Some things [in the film] are true, some things are not. People have to do things to sell it. But everything is fine despite everything.
-Michael Oher (The Baltimore Sun, November 16, 2009)
Questioning the story:
Why did Leigh Anne Tuohy take Michael in?
"I think Michael needed someone, and it was so obvious there was no one in his life. It broke my heart," the real Leigh Anne Tuohy said in December 2009.20/20television interview.
Was Michael Oher's birth mother really a crack addict?
Sim.the blind sideThe true story reveals that Michael's birth mother was a crack addict. "She wasn't around much," Michael recalled in a20/20interview. "I took care of myself most of the time." He was one of twelve children who grew up in a destroyed home in Hurt Village, a crime-ridden north Memphis housing project.
What happened to Michael's father?
Like inthe blind sidemovie, Michael Oher's biological father was murdered. He was shot and killed, then thrown from an overpass on the west side of Memphis. Michael did not learn of his father's death until three months after it occurred, in part because he took so long to identify his father. Tony Henderson, who helped Michael get into Briarcrest, called the school office with the news of Michael's father's death. Michael's father was not around when he was a child. 🇧🇷The blind side: the evolution of a game
The real Big Tony (right) played a bigger role in Michael's life than his movie character (left).
The character in the film who refers to himself as Tony Hamilton is based on Tony Henderson (also known as Big Tony), who in real life runs an athletic program that mentors teenagers in his neighborhood. Recognizing Michael's unstable home life, Tony took him in. "He was a good boy," Tony recalls. "He was very quiet and especially with himself." Like inthe blind sidemovie, Tony took his teenage son Steven to enroll in Briarcrest Christian School, and brought Michael with them (20/20🇧🇷 In real life, Tony worked in the city as a mechanic, as indicated in the movie (evolution of a game).
Why did the filmmakers change the name of the school to Wingate for the film?
In the film, the Christian school Michael attends is called Wingate and is the home of the Wingate Crusaders football team. Through our investigation into the true story of Michael Oher, we discover that the real name of the school is Briarcrest, home of the Briarcrest Saints. "It wasn't a confrontation, there were just concerns," Briarcrest President Mark Merrill said. He noted that several school administrators were concerned about cases of "artistic license" in the original script that exaggerated the truth. 🇧🇷ComercialAppeal.com
The real coach (Hugh Freeze, right) and his on-screen counterpart (left).
Yes. According to the book by Michael LewisThe blind side: the evolution of a game, Briarcrest's football coach Hugh Freeze (known as Burt Cotton in the film) encouraged his colleagues to accept Michael's request.
Was Michael immediately inducted into Briarcrest like he was in the movie?
no when searchingthe blind sidefact versus fiction, it was revealed that due to Michael Oher's poor and almost non-existent academic record in 2002, the principal of Briarcrest insisted that he participate in a homeschooling program for a few months first to improve his grades. 🇧🇷The blind side: the evolution of a game
Before attending Briarcrest Christian School, where else had Michael studied?
Prior to Briarcrest, Michael had attended 11 schools in 9 years, often skipping school. During one year at Westwood High School, he was absent 51 days. In his freshman year of high school, his GPA was 0.06. "It was easy for me to say, you know, 'I'm going to hang out with these guys and do drugs and not go to school,'" Michael said, "but I decided I didn't want to do that." I wanted to be something in life." 🇧🇷20/20
The blind side: the evolution of a game
Get an up-close look at the true story as author Michael Lewis presents Oher's journey without the Hollywood coat, revealing some less-than-flattering details about Oher's path to college football and, ultimately, the NFL. That's not to say that his experience isn't inspiring; the book simply does a better job of revealing all aspects of the story.
How did Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy know about Michael Oher?
Tuohy's daughter, Collins, then 15, was in one of Michael's classes and told her father about the new big, quiet boy in her class. Sean made the effort to meet him and realized that he had been hungry all day and had no money to buy lunch. So Sean started paying for his lunches. 🇧🇷Author Michael Lewis Interview
Did the father, Sean Tuohy, see Michael for the first time in the stands of his daughter's volleyball game?
No. The real Sean Tuohy first saw Michael Oher when he was sitting in the bleachers of Briarcrest Gym, but it was during basketball practice, not Sean's daughter's volleyball game. At that time, Michael was not yet academically eligible to play on the Briarcrest men's basketball team. 🇧🇷NYTimes.com
Was Leigh Anne the first of the Tuohy family to help Michael?
No. Contrary to what we see in the movie, in real life, Leigh Anne's husband Sean started paying for Michael's school lunch before his wife found Michael on the side of the road. A fictionalized account of this can be seen in the DVD's deleted scenes. 🇧🇷Author Michael Lewis Interview
Actual biology teacher Marilyn Beasley (right) found potential after giving Michael a verbal test.
