The Blind Side

Evolution of a Game
Michael Lewis - 2006 W.W. Norton & Company

The story of Michael Oher is fascinating and almost unbelievable considering the fairy-tale like elements.  A poor, unnoticed, black kid is adopted by a rich, white family, becomes a football phenom, gets into college, and goes in the first round of the NFL draft.  It's a little hard to believe...

One of the best parts of this books is that it was written by a good author, Michael Lewis.  Like Moneyball, Lewis takes something technical (the birth of the left tackle) and weaves it into a dynamic and interesting story.    For those who are less into football and more into story, realize that there are large sections devoted to the evolution of the football game from a running one to a passing one.   It's needed to provide a context for Michael Oher and the reason why he was such a big deal.  For those more into football, the story does not detract from the discussion of football, the quarterback's blindside, the birth of the left tackle, and players ranging from Lawrence Taylor to Johnathan Ogden. 

It's a good book and an excellent blend of the game of football and an incredible human story.

Ball Four

Jim Bouton - 1990 Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated

"You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball and in the end it turns out it was the other way around."

If there were only two books you had to read on baseball this would be the other one.  A friend of mine had been trying to convince me to read this book for months and I had it sitting in my "to get to" stack.  I still can't believe I didn't get to it sooner.

Ball Four is one of the best and most entertaining books I have ever read and that's not even from a sports point of view.   The book literally comes across as Bouton describes it "just taking notes" and the anecdotes and stories he shares are hilarious and revealing.  Forget the right or wrong of writing this, this book makes ballplayers human again.  From a fan's point of a view, from a baseball point of view, and from a people point of view this book is a must.

Now in the wise, wise words of Joe Schultz "zitz 'em and go pound Budweiser!"