This week I read The Blind Side by Michael Lewis for 2 hours and 5 minutes.
The book starts with the story of how Lawrence Taylor changed the left side of the offensive line from just another position to the blind side because because the quarterback never saw him coming. Teams had to double or triple team him to protect their quarterback. This set the stage for a demand for talented left tackles in the NFL.
The book continues by outlining the poor childhood that Michael Oher endured. With the help of a man called Big Tony, he was enrolled in Briarcrest Christian School-even though he had a grade point average of .6. He was a challenge for tutors until they realized that he remembered information when tested orally. He picked things up easily by watching someone else do it. He did this to learn how to throw discus.
Michael was huge. He could move dummies around the football field like they were weightless. When it came to letting people get close to him, he didn't find that very easy. There was one woman, however, Leigh Anne Tuohy who took Michael shopping one day and was the only person he would talk to. This was evident when he cut his hand in a football game and Leigh Anne was the only person who could convince him to get treated. The Tuohy family eventually took him in to live with them.
Michael soon began to be coveted by college coaches across the nation. He had incredible size and clearly was someone who could protect a quarterback's blind side. First assistant coaches assembled at Briarcrest, but soon after seeing Michael, they were on the phone with their head coaches to come see Michael for themselves.
Totals: 41 hours and 33 minutes/ 1785 pages
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Week 6 Reading Post
Today I finished reading Walk-On by Alan Williams in 2 hours and 31 minutes.
For me the project has been a success. Today I finished my seventh book in six weeks which averages out to the one book a week goal that I set for myself at the beginning of this project. The books I have read have inspired me and some also have strengthened my faith. The second half of Walk-On was one such book. Alan shared stories such as being cut from the team after his freshman season when he had been promised a spot on the team for four years and his father being diagnosed with leukemia. These were especially trying times in his life. Turning to God was his only choice to find the comfort he needed. This is a lesson we all can take to heart. He also shared some good memories. After being cut his teammates constantly lobbied for him to be back on the team, how he fought through conditioning drills to be a part of the team, and when he got to play in the final 11.34 seconds in a game in his hometown. This book was a great example of how to be a teammate- not only in basketball.
Totals: 39 hours and 28 minutes/ 1683 pages
For me the project has been a success. Today I finished my seventh book in six weeks which averages out to the one book a week goal that I set for myself at the beginning of this project. The books I have read have inspired me and some also have strengthened my faith. The second half of Walk-On was one such book. Alan shared stories such as being cut from the team after his freshman season when he had been promised a spot on the team for four years and his father being diagnosed with leukemia. These were especially trying times in his life. Turning to God was his only choice to find the comfort he needed. This is a lesson we all can take to heart. He also shared some good memories. After being cut his teammates constantly lobbied for him to be back on the team, how he fought through conditioning drills to be a part of the team, and when he got to play in the final 11.34 seconds in a game in his hometown. This book was a great example of how to be a teammate- not only in basketball.
Totals: 39 hours and 28 minutes/ 1683 pages
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Week 5 Reading Post
This week I read Walk-On by Alan Williams for 45 minutes.
(start at bottom)
The time came for the team picture. The General had "forgotten" to give the two walk-on players jerseys. Coach arrived and asked where Alan and Matt, the two walk-on players, were. Coach approached Alan and Matt and asked them how long it would to go home and put on a shirt and tie. He waited. By holding up the picture for walk-on players, Coach dared to be different no matter what others thought.
It was a particularly rough day for Alan. An unpleasant encounter with the General and the physical and mental aspects of balancing academics and basketball were really taking a toll. He remebered that his grandfather used to say that everything was in God's hands. He, however, could not see God's hand in this. After soul searching, he realized that God put him in this new enviroment to make him more dependent on Him through prayer. God's hand was in it after all.
After a day of conditioning, the equipment manager, the General, handed out new Nike travel bags. The General didn't like walk-ons. After showering with the team, Alan came back to his locker to find a travel bag waiting for him. Instead of a #20, his number, it had a #4, Robert O'Kelley's number. Robert O'Kelley was always a true friend and always had his back.
The summer before his freshman year called Robert O'Kelley, the star of Wake Forest, to workout before his first year of college basketball. Robert O'Kelley took him under his wing and helped him to prepare for college ball.
The summer after his sophomor year of high school, Alan attended Howard Garfinkle's Five Star Basketball Camp. Garf, as he is known, saw Alan's midrange game, which he needed because he was only 6'2", and told him to come back the next summer. Garf promised him that there would be a place for him at a good school. Garf even put in a good word for him with Wake Forest's coach, the school he dreamed to play for, which earned him a spot as a walk-on at Wake. The coach who he had signed with resigned after his freshman year. Garf continued to keep his promise and told the new coach to trust him and keep Alan on the team. Garf truly was on his side.