Yes. At the beginning of the film, Mrs. Boswell (Kim Dickens) reads the beginning of an essay that the real Michael Oher wrote, which she titled "White Walls." In fact, she wrote the essay later, during her senior year, while reflecting on his early days at Briarcrest Christian High School. Ms. Boswell is based on the real life of Marilyn Beasley, a biology professor at Briarcrest who discovered that Michael did much better when tests of him were administered orally. The beginning of Michael's "White Walls" essay says:
I look and see white everywhere: white walls, white floors and a lot of white…. The teachers don't know that I have no idea what they are talking about. I don't want to listen to anyone, especially teachers. They give me homework and expect me to solve the problems myself. I never did homework in my life. I go to the bathroom, look in the mirror and say, "This is not Mike Oher. I want to get out of this place." -Evolution of a game.
Did Michael Oher really find Leigh Anne Tuohy on the side of the road?
"Some artistic liberties were taken in that scene," the real Leigh Anne Tuohy told Mike Huckabee during aFox News Channelinterview. Unlike the rainy night scene in the film,the blind sideThe true story reveals that Leigh Anne's encounter with Michael on the side of the road actually happened on a cold morning over the Thanksgiving holiday. She and her husband watched Michael get off a bus in the snow dressed only in cutoff jeans and a T-shirt. Like in the movie, Michael would head to the school gym to escape the weather and warm up. In reality, Leigh Anne did not immediately offer Michael a place to stay. Instead, meeting her on the road that snowy November morning in 2002 led her to pick up Michael in Briarcrest the next day and take him shopping. She couldn't ignore that he'd been out in the cold in cutoff jeans and a T-shirt, the same outfit he wore every day. 🇧🇷evolution of a game
Was the Tuohy family the only family Michael Oher stayed with while attending Briarcrest?
No. Actually, it was months after the roadside encounter before the Tuohy family welcomed Michael into their home. For months, Michael continued to live with Tony Henderson (aka Big Tony), the mechanic whose son also attended Briarcrest Christian School. And for months after that, at least five different families, black and white, provided Michael with a place to stay after his caretakers realized he was homeless. This eventually included the Tuohy family. "He would stay here from time to time and then leave," says Sean Tuohy, "and then he seemed more comfortable staying." 🇧🇷20/20) Regarding the Tuohy family, the real Michael Oher said: "When I moved in with Leigh Anne and Sean, I felt loved, like part of a family. In the other houses, I didn't feel part of the family. I didn't feel to care about me. They wanted to be there." 🇧🇷evolution of a game
How old was Michael Oher when Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy took him in?
Michael was 16 years old when Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy welcomed him into their home.
Does the real Leigh Anne Tuohy work as an interior decorator?
Yes. Leigh Anne works as an interior decorator and graduated from the University of Mississippi. After Michael Oher made it to the NFL and moved to Baltimore to play for the Ravens, Leigh Anne helped him decorate his suburban home.
Was Tuohy's daughter Collins really a volleyball player in high school?
No. In real life, Tuohy's daughter, Collins, was a state champion pole vaulter. She was also a high school cheerleader as seen in the movie. 🇧🇷Good morning america
Michael Oher when he was a boy of about 10 years.
Yes. As one of twelve children who grew up in the projects, the real Michael Oher never had his own bed. As Sandra Bullock's character does in the film, Leigh Anne bought her a futon to sleep on because her husband told her that bigger professional athletes use them if they can't find a big enough bed. 🇧🇷NYTimes.com
Did everyone really call him "Big Mike"?
Yes. As in the movie, most people who knew Michael Oher referred to him as "Big Mike." This included people he knew in Hurt Village, where he grew up, and people he knew at Briarcrest Christian School. Like inthe blind sidemovie, in real life he admitted to Leigh Anne that he hated being called "Big Mike." 🇧🇷evolution of a game
How big was Michael Oher?
When he was 15 years old, Michael was 6 feet tall and weighed 350 pounds (20/20🇧🇷 In 2010, as a member of the NFL team Baltimore Ravens, Michael Oher was listed at 6-4 at 309 pounds (CuervosdeBaltimore.com🇧🇷 His on-screen counterpart inthe blind sidemovie, Quinton Aaron, is 6-8 and weighs 472 pounds (20/20).
Did Michael Oher really have to learn football when he joined the varsity team?
No. This was greatly exaggerated in the movie. Michael didn't have to learn to play soccer, and Leigh Anne never walked onto the practice field to inspire Michael, telling him to protect the team from him as if he was protecting the family from her. The film's suggestion that he needed to be taught how to play soccer made the real Michael Oher uneasy: "That part there, it really got to me because it never was like that. I always knew how to play soccer. I always had a passion for the game. I already You know, it's Hollywood, so I mean that's what they do, but at the end of the day it's still a good story."
Was he really a timid player who needed to be toughened up?
No. "I always had that fire and passion in me on the field," says Michael. "You can't put aggression on a person. It's impossible. Either you have that toughness and that aggression or you don't." 🇧🇷20/20
Tuohy's son, S.J. really helped teach Michael about soccer?
No. As the real Michael Oher said earlier, he already knew how to play soccer. When Michael Oher was taken in by the Tuohy family, Tuohy's son, S.J. (Sean Jr.) was 8 years old at the time (NYTimes.com🇧🇷 Actor Jay Head, who plays S.J. in the film, he had just turned 11 when shooting began, though on screen he appears to be a few years younger than he is and more in keeping with the true story. The real SJ wasn't that small either. By no means was he the insignificant we see on screen. Michael and S.J. they played sports together for fun, but S.J. He didn't need to teach her anything.
