Don't ever allow yourself to feel trapped by your choices. Take a look at yourself. You are a unique person created for a specific purpose. Your gifts matter. Your story matters. Your dreams matter. You matter.”                                -                                                                                         -Michael Oher

Books and Movies

In the book The Blind Side, author Michael Lewis recounts how professional football star Michael Oher defies the odds and escapes from an inner-city Memphis ghetto, finds a family to take him in, and uses his football skills to build a better life for himself.  In 2013, Michael's story was made into a major motion picture.

Naturally, sports stories make fantastic films.  The books in this list are represented in film, and reflect the same tense drama, excitement, and noteworthy themes that make their stories memorable.

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The List

Quick Pick Starters 

Playing the Enemy
by John Carlin

Describes how the 1995 rugby World Cup helped Nelson Mandela unite the country of South Africa and bring about the end to the country's apartheid and bitter racial tensions.  Made into the movie Invictus. 

Hurricane
by James S Hirsch

Chronicles Rubin Carter's twenty-year imprisonment, discussing why he was accused of three murders he did not commit, how racial issues affected the outcome of his trial, how he earned the support of celebrities, and why a group of Canadians decided to help him prove his innocence. 

When the Game Stands Tall
by Neil Hayes

A behind the scenes look at De La Salle High School, where coaching legend Bob Ladouceur led his football team to a historic 13-year run of consecutive wins. Besides an exciting sports story, we also learn how a good coach positively shapes young athletes.