Photo Credit: Action Sports Photography / Shutterstock.com
If you didn’t watch The Blind Side, starring Sandra Bullock, when it came out way back in 2009, you may want to pick it up before watching the Super Bowl this weekend. Real-life Michael Oher was recruited by the Carolina Panthers by quarterback Cam Newton, himself. And that wasn’t because of his fame from the movie—it’s because of his expert work as a football offensive lineman. Now he’ll be protecting Newton and his other teammates as they seek to win the Super Bowl 2016 against the Denver Broncos this Sunday.
Oher’s early life was hard. Bouncing through eleven different schools as a kid, he barely had an opportunity to learn what was being taught. When the Tuohy family took him in and loved him unconditionally, Michael Oher was given a better chance at life.
Included in that better chance was an opportunity to excel at football. Although the movie made him famous, Oher would rather be like most offensive linemen and just blend in. He doesn’t like the movie and doesn’t watch it. But that doesn’t mean he’s not grateful.
Oher recognizes the gift of family and hopes that fans of The Blind Side will step out of their comfort zones and help some of the 150,000 adoptable foster children in America. “I’m not in the movies, man. I play football. I work hard on the field. That’s why I don’t like talking about [the film], because it kind of takes away from my hard work on the field. I kind of feel a little bit underappreciated, but, as long as my team and the guys in the locker room know what I bring to the table, it’s all good,” stated Oher, as quoted by International Business Times.
Oher’s mom, Leigh Anne Tuohy, tweeted a photo with the football star shortly after the Panthers’ win against the Arizona Cardinal’s in last Sunday’s NFC Championship game. The photo caption read: “Super Bowl Bound with this seasoned veteran!!! Michael Oher. GREAT job babe!! You are my MVP.”
Football fans won’t be the only ones watching the Super Bowl this year . . . fans of foster kids everywhere will be rooting for Michael Oher!