Did Michael really stay silent when racist fans insulted him at a game?
No. As Michael Lewis says in his book, when racist fanatics insulted him, the real Michael Oher gave them the middle finger.
Did Michael really pick up a foul-mouthed opponent and carry him off the field for the pads?
Yes. During a fight against a Munford team, the defensive end who lined up in front of Michael delivered a heavy dose of small talk on every play, threatening Michael and calling him fat. Like in the movie, when the opportunity arose during a play later in the game, Michael lifted his trash-talking opponent by the pads and proceeded to carry him off the field, across the Munford bench, across the concrete track. and towards the bus. . In real life, Michael led the Munford player to the fence, but didn't get over it (unlike what we see in the movie) before a group of Munford players piled on him. Not knowing which penalty to take, the referees penalized Michael for "excessive blocking", the same unusual penalty called for in the film. 🇧🇷evolution of a game
Collins Tuohy (right) and Michael Oher during their Ole Miss days.
No. The real Collins Tuohy never had to get over the teasing at school about Michael staying with his family. "My friends were very open to Michael," Collins said. "They were very nice to him and we all got along very well." after investigatingthe blind sideTrue story, we found out that the reality of Collin's support for Michael was actually much deeper than what is seen on screen. Collins Tuohy, an exemplary student, rearranged her entire class schedule to help Michael. She dropped all of her AP (Advanced Placement) classes to be in Michael's English and math classes so she could understand what her homework was. She spent several hours of the night helping him with his homework. "That was the biggest study I've ever done in my life," recalled Collins (20/20🇧🇷 Collins is not as shy as her on-screen counterpart and being seen with Michael at school was never a problem. She was a cheerleader and he played football, and they were on the track team together (huckabee).
Did Leigh Anne really have to deal with overbearing women who questioned her decision to accept Michael?
Yes. In the film, Leigh Anne's (Sandra Bullock) friends ask prying questions about Michael over lunch. The real Leigh Anne Tuohy commented on this in Michael Lewis's book.The blind side: the evolution of a game"We knew people would have problems because we had a daughter the exact same age," Leigh Anne admitted. Leigh Anne faced countless questions from people she ran into at stores, restaurants, and school events, all typically asking, "How did you handle it?" More specifically, one of the questions she was frequently asked was how she dealt with Michael's sexual urges when she was a teenager living under the same roof as her daughter. Eventually, Leigh Anne voiced her opinion on this line of questioning: "You just need to mind your own business. You mind your own business and I'll mind mine," she said.
Did Leigh Anne Tuohy know where Michael came from and the fact that he was black?
"It had nothing to do with Michael's color or his size," Leigh Anne said.20/20interviewer Deborah Roberts. "He was a child who had a need and needed to be met."
Did Michael really inspire the Tuohy family to come to the table?
Yes, but in real life this happened regularly, as Sean Tuohy pointed out in an interview. "He made us sit around the table. But if we were going to spend time with him, we'd come over and eat at the table. We haven't eaten at the table since he left," Sean said jokingly. 🇧🇷20/20
Did a gang member really insult Leigh Anne when she visited Michael's mom?
No. The gang members never insulted Leigh Anne. However, one time when she was leaving Michael after taking him shopping for clothes, he told her to stay in the car like her character does in the movie. The main gang member in the film, Alton, is loosely based on Delvin Lane, the leader of a gang who hung around the Hurt Village housing projects. As is somewhat emphasized in the film, Michael never associated with such individuals. His closest friend from his old neighborhood was Craig Vail, to whom he often talked about the Tuohys and later took him to his house. Craig was a person Michael could trust, never expecting or asking for anything. 🇧🇷evolution of a game
Was Michael really adopted by the Tuohys?
Yes. As inthe blind sidefilm, the true story of Michael Oher confirms that he was legally adopted by Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy.
How does Michael react to blacks criticizing the notion of a rich white family helping a poor black child?
"I don't understand why people feel that way," the real Michael Oher said, "because as long as somebody helps somebody and gets somebody off the streets, I don't care, you know, black or white or whatever. This never should be a problem." 🇧🇷20/20
The actual photo of the Tuohy family Christmas card versus the photo from the film (insert).
Yes. The actual photo is shown on the right. Like in the movie, Leigh Anne says that her cousin called her to ask about the photo. "He said, 'I'm not trying to be rude or anything. Who's the black kid on the Christmas card?'" -20/20
Did the Tuohys really hire a tutor for Michael?
Yes. Insidethe blind sideIn the film, the Tuohys hire Kathy Bates' character, Miss Sue, to tutor Michael. In real life, Sue Mitchell opened up about her routine with Michael: "We'd work hours and hours every day. He'd come home, take a shower, and we'd work until at least 11:30 p.m. every night. And we'd do it six nights a week". week." 🇧🇷20/20) As a senior at Briarcrest, Michael was on the honor roll (Author Michael Lewis Interview).
