Michael Oher, offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League and the young man at the center of the true story depicted in the Academy Award-winning 2009 film The Blind Side, has become an inspiration to many Americans. A poor kid born to a drug addicted mother, he had a burning desire deep within his soul to break out of the Memphis inner-city ghetto of his childhood. Though the odds were heavily stacked against him, Oher succeeded beyond his wildest imaginings.
While many people are now familiar with his amazing journey, few know his true story. Looking back on how he went from being a homeless child in Memphis to playing in the NFL, Michael talks about the goals he had to break out of the cycle of poverty, addiction and hopelessness that trapped his family. Eventually, he grasped onto football as his ticket out and worked hard to make his dream into a reality. With his adoptive family, the Touhy's, and other influential people in mind, he describes the absolute necessity of seeking out positive role models and good friends who share the same values to achieve one's dreams.
Michael Oher shares his true story, separating real-life fact from movie fiction, including:
What happened during his years in the foster care system (the years before The Blind Side)
Growing up in the projects and running from child services and foster care over and over again in search of some familiarity
And most important, his desire to talk about-and reach out to-children across America who want to overcome an obstacle of some kind, but don't know where to start. He speaks especially to the nearly 500,000 children in America living in foster care, and the adults in their lives who want to help them.
Sharing untold stories of heartache, determination, courage, and love, I Beat the Odds is an incredibly rousing tale of one young man's quest to achieve the American dream.
About Michael Oher:
Michael Oher was born in Memphis, Tennessee, where he made his way through the foster care system and experienced periods of homelessness. Oher was eventually accepted to Briarcrest Christian School, where he met Sean and Leigh-Anne Tuohy, who became his adoptive parents. His story is the subject of Michael Lewis' book, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, and the even more popular 2009 film, "The Blind Side," starring Sandra Bullock, in which Oher was played by Quinton Aaron. He currently lives in Baltimore, Maryland where he is an offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. Oher played college football at the University of Mississippi for the Ole Miss Rebels and was drafted by the Ravens in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. In his first year as an American football player, he was named to the Pro Football Weekly/PFWA All-Rookie team and to the USA Today's All-Joe Team. Oher also earned NFL Rookie of the Month honors for December and continues to play for the Baltimore Ravens today.
