Over the weekend, my wife and I finally saw the box office hit The Blind Side, which is the true story of NFL player Michael Oher.
Whether or not you are a football fan is irrelevant. If you like the proverbial rags-to-riches stories, this film is for you. If you enjoy tales which help restore your faith in the indomitable human spirit, this film is for you.
About six years ago, the Tuohys, an affluent Memphis, Tennessee family, took in Oher after the teen began attending the same Christian private school as the Tuohy children. When the Tuohy matriarch, Leigh Anne, learned that Michael was homeless, she and husband Sean allowed him to live at their palatial estate. With Oher showing tremendous potential as a football player, the Tuohys worked to help Michael become academically eligible to receive a college football scholarship upon his graduation from high school. Oher was courted by many major universities like Tennessee, LSU, Auburn and Arkansas before settling on the Tuohy's alma mater of Ole Miss. In fact, the Tuohy's hired a tutor to assist Michael in attaining the necessary grade point average to become eligible for a scholarship. At one point of the story, the tutor sheepishly admitted to the Tuohy family that she was a Democrat, prompting Sean to say to his wife "Who would've thought we'd have a black son before we met a Democrat?"
While I knew how the story ended (Oher becoming a first round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2009 NFL draft), it was heart-warming to see the journey. For the nearly thousands of disadvantaged youths who long to escape a life of poverty and squalor, Michael Oher proves what can happen when someone shows just a scintilla of belief in the person. And how ironic that the African-American Oher was given that opportunity by a family of rich Republicans (sorry, couldn't resist!!).
Anyhow, do yourself a favor and see the movie!
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" And how ironic that the African-American Oher was given that opportunity by a family of rich Republicans."
ReplyDeleteI know, right, because none of us of-colors have ever done it on our own. Thank goodness Hollywood doesn't make movies about that.
Just to be clear, I made that comment totally tongue-in cheek. Rich, white Republicans are often labeled as racist. I felt it was somewhat ironic that Hollywood, which loves to lampoon conservatives as such, protrayed the Tuohys in a positive (albeit factual) light.
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