Was the tutor really a liberal or was Hollywood injecting his views?
Insidethe blind sideIn the film, the tutor, Miss Sue (Kathy Bates), admits to Leigh Anne (Sandra Bullock) that she is a liberal who is more spiritual than religious. In real life, Leigh Anne Tuohy met Sue Mitchell at a frat event. Sue was a retired public school teacher and cheerleading coach. It is true that Sue Mitchell turned down a job at Briarcrest Christian School because she did not share her religious beliefs. It's also true that she was a liberal, to which the real Sean Tuohy replied, "We had a black kid before we had a Democrat friend!" 🇧🇷NYTimes.com
Did the accident really happen?
Yes. In the film, a distracted Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) misses a lawn truck backing up in front of him as he and S.J. they're on their way to get the new Madden video game that just came out.the blind sideThe true story reveals that the accident actually occurred in icy conditions when Michael's truck skidded off the divider traveling at 25 miles per hour and crashed head-on into a large pickup truck, also moving at 25 miles per hour. When Leigh Anne arrived at the scene of the accident, she approached Michael, who was sobbing uncontrollably to the point that she could barely understand what he was trying to tell her. 🇧🇷evolution of a game
In real life, SJ's injuries looked much worse than what we see in the movie. In addition to the blood on his shirt, S.J. it was so swollen that his mother hardly recognized it. Surprisingly, despite the swelling, no bones were broken. 🇧🇷evolution of a game
Did Michael really stop the airbag with his arm?
Yes. When Leigh Anne got home from the hospital, she broke the news that S.J. he was fine and that the doctors were surprised that his facial injuries were not more serious. It was then that Michael reached out to show Leigh Anne the ugly burn mark that ran through it. 🇧🇷evolution of a game
Does Leigh Anne's husband, Sean Tuohy, really own dozens of Taco Bell restaurants?
Yes, Leigh Anne's husband, Sean, is one of three partners operating RGT Management, Inc., a corporation that owns more than 80 restaurants under the Taco Bell, Long John Silver's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Off the Grill brands. RGT stores can be found in Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, Ohio, and Missouri. 🇧🇷memphis business journal
What is not mentioned inthe blind sideThe movie is that Sean Tuohy also works as a sportscaster and in 2009 he was in his ninth season as a broadcaster for the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies. He also has seven years of experience serving as a broadcast analyst for radio shows at Ole Miss, in addition to working on national broadcasts for Westwood One and CBS Radio. 🇧🇷NBA.com
Was Leigh Anne's husband, Sean Tuohy, really a former college basketball star?
Yes. Leigh Anne's husband, Sean Tuohy, played college basketball at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). He was named an All-SEC in each of the four seasons he played and was named to the SEC All-Century Team. In 1982, he was drafted by the New Jersey Nets, but chose to continue his career abroad before returning to the United States to be with his father in his final days. 🇧🇷NBA.com
Did Michael play any other sports at Briarcrest?
Yes. Although he didn't focus on movies, Michael Oher's basketball talent made him the runner-up out of high school in Tennessee.
Are the college football coaches who recruit Michael in the movie played by the real coaches?
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) coaches featured in the film are portrayed by the actual coaches who recruited Michael Oher. These include former Notre Dame and South Carolina head coach Lou Holtz, former LSU head coach Nick Saban, former Arkansas (and current Ole Miss) head coach Houston Nutt, former Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville, former Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer and former Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron, who actually won Michael Oher's fierce recruiting battle. 🇧🇷ESPN.com
Tuohy's son, S.J. really have demands for college recruiters?
"What's in it for me?", S.J. he questions the recruiters in the film, making demands such as permission to lead the team on the field. "I don't know if that's the case", the real S.J. accepted. "I think Jay [John Lee Hancock] could have done better than me." SJ's parents chimed in: "He worked a lot with these coaches," added Sean Tuohy. "Do not let that fool you". 🇧🇷huckabee) Lewis's book states that the only type of privilege that S.J. What he got was a tour of The Grove (a popular spot for unauthorized use on campus) by Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron.
Did Michael take any academic shortcuts to become NCAA eligible?
In his February 2010 article "Why 'The Blind Side' Is Too Good To Be True",weekly entertainmentcolumnist Mark Harris criticizes some of Michael Oher's methods of becoming NCAA eligible, stating that Oher's methods greatly undermine educational ethics.
Michael had nothing but D's and F's at the end of his freshman year. However, he got all A's and B's during his senior year, but with no more classes to take, he could only finish with a 2.05 GPA. This was a problem, as the NCAA required a 2.65 GPA (NYTimes.com🇧🇷 Regarding Michael and Tuohy's questionable academic efforts to correct this problem, columnist Harris focuses on the 10-day internet courses Michael took as a senior at Brigham Young University to replace the existing F's in his transcript by A. Harris refers to the courses as "an NCAA eligibility gimmick". the author ofthe blind sideThe book labels the practice "great Mormon food." Sean Tuohy got the idea from a friend and Michael's tutor, Sue Mitchell, led the effort. 🇧🇷evolution of a game).