(start at bottom)
The time came for the team picture. The General had "forgotten" to give the two walk-on players jerseys. Coach arrived and asked where Alan and Matt, the two walk-on players, were. Coach approached Alan and Matt and asked them how long it would to go home and put on a shirt and tie. He waited. By holding up the picture for walk-on players, Coach dared to be different no matter what others thought.It was a particularly rough day for Alan. An unpleasant encounter with the General and the physical and mental aspects of balancing academics and basketball were really taking a toll. He remebered that his grandfather used to say that everything was in God's hands. He, however, could not see God's hand in this. After soul searching, he realized that God put him in this new enviroment to make him more dependent on Him through prayer. God's hand was in it after all.After a day of conditioning, the equipment manager, the General, handed out new Nike travel bags. The General didn't like walk-ons. After showering with the team, Alan came back to his locker to find a travel bag waiting for him. Instead of a #20, his number, it had a #4, Robert O'Kelley's number. Robert O'Kelley was always a true friend and always had his back.
The summer before his freshman year called Robert O'Kelley, the star of Wake Forest, to workout before his first year of college basketball. Robert O'Kelley took him under his wing and helped him to prepare for college ball.The summer after his sophomor year of high school, Alan attended Howard Garfinkle's Five Star Basketball Camp. Garf, as he is known, saw Alan's midrange game, which he needed because he was only 6'2", and told him to come back the next summer. Garf promised him that there would be a place for him at a good school. Garf even put in a good word for him with Wake Forest's coach, the school he dreamed to play for, which earned him a spot as a walk-on at Wake. The coach who he had signed with resigned after his freshman year. Garf continued to keep his promise and told the new coach to trust him and keep Alan on the team. Garf truly was on his side.Totals: 36 Hours and 57 minutes/ 1516 pages
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Week 4 Reading Post
Today I finished The GM by Tom Callahan for 3 hours and 35 minutes.
The second half of the book discusses some of the important cogs that made up the New York Giants including Amani Toomer, Jeff Feagles, and Rich Seubert. Tom also describes how Ernie Accorsi tried to have Jerry Reese selected as his replacement as he would be retiring at the end of the year. He also includes Reese's first draft as GM. The book finishes with Ernie telling the team before he retired that there was a championship in the room-this was the year before they won the Super Bowl, and then he recaps the Giants' Super Bowl win.
Chapter 18 describes a three game losing streak that the Giants went through including blowing a 21-point lead and losing to the Tennessee Titans. Archie Manning who had to deal with enough losing himself called his son with encouraging words, "Keep fighting". These are words that we all can take to heart. God gives us the strength is His Word to keep fighting, and that is something that we need to be reminded of every day.
Totals: 36 hours and 12 minutes/ 1466 pages
The second half of the book discusses some of the important cogs that made up the New York Giants including Amani Toomer, Jeff Feagles, and Rich Seubert. Tom also describes how Ernie Accorsi tried to have Jerry Reese selected as his replacement as he would be retiring at the end of the year. He also includes Reese's first draft as GM. The book finishes with Ernie telling the team before he retired that there was a championship in the room-this was the year before they won the Super Bowl, and then he recaps the Giants' Super Bowl win.
Chapter 18 describes a three game losing streak that the Giants went through including blowing a 21-point lead and losing to the Tennessee Titans. Archie Manning who had to deal with enough losing himself called his son with encouraging words, "Keep fighting". These are words that we all can take to heart. God gives us the strength is His Word to keep fighting, and that is something that we need to be reminded of every day.
Totals: 36 hours and 12 minutes/ 1466 pages
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Week 3 Reading Post Part 2
On Sunday I read The GM by Tom Callahan for 4 hours and 14 minutes.
This book highlights the career of former New York Giants' general manager Ernie Accorsi. The book tells of the time he spent with the Baltimore Colts and drafted John Elway. John was then traded to Denver without his knowing. It continues with the story of how he used certain rules to draft the quarterback he wanted. It also includes the draft day trade that brought Eli Manning to the Giants and sent Phillip Rivers to the Chargers.
Totals: 32 hours and 37 minutes/ 1322 pages
This book highlights the career of former New York Giants' general manager Ernie Accorsi. The book tells of the time he spent with the Baltimore Colts and drafted John Elway. John was then traded to Denver without his knowing. It continues with the story of how he used certain rules to draft the quarterback he wanted. It also includes the draft day trade that brought Eli Manning to the Giants and sent Phillip Rivers to the Chargers.
Totals: 32 hours and 37 minutes/ 1322 pages
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