Michael Oher is sick and tired of hearing about 'The Blind Side,' says it's hurt career
Veteran offensive tackle Michael Oher entered the NFL in 2009 with big expectations that follow every first-round draft pick, plus major attention and scrutiny from having been the subject of the blockbuster Hollywood movie and best-selling book "The Blind Side."
Chances are you've heard of the movie or seen it or read the book (maybe both) about Oher's journey from childhood neglect and homelessness to starting left tackle at Ole Miss after an affluent white family took him in.
"I'm not trying to prove anything,'' Oher said, according to ESPN's David Newton. "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," the 29-year-old continued. "It's something else off the field. That's why I don't like that movie.''
"[The movie] has taken away from my football,'' Oher said. "That's why people criticize me. That's why people look at me every single play.''
It's sad that Oher now resents the movie but it's perfectly understandable given that he's answered questions about it his entire career and probably has fielded a fair share of trash-talking about it.
Thing is, the book and to a lesser extent the movie told a pretty compelling story about plight of a poor kid in a rough neighborhood overcoming a deck stacked against him.