Sean Tuohy selected a series of 10-day BYU online courses for Michael to complete over the summer with the help of Sue Mitchell. All that each course required students to do was read a few short passages from famous works or speeches and then answer five questions. The A's Michael earned in these character courses could be used to replace the existing F's he had earned in high school English courses. Sean's strategy for Michael almost didn't work because even after he was accepted to Ole Miss, the NCAA said his GPA was still too low to play college football. Sean quickly signed him up for another BYU online character course and on August 1, 2005, the NCAA finally accepted him. 🇧🇷New York Times
Another loophole Sean had found was that since Michael had been certified learning disabled, he could retake the ACT tests as many times as he wanted and Ms. Sue was on hand to help him work things out. Making up a small number of ACT points meant he needed less in his GPA, since the NCAA had a sliding scale when it came to ACT scores and GPAs. If he had a higher ACT score, he didn't need to have as high a GPA to be eligible. 🇧🇷evolution of a game
Was Michael Oher really investigated by the NCAA?
Yes. NCAA investigator Joyce Thompson visited the family several times and interviewed Michael Oher and Sean Tuohy. She was particularly concerned about how Michael would become NCAA eligible, as his transcripts still contained eight F's. She wanted to know more about the Brigham Young syllabus (see previous question), but Michael wouldn't speak and Sean Tuohy claimed that I didn't know the details because Michael's tutor, Sue Mitchell, took care of everything. The NCAA investigator was also interested in finding out if the Tuohys had pressured Michael to attend his alma mater, Ole Miss, which is similar to what is shown in the film. 🇧🇷evolution of a game
How do Leigh Anne and Sean react to claims that it was in their best interest for Michael to go to college at his alma mater, Ole Miss?
In the film, an NCAA investigator asks Michael whether or not Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy had a grand plan for Michael to go to his alma mater Ole Miss. When interviewer Deborah Roberts suggested to Leigh Anne that some people believe that she and Sean chose a black teenager to mold into what they wanted him to be, Leigh Anne responded: "No one has the nerve to say that to my face. No one has ever said that to my face. And if they did, I would tell them not to let the door hit their butts on the way out." 🇧🇷20/20
Did Michael really get into a fight when he was expecting to see his mom?
No. Michael didn't fight gang members in his old neighborhood. However, after searchingthe blind sideTrue story, we learn that while in college at Ole Miss, Michael got into a fight with his teammate Antonio Turner, who had visited Tuohy's house. At some point after his visit, Turner called Michael a crack for living with a white family. Antonio also made comments to Michael suggesting that he would have sex with Michael's white sister and white mother (similar to the comments made by the gang member in the film). This angered Michael, who chased after Antonio and eventually located him in the study hall where the soccer players were studying with his tutors. Michael tackled the 230-pound Antonio to the ground, grabbed him by the neck, punched him in the face and tossed him across the room. In the process, the 3-year-old son of one of the guards was knocked to the ground, sustaining a serious head injury. The white boy fell to the ground in a pool of his own blood. When Michael saw what had happened to the boy, he ran away. Antonio was taken to the house of one of the trainers for his protection. At Sean Tuohy's insistence, Michael eventually turned himself in to campus police and Sean called his friend, well-known attorney Steve Farese. Michael ended up apologizing and receiving ten hours of community service. 🇧🇷evolution of a game
About Michael going back to his old neighborhood to see his mother, it is stated in the book by author Michael Lewis that whenever Michael Oher returned to his old neighborhood, bad things often happened. For example, on one occasion, Michael arrived at her biological mother's apartment and found her trapped. She was driving a truck that belonged to a man who was found murdered. The police asked Michael what he was doing there and detained him at the central prison. Sean had to get him out of there.
Did Leigh Anne really fake Michael's baby photo for her graduation?
Yes. The real Leigh Anne Tuohy went online and found a picture of the cutest black baby she could find. The photo appeared at senior year's prom, not inflated on stage like we see in the movie. 🇧🇷NYTimes.com
Michael was excited to graduate from high school?
"It was amazing, just walking across the stage and shaking hands with the president." Michael said. "I was the first person I knew to graduate, so it was a great experience." 🇧🇷20/20
Tuohy family in the field at Ole Miss, attended by Michael and Collins.
"Ole Miss was there," Michael said, "and I thought it would be easier for my family, you know, my friends to come to Oxford and watch me play." 🇧🇷ABCNews.go.com) He received over a thousand letters from college football recruiting programs, with Penn State being the only major football school not to offer him a full scholarship. 🇧🇷evolution of a game
How long did Michael live with the Tuohy family?
Michael was a sophomore when he came to Briarcrest. He began hanging out regularly at Tuohy's in the fall of his freshman year, 2003 (NYTimes.com🇧🇷 He stayed with the Tuohys until he left for college at Ole Miss. Officially adopted into the family, Michael returned frequently to visit, sometimes bringing players from Ole Miss (evolution of a game).
Did Michael's high school tutor, Miss Sue, really continue to help him through college?
