Lutherville Bookstore 'Blindsided' by Popularity of Oher's Book

is a place where literature lovers can relax with a cup of coffee and a good book in a peaceful setting—except when Michael Oher comes to town.

The Baltimore Ravens’ first-round draft pick made a stop in Lutherville this  weekend to sign his new memoir I Beat the Odds: From Homelessness, to The Blind Side, and Beyond. The prolific offensive tackle drew a crowd of more than 650 fans who waited in line for hours for a chance for an autograph and a photo.

Eager fans started arriving at Borders at 8 a.m. on Saturday for a chance at a color-coded ticket, which would grant them a place at the front of the line.

About an hour before Oher arrived, Borders sold out of the book, with some employees actually encouraging customers to pick up a copy from a competing bookstore.

Laura Orlando brought her son Fisher and his friends from  only to discover the book was sold out. She made a hasty call to a friend who picked up several copies of I Beat the Odds from a bookstore in White Marsh.

With books in hand, the three 11-year-olds beside her bounced with excitement upon exiting the store.

“I’m going to be like, ‘Hey, look what I got,’” Fisher said, anticipating his school day bragging rights.

“Fisher, that’s not a nice thing to say,” Laura interjected.

On their way out they passed Laura Bradley, a teacher from Abingdon who patiently waited for her ticket group to be called.

“I think he’s a great role model,” Bradley said. “I think it’s an important, inspiring story to tell. I think people need to see that if you try, you can make it.”

Oher’s life became the center of attention in pop culture with the release of The Blind Side—a film he has said in interviews only somewhat accurately captured his story. In the film, the character Oher (played by Quinton Aaron) didn’t know how to play football, when in reality that was always his dream.

The difference between Hollywood’s version and Oher’s account was the exact reason Ken Stratemeyer, an Essex resident, said he wanted to read the book.

Stratemeyer, standing at the back of the line with his two grown children, were told the wait would be nearly two hours.

“I can’t believe it,” he said. “We went to Bill Russell’s book signing not too long ago, and it doesn’t even compare to how big this is.”

Oher is currently on a nationwide book-signing tour.