Michael Oher
The Number One Draft Choice of the Baltimore Ravens

Millions of American football fans watched the 2009 NFL draft and listened to commentators rate the choices teams were making. Without question the most important player chosen in this year’s draft was Michael Oher the six foot five inch 300+ pound offensive tackle who played college football at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss).

If you don’t know Michael Oher’s story , you should learn about him. Oher is the subject of a book The Blind Side by Michael Lewis. The book is being made into a movie.

Oher,an African American  grew up in the most miserable of conditions in inner city Memphis, Tennessee. His father was murdered and his mother was a drug addict. He lived on the streets and basically raised himself. He  was  academically deficient but possessed innate intelligence and “street smarts”.

A private Christian high  school in East Memphis accepted Oher and gave him the educational experience that changed his life. A wealthy white family took Oher in and ultimately adopted him. Oher became a member of a real family.

Oher’s story is not a football story nor is it a story about one person’s triumph in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

Rather, Oher’s story is a testament to the possibility that the lives of millions of youngsters can be changed with the help and determination of others.

Whether Oher becomes a great professional football player, is not known but what we know is that his story can serve as a beacon for ways to change the lives of thousands if not millions of young people.

A Diamond in the RoughTechnorati Tags: Michael Oher, Sean Touhey, Baltimore Ravens, Briarcrest Christian School