Yes. At the end of the film, Michael's tutor, Miss Sue (Kathy Bates), is shown on his college campus making a comment about moving his things to a nearby apartment. In real life, Michael's tutor, Sue Mitchell, continued to teach Michael at Ole Miss. 🇧🇷evolution of a game
Did Michael Oher ever graduate from college?
Yes. Michael graduated from the University of Mississippi (also known as Ole Miss) after playing football for the Ole Miss Rebels for four years. While attending Ole Miss, Michael made the Dean's List. He and Tuohy's daughter, Collins, were the same age in real life (they were a year apart in the film). Collins also went to college at Ole Miss, allowing the two to grow even closer due to their shared experiences.
Leigh Anne Tuohy congratulates Michael Oher on the 2009 NFL Draft.
In 2009, Michael was selected as the 23rd pick in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. The entire Tuohy family was with him at the draft, plus his tutor, Miss Sue, and his older brother, Marcus. He entered the league as a starter for the Ravens team, signing a $13 million contract. In his rookie season, Michael started every game and was named NFL Rookie of the Month for December 2009. Oher finished second to Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin in voting for Offensive Rookie of the Year. of the NFL.CuervosdeBaltimore.com).
Are the Tuohys still in touch with Michael now that he's an NFL star?
Yes. Eight years after bringing Michael into their home, the Tuohys remain devoted to him. On game days they take a private jet to watch him play. 🇧🇷20/20
Where does Michael live now?
Michael, 23, bought his own home and lives in suburban Baltimore. Leigh Anne, an interior decorator, helped him fix it up. "I've definitely come a long way," Michael says. "Growing up projects in some of the toughest parts of Memphis...it's been a long road. Every day I think, 'Wow, how did I get here?'"
What song plays during the credits at the end ofthe blind sidemovie?
the blind sideThe credits song is called "Chances" by the group Five For Fighting. Music can be found atthe blind sidethe soundtrack of the filmand the Five For Fighting albumCut in slices.
How did actor Quinton Aaron land the role of Michael Oher?
Before auditioning for the role of Michael Oher, Quinton Aaron, then 23, worked as a security guard. He lived in a rough neighborhood in the Bronx with his brother and his mother, and it was his mother who found out about the casting online. After director John Lee Hancock saw Quinton's tape, he took Quinton to Los Angeles to meet him in person. After the meeting, Quinton gave Hancock a card with his contact information and offered to work on set security if he didn't get the part. 🇧🇷20/20
A year passed before casting was completed, and Quinton was notified that he had landed the role. During this time, Quinton's mother died and he was unable to pay his rent. About to be evicted from his apartment, he received a call saying that he had landed the part. Quinton drew on his own personal experiences to help relate to his on-screen character. 🇧🇷20/20
Why didn't Michael Oher attend movie premieres?
"I'm not curious," Michael told The Baltimore Sun. "I'm in no rush to see it, but I will see it eventually." Veteran Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason responded by saying, "He's lived life, so he's focusing on playing football." Oher has focused on his work in the NFL, for which he was awarded NFL Rookie of the Month for December 2009. Despite missing the premieres, the shy and reserved Oher has seen the film.
The Blind Side book by Michael Lewis.
In the new epilogue of the paperback edition of his bookThe blind side: the evolution of a game, author Michael Lewis writes that the purpose of his story was to "examine the many forces—chance encounters with a family, major changes in soccer strategy—that affected the value of this unfortunate boy turned lucky one." Lewis says what stood out to him was that Michael Oher, who was 6-foot-3, 350 pounds at sixteen and had a 4-9-40, was already considered by many to be an NFL prospect. Michael Lewis is a nonfiction author and financial journalist. He is married to former MTV host Tabitha Soren.
why is the movie calledthe blind side?
As shown in the Joe Theismann/Lawrence Taylor diagram at the beginning of the film (see below), Michael Oher's position on the football field is shown. The left tackle's job is to protect the quarterback's blind side.
The blind side interviews and related videos
Watch interviews and videos exploring the true story of Michael Oher. See full footage of Lawrence Taylor's attack on Joe Theismann that appears at the beginning of the film. Watch interviews with the Tuohy family and a separate interview with author Michael Lewis exploring more.the blind sidereality versus fiction.
