Steve wanted to play professional basketball, however he was only 5'8.
That the characters age is sixteen at one point
As you said above, the word "bob" means fencing and you want to know how this can have a double meaning related to homophobes.
This is what I see the 2 meanings as:
1. fencing, as in taking out your fencing sword
2. take out your penis, as penis would be another word for sword in plays/books such as the one you're reading - this would be relating to gays if the convo was btwn 2 men
