from college before joining the NFL, providing he was able to rise above his early educational challenges and in a very short period of time. That doesn’t sound like a “dumb” kid to us.

 

Oher Believed From A Young Age That Sports Were His “Way Out”

 

Growing up in the projects, Oher knew that his best opportunity to escape was through athletics. He originally focused his efforts on basketball and he quickly excelled. His athleticism and size helped him compete at a high level in both football and basketball. Realizing his strength wasn’t enough, he started to devour sports knowledge, becoming an expert in both of his sports before he ever reached the college level. “The Blind Side” completely ignored his love of sports and instead portrayed him as a lost teen who was introduced to football as a way to bring structure to his tumultuous life.