In Chicago, in 1926 and 1927, an African American basketball team began to play around the city. They soon became known as the Savoy Big Five because they played at the Savoy Ballroom. The owners of the ballroom thought a basketball game would be a great way to get people to come to their venue and stay after the game. When some of the players, including Tommy Brookins and Inman Jackson, left the team, they formed a new squad, known as the Globe Trotters. Around that time, a man named Abe Saperstein began to schedule games for the team. Legend has it that soon after they were formed, the team played its first road game on January 27, 1927, in Hinckley, Illinois–a town about fifty miles outside Chicago.
Comprehension Questions
1. In what city and town did the Savoy Big Five play their first road game?
A. Minneapolis, Minnesota
B. Harlem, New York
C. Hinckley, Illinois
2. why did the owners of the Savoy Ballroom think it would be a great Idea to host basketball games at their venue?
A. Because basketball players liked to dance after the games
B. Because basketball players loved the food at the Savoy
C. Because they thought basketball games would attract people to their venue to watch the games and stay after.
A. Because basketball players liked to dance after the games
B. Because basketball players loved the food at the Savoy
C. Because they thought basketball games would attract people to their venue to watch the games and stay after.
Your Thoughts
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Vocabulary
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