Article of the Week #19
1. Code and annotate text, even identify figurative language or fact/opinion.
2. Show evidence of a close-read. Write in the margins. Talk back!
3. Complete Extension Section.
All article of the week were developed using strategies created by Kelly Gallagher.
Act of sportsmanship gives Texas high schooler shot at glory
Hartman, S. Act of sportsmanship gives Texas high schooler shot at glory. CBS News. 22 Feb. 2013. Web 29 Jan.2017
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(CBS News) EL PASO, Texas -- Coach Peter Morales of the Coronado High School Thunderbirds
in El Paso, Texas, makes no qualms about it: he has a favorite on this team.
Team manager Mitchell Marcus has a developmental disability, but he far surpasses everyone here
when it comes to love of the game.
"He's just an amazing person that our basketball team loves being around," Morales says.
Mitchell's mom, Amy, says he's always been that way.
"Mitchell always had a basketball, that was always what he wanted for his birthday," she says.
And because basketball is that important to him, on the last game of the regular season, the coach
told Mitchell to suit up.
"I was very happy," Mitchell says of what it was like to put on the team's uniform.
Just wearing a jersey was enough for Mitchell, but what he didn't know -- what no one knew at the
time -- was that the coach planned to play him at the end, no matter what the score.
Morales says he was prepared to lose the game.
"For his moment in time, yes," he says.
With a minute-and-a-half left -- Coronado leading, but only by 10 -- Coach Morales put in his
manager.
"And I just started hearing, 'Mitchell, Mitchell,'" Morales says.
But here's where the fairytale fell apart. Although his teammates did everything they could to get
Mitchell a basket, each time they passed him the ball, he either missed the shot, or, like on their last
possession, booted it out of bounds, turning the ball over to the other team with just seconds left.
"He wasn't going to be able to score, but I was hoping that he was happy that he was just put in the
game," Morales says. He couldn't have imagined what happened next.
What happened occurred on the inbound. The guy with the ball was a senior at Franklin High
School, Number 22, Jonathon Montanez.
"I was raised to treat others how you want to be treated," Jonathon says. "I just though Mitchell
deserved his chance, deserved his opportunity."
"I think I'll cry about it for the rest of my life," Amy says.
What Jonathon did was yell out Mitchell's name, then threw the ball right to him -- one of the most
memorable turnovers of all time.
It wasn't the game-winning shot. When the buzzer sounded, Coronado had 15 more points than
Franklin. But Jonathon's assist and Mitchell's basket did change the outcome decidedly. Play any
game with this much sportsmanship and both teams win.
Comprehension questions – answers may be in phrases.
1. List two possible synonyms for the “shot” as used in the title. _______________________
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2. When was this article originally published? List one reason an article with this date would
remain relevant today. _____________________________________________________
3. Define turnover as used in the article. _________________________________________
4. What is one possible message the author of this article may have hoped to convey to his
readers? ________________________________________________________________
5. Define qualm as used in the text. ____________________________________________
6. The text states, “Morales said he was prepared to lose the game.” Cite two pieces of
evidence from the text supporting this statement. _________________________________
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Extension Section:
1. Is sportsmanship as important as athleticism? Answer in a well-developed paragraph citing
evidence from the text to support your claim.
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2. How many seconds remained in the game when Coach Morales subbed Mitchell in? Show
your work. Answer in a complete, descriptive sentence.
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