Episode 2729: The Blind Side’s Blind Spot, Pauw Strikes Back, Steo Needs Speed

It’s a tale of two Irish head coaches as Vera Pauw strikes back at the FAI and Stephen Kenny names his squad for the games against France and The Netherlands.

©INPHO/Gary Carr

Michael Oher is a Super Bowl-winning NFL star, but he’s even more famous as the inspiration behind “The Blind Side”, the Michael Lewis book that became a hit movie starring Sandra Bullock.

The story told in the movie was one of a good white family saving the life of an uneducated, impoverished African American kid… but the truth is rather more complex. Santul Nerkar of the New York Times talks to us about the movie, how it has aged, the white saviour narrative, the Tuohy family’s complicated relationship to Oher via a conservatorship, their love for the famous college Ole Miss, and why they have described Oher’s recent claims as a “shake down”.

Plus there’s Champions League draw drama, Oscar material and Ken can’t stop thinking about Irish players running around after Mbappe.

Click the button at the top of the page to play the show. Monday’s shows are free to all and to listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, Richie Sadlier’s Player’s Chair, The Politics Podcast, The “I’ll Tell You Who Wrote It” Book Club and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, like our recent international series  ‘Where Is George Gibney?’.

As this seasons finish line creeps into view, Bohs boss Declan Devine joins us in studio to talk; growing up in 1980’s Derry, working with Stephen Kenny, football philosophy and this Fridays clash with Shamrock Rovers. https://t.co/sdwBdwpE6i pic.twitter.com/RNbzDgAIjn

— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) August 31, 2023