Muggsy Bogues: Standing Tall
Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for fifteen
seasons, most notably for the Charlotte Hornets. A popular player, he was known for his
incredible agility and speed on the court. But when he was young, many people thought
he would never be able to play professional basketball. The reason? At five feet three
inches tall, Bogues was considered too short to master the game. Even after he won a
basketball scholarship and began playing for Wake Forest University, commentators
announcing the games mocked him. The turning point came when Wake Forest went up
against North Carolina State University on national television. During that game, Bogues
earned twenty points and had ten assists (passes to another player who then scores a
basket), silencing his critics. When he was drafted by the Washington Bullets in 1987, he
became the shortest NBA player in history-a personal and professional triumph.
What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?
Despite others' negative ideas about his small size, Muggsy Bogues had a
successful career as a professional basketball player.
As a professional basketball player, Muggsy Bogues capitalized on his speed
and agility on the court.
Muggsy Bogues's potential as a professional basketball player was first widely
recognized when he was playing for Wake Forest.