The Blind Side’s white saviour tale was always built on shaky ground

The main figures in the Oscar-winning movie are embroiled in an ugly legal dispute. But the story never sat comfortably with many observers

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 23: Michael Oher of the Tennessee Titans

In late 2009, I was sent to Baltimore for a Sports Illustrated feature story on Michael Oher, a rare household name among NFL offensive linemen. Oher was a few months into his rookie year and on the brink of a critical showdown against the Indianapolis Colts.

In the book version of The Blind Side, which places Oher within the NFL’s evolution into a passing league, he is set on a collision course with the sport’s top quarterback cruncher – Indy’s Dwight Freeney. And after devouring the Michael Lewis book, his Moneyball for football geeks, I was keen to dig into this and more with Oher.