As an NFL writer for the past ten years, Michael Oher’s remarkable story is not new to me. I was introduced via Michael Lewis’ 2006 book The Blind Side. It was a fascinating account of how the position of left tackle in the National Football League has evolved into one of its most important and highest-paying jobs. After all, the left tackle’s role is to protect the “blind side” of the highest-paid player on the team—the quarterback. The focus of the book is offensive line prodigy Michael Oher, a big, homeless ghetto kid from Memphis, taken in by a rich white family and a Christian high school. The Blind Side / Image courtesy Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. In the new Warner Brothers film by the same name (in... [Read more]

I’ve been listening to Norah Jones‘ new CD, The Fall (in stores today), for a little over a week now (thanks, EMI). And I absolutely love it. It marks a new direction for the lovely and talented Norah in that she is working with an entirely new group of musicians. Plus she’s older and wiser. Thus, her sound has evolved. And yes, it works. Norah Jones, The Fall - EMI/BlueNote Producer Jacquire King—who has worked with Kings of Leon, Modest Mouse, and Tom Waits, among others—helped Norah put together a group of musicians, including drummers Joey Waronker (Beck, R.E.M.) and James Gadson (Bill Withers), keyboardist James Poyser (Erykah Badu, Al Green), and guitarists Marc Ribot (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello) and Smokey Hormel... [Read more]

Manny Pacquiao became the first fighter in boxing history to win his seventh title in seven weight classes with a 12th round TKO victory over Miguel Cotto last night (OK, and this morning here on the east coast). Pacman landed a blistering 336 punches as he improved to 50-3-2 overall (with 38 KOs), discarding his opponent with relative ease after a very competitive beginning to this fight. Cotto fell to 34-2 with the loss. Manny Pacquiao TKO Win Over Miguel Cotto / Image: Zuma Press Cotto managed to win the first round or two, depending on how you looked at the fight. I would say he definitely won the first round. He looked confident and seemed to be living up to the billing that he was the bigger, stronger fighter. But that was as close as... [Read more]

I got my hands on a box of the new Wheaties Fuel cereal (courtesy of my friends at General Mills). It’s not due in stores until January, but you can get the Collector’s Edition box online now for $10. I joked on the Wheaties_Fuel Twitter that I really needed to find out what a $10 box of cereal tasted like (like John Travolta needed to find out what a $5 milk shake tasted like in “Pulp Fiction”). Of course, Wheaties_Fuel responded with more of an interest in how it made me feel. Needless to say, I was intrigued. And after enjoying a full serving the past two mornings, I have to say—it’s as advertised. Wheaties Fuel—The New Breakfast of Champions Wheaties Fuel is a lightly sweetened, crunchy bowl of whole wheat... [Read more]

The countdown to Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto officially begins this evening when HBO presents the first installment of Pacquiao-Cotto 24/7. This fight brings extra excitement in that Manny, who many consider to be boxing’s pound-for-pound champion (until he fights Floyd Mayweather, I believe), is moving up in weight (again) to 145 pounds to fight Miguel Cotto, the current WBO welterweight champ. I’ve doubted Manny in the past and I’ve always lived to regret those doubts. There are unanswered questions for both fighters. Miguel has only lost once. That was a little over a year ago when Antonio Margarito beat him in what would eventually be looked at as a controversial outcome. Why? Well, Margarito would later beat “Sugar”... [Read more]