I Beat the Odds: From Homelessness, to The Blind Side, and Beyond

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2011

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Chapter 3

Chapters 4-9

Chapters 10-15

Chapters 16-21

Key Figures

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

The NBA Championship of 1993

The six-game series between the Chicago Bulls and the Phoenix Suns is the subject of Chapter 8, but it is also mentioned elsewhere. Seven-year-old Oher watched enrapt as Michael Jordan led the Bulls to victory, becoming the first team to “threepeat” (or win the championship three years in a row) since the 1960s. Oher saw Jordan’s path as one he could follow. Jordan’s name and image were everywhere, a golden endorsement for any product. As Oher writes, “His name was money” (91). This stuck in his mind until he concluded that “[i]f sports could make you so famous that you could always pay rent, then that was what I was going to do” (91).

Thus, Oher’s dream was born, one he would follow all the way to success as a Super Bowl champion. He presents his dream as something doable with hard work—despite not having many resources. However, Oher describes himself as responsible and focused, determined to make his dream come true with actions. He studied the games of top basketball and football players to emulate their techniques. He also actively looked for a mentor, as he knew he needed help to reach his goal.

VCR Tapes (Movies) at St. Joseph’s Hospital

In regard to the hospital’s tapes, Oher writes, “It might not sound like much, but it is actually empowering to get to make your own decision about what movie to watch, and for a kid who felt like all decision making had been taken away, that was a big deal” (65). The tapes are thus a symbol of Oher’s agency. Young Oher was shuttled here and there without any say in the process. Being charged to foster families was one thing, but at the hospital, he was confined to one hallway and couldn’t go outside. The movie collection he had access to was thus a glimmer of happiness. Choosing the tapes himself—to watch for as long as he wanted (on his free time)—felt empowering.

Left Tackle Position

Left tackle is the leftmost position on the offensive line of a football team. Its importance was overlooked until 1985, when linebacker Lawrence Taylor slammed into quarterback Joe Theismann and broke his leg. Taylor had come from the left side, the blind side for right-handed quarterbacks. After this incident, teams paid more attention to the left tackle position, which is what Michael Lewis explores in his book The Blind Side. The left tackle position symbolizes something small that produces a large effect. In Lewis’s book, Oher’s story mirrors this idea, his finding mentors like Tony and the Tuohys having a significant effect on his life. This carries over to I Beat the Odds, as Oher shares the details of his relationships with his mentors and eventual assignment to left tackle on his high school football team.