LOOK at Lawrence Taylor flirting with Joe Theismann During the Monday Night Football broadcast of November 18, 1985, viewers watched in shock as the New York Giants' Lawrence Taylor delivered a career-ending sack to Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann (opening scene ofthe blind side🇧🇷 Might be too graphic for younger and more sensitive viewers. |
SEE Interview with the author Michael Lewis Watch an interview with Michael Lewis, author of the book.The blind side: evolution of a game, which became the basis for the Sandra Bullock film. Lewis discusses what inspired him to write the book on Michael Oher. |
WATCH Mike Huckabee Tuohy Family Interview Part 1 Mike Huckabee interviews the real Tuohy family, including Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy and their children, Collins and SJ. |
WATCH Mike Huckabee Tuohy Family Interview Part 2 Part 2 of Mike Huckabee's interview with the real-life Tuohy family portrayed in Sandra Bullockblind sidemovie. |
WATCHCBN News Piece sobre Michael Oher This report features Michael, the Tuohys, and Tony Henderson (aka Big Tony), who helped care for Michael prior to his time with the Tuohy family. Big Tony was also responsible for getting him into Briarcrest Christian High School. |
WATCH The Blind Side Trailer Sandra Bullock stars as a southern mother who fosters and adopts a black teenager whose immense size and athletic ability allow him a future she never dreamed possible. Based on real facts. |
Link to know more:
- New York Times2006 article "Ballad of Big Mike"
- "Why 'The Blind Side' is too good to be true"weekly entertainmentArticle
- "Outstanding Coaches Turn Actors Into Movies" - ESPN.com article
- a B C20/20special blind side
- Oprah.com - "Michael Oher's Inspirational Journey"
- the blind sideMovie official website
FAQs
Was the movie Blind Side accurate? ›
"It's about a person with an immense amount of intellect and an immense amount of talent and a whole lot to give to society," father Sean Tuohy said on "Good Morning America" today. In the family's first live television interview, the Tuohys said the movie "The Blind Side" is an accurate representation of Oher's story.
Why did the real Michael Oher not like The Blind Side? ›Oher admitted to ESPN that he didn't like the film because of how it negatively impacted his football career, attributing the reason he was "downgraded" so much to something that happened "off the field." He also shared his reactions to the film in his 2011 book I Beat the Odds.
Does Michael Oher still talk to the Tuohys? ›After spending much of his childhood within the foster care system, the former NFL player was adopted by the Tuohy family when he was 16. Even today, he continues to share a strong bond with the Tuohys. Michael and Tiffany got married after 17 years of being together.
What were the Tuohys accused of? ›Someone has accused the Tuohys of “abducting” Michael so that he'll go to their alma mater. The investigator, Joyce Thompson, asks Michael about his siblings; Michael replies without hesitation that his siblings are Collins and Sean Junior.
Did the car accident in The Blind Side happen? ›The car accident was on a different street. But the scene where Michael Oher stops an air bag from hitting their son wasn't embellished. "That's 100 percent accurate,” Sean said. "The car behind them was someone from the basketball team.
Did Sandra Bullock like The Blind Side? ›Though Bullock entered "The Blind Side" set full of nerves, she's thankful that she went through with the role and feels she gave it her all. "I left going, 'I have no idea what I did.
What was inaccurate about blind side? ›Viewers of "The Blind Side" may be surprised to learn that the name of the school Michael attends was changed after administrators felt the movie took too much creative license in telling its story. Michael attends Wingate in the film; in actuality, he attended Briarcrest in Cordova, Memphis.
Is Michael Oher still an active NFL player? ›Former footballer Michael Oher's NFL journey has been extremely inspiring. Before his NFL career, he had to go through a lot of struggles and adversity. These were depicted in a 2006 novel by Michael Lewis entitled The Blind Side: Evolution Of A Game.
What is Michael Oher's net worth 2022? ›The former player has a net worth of $20 million. He doesn't disclose much about his life. However, his lifestyle makes it apparent that he is very rich. Oher owned a $1.3 million house in the Forest Hills area of Tennessee when he played for the Titans.
How much does Michael Oher make a year? ›| Team | Yrs | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Ravens | 5 | $13,495,000 |
| Titans | 1 | $6,000,000 |
| Panthers | 2 | $14,675,000 |
What is Michael Oher doing for a living now? ›
Oher retired from football five years ago, after an impressive career as an offensive tackle. But Oher continues to amaze many even after retirement by helping local communities via his Oher Foundation.
Where is the Tuohys house in The Blind Side? ›The Blind Side was filmed on location in Atlanta, Georgia, which doubled for Memphis, Tennessee. They shot the exteriors at one house and the interiors in another, both of which were private residences in the upscale Buckhead neighborhood.
What was Michael's GPA in The Blind Side? ›Michael “Big Mike” Oher—the protagonist of “The Blind Side”—has a GPA of 0.6 when he first shows up at Wingate Christian High School in Tennessee. His mother is a crack addict he hasn't seen for years and his father is nonexistent.
Why did Leigh Anne Tuohy take Michael in? ›saving Michael from his life on the streets. Michael has been in foster care ever since he was young and, despite his kindness and innocence, has never been able to find a family that was willing to give him the opportunities he deserves. Through pure compassion, Leigh Anne decides to invite Michael into her family.
Why were the Tuohys investigated? ›How the rumor got started or who it was that called and directed the NCAA's attention to Michael Oher and the Tuohys is unknown. But a call, or maybe several, had been made, and at least one suggested that the Tuohys had kidnapped Michael. Because of that call, the Tuohys were now under investigation.
Did Michael stop the airbag in The Blind Side? ›As Michael and SJ are involved in a car accident, Michael saves the much smaller SJ by stopping the airbag with his arm. SJ, even while he's enduring the immense injuries he sustained in the accident, doesn't think twice about his friend-turned-brother.
