I am somewhat of a rarity amongst book-loving, middle-aged Moms. I happen to love sports. I like to play golf. I like to watch baseball and basketball with my husband and son. I like to go to games. But most of all, I love football! I am passionate about the Miami Dolphins, especially since Dan Marino and I migrated to South Florida at just about the same time. I waited on Dan and many of the other Dolphins when I was a cocktail waitress. 
My son and I met and were photographed with Joe Theissman, an NFL QB turned broadcaster who is most remembered for his horrific compound leg fracture inflicted by Lawrence Taylor in a Monday Night Football game in 1985.
My husband will tell you that I am most interested in the statistics and strategy of the game. I love when the announcer comes on and says, "32% of all quarterbacks from USC who left after their junior year are now playing on East Coast Teams." The Blind Side by Michael Lewis is full of this type of information. He used the same types of information about baseball to support his thesis in Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game.
In The Blind Side, Lewis posits that football experienced a seismic shift when Lawrence Taylor changed the role of left tackle, previously a faceless entity on the offensive line, to the second or third most highly paid player on a team. Why is he so important? Because he protects a right-handed quarterback's blind side. How ironic that the tackle who landed the career-ending blow to Joe Theissman is known for his talent in protecting the quarterback.
In order to illustrate his point, Lewis follows the high school career of a young man who came from very humble beginnings who will soon be one of the most sought-after college grads in the country because of his talent protecting the blind side.
Lewis writes beautifully and seamlessly blends the history and statistics of football with the poignant story of a young man bound for greatness thanks to the help of the family who "adopts" him. If you aren't a sports-lover, buy this book for the favorite football fan in your life. It's a keeper.
Di
***Click on the image or book links in this post to be taken to the BookSense web site to purchase it from your local independent bookstore***
Comments