Tales from the Blind Side

The lights, the cameras, the cheers of the crowd-adrenaline rushes through my veins as they announce my name and I run out in front of 85,000 roaring fans. It's more addicting than any narcotic I've ever used. What a price to pay to play a damn game 16 times a year. The eleven short stories in Tales from the Blind Side are based on the experiences of former NFL Offensive Lineman Chris Dieterich, who played for the Detroit Lions from 1980 to 1986. Diagnosed with depression from the many concussions he received on the playing field, Dieterich used the writing process as therapy-a release from the dark and painful memories of his decision to give up both his physical and mental health to be in the "limelight" for seven years. Writing served as an outlet for Dieterich's physical and mental torture, the daily stress and strain of performing at a world-class level. From the grueling misery of summer training camp, to the injuries sustained on the field, and to never-ending post-career bouts of mental confusion, delusions, and addiction to painkillers and alcohol, Dieterich has expertly spun fantasy and hard-core reality into eleven short stories that explore the depths of living on the mental edge of madness. Readers will experience the agony and the ecstasy of the NFL as Dieterich offers a glimpse into the world of professional sports...and its often devastating aftereffects.