Are the coaches in blind side Real? ›Many real college football coaches played themselves in this film: Phillip Fulmer (was Tennessee head coach, then the athletic director at UT), Lou Holtz (was South Carolina head coach, then a TV sports commentator), Houston Nutt (was Arkansas head coach, subsequently worked for CBS Sports; when he comes to speak with ...
How old was Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side? ›For 45-year-old actress Sandra Bullock, playing the larger-than-life woman was a challenge.
What did the Tuohy family think of The Blind Side? ›“It was amazing,” Tuohy gushed of Bullock's performance in The Blind Side. “I mean, she wore my same makeup, fingernail polish, my clothing.” Tuohy couldn't believe just how many fine details Bullock wanted to get right.
Why did Sandra Bullock not want to be in The Blind Side? ›Sandra Bullock kept turning down her role in 'The Blind Side' because she was unsure she could do the role justice.
How much did Sandra Bullock make in The Blind Side? ›
Bullock took home $20 million for her Oscar-winning role in The Blind Side—and that golden statue worked wonders for her future paychecks. In addition to her $20 million advance for Gravity, Bullock received 15 percent of the film's box-office profits, making her total income about $75 million.
What is the moral lesson of The Blind Side? ›The lesson in this film was basically that things will get better as long as we don't give up. People loose sight of that when chasing their dream or just trying to survive so they give up and lose the fight.
What does The Blind Side symbolize? ›The blind side symbolizes, first, the major rethinking of football that took place in the eighties, and, second, the unlikely players, like Michael Oher, who seemingly emerged from thin air after the eighties.
What team is Michael Oher on 2022? ›Michael Oher signs three-year extension with Panthers.
How much is the Tuohy family worth? ›...
Leigh Anne Tuohy Net Worth.
| Net Worth: | $50 Million |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female |
| Profession | Businessperson |
| Nationality | United States of America |
He was born on May 28, 1986, in Memphis, Tennessee. His biological mother was Denise, who was assassinated in prison. He was 16 when he was adopted by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, who later assumed guardianship of him.
What is Michael Oher disability? ›These results were good for Michael. As a person of average intelligence, his learning achievements were now not in line with what he should be capable of. He legitimately had a learning disability.
How much money did Michael Oher make in football? ›Oher failed to sign another contract with an NFL team and that effectively ended his professional football career after 8 seasons. According to Spotrac, Michael earned $34,506,875 throughout his career.
Was Michael Oher a 5 star recruit? ›Coached by Freeze and Tim Long, Briarcrest's offensive line coach, Oher was named Division II (2A) Lineman of the Year in 2003, and First-team Tennessee All-State. Scout.com rated Oher a five-star recruit and the No. 5 offensive lineman prospect in the country.
Is The Blind Side exaggerated? ›The Blind Side movie oversimplifies Michael Oher's journey
And, of course, to Oher's athletic abilities, football instincts, and determined personality, which were real. But it took many people from different parts of Oher's life to provide the support and opportunities he needed to achieve athletic stardom.
What was the controversy with The Blind Side? ›
Warner Bros. Viewers of "The Blind Side" may be surprised to learn that the name of the school Michael attends was changed after administrators felt the movie took too much creative license in telling its story. Michael attends Wingate in the film; in actuality, he attended Briarcrest in Cordova, Memphis.
Did Julia Roberts turn down The Blind Side? ›Academy Award winner Julia Roberts was originally offered Bullock's role, but turned it down. Bullock initially turned down the starring role three times due to discomfort with portraying a devout Christian.
What did the Tuohys think of The Blind Side? ›“It was amazing,” Tuohy gushed of Bullock's performance in The Blind Side. “I mean, she wore my same makeup, fingernail polish, my clothing.” Tuohy couldn't believe just how many fine details Bullock wanted to get right.
Where is The Blind Side kid now? ›SJ has accomplished a lot since the movie's release in 2009. He played college basketball at Loyola, then transferred to SMU. Tuohy graduated from Loyola, earned a master's degree at Southern Methodist University, and is now working on his Ph. D.
Who are the real people from The Blind Side? ›The Blind Side True Story - Real Leigh Anne Tuohy, Michael Oher.
Were the coaches real in The Blind Side? ›Many real college football coaches played themselves in this film: Phillip Fulmer (was Tennessee head coach, then the athletic director at UT), Lou Holtz (was South Carolina head coach, then a TV sports commentator), Houston Nutt (was Arkansas head coach, subsequently worked for CBS Sports; when he comes to speak with ...
What actresses turned down Basic Instinct? ›Douglas recommended Kim Basinger for the role of Catherine Tramell, but Basinger declined. He also proposed Julia Roberts, Greta Scacchi and Meg Ryan, but they also turned down the role, as did Michelle Pfeiffer, Geena Davis, Kathleen Turner, Kelly Lynch, Ellen Barkin and Mariel Hemingway.
Are Leigh Anne Tuohy and Sandra Bullock friends? ›The two got to be close friends and, on the night of the Oscars, the Tuohys sat four rows behind Bullock, when she was named Best Actress.
What is the conclusion of The Blind Side? ›The movie ends with Michael bidding farewell to his foster family. He focuses on his football career while in college and grows into an all star left tackler (Scott, 2009).