Above: Little League Baseball pitcher Mo’ne Davis has risen to fame after becoming both the first girl to earn a win and to pitch a shutout in the Little League World Series. She’s also the youngest person– and first LLB player– in history to make the cover of Sports Illustrated. Davis has since gained generous media coverage and a strong fanbase. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press.
By GRACE POLANECZKY – Staff Writer
At 13 years old, Mo’ne Davis is still a better team player than the college baseball player who snubbed her online.
Here’s some sports trivia: How many people have made the the cover of Sports Illustrated… before entering 8th grade? The answer is one– Mo’ne Davis, the 13-year-old Taney Dragons Little League baseball star who gained notoriety as the first girl in Little League World Series history to pitch a winning game, and the first black girl to play in the LLWS. Davis has even written a memoir, which was recently released by HarperCollins Children’s Books.
If by now you’re as impressed as I am, this next part is about to sound all the more detestable.
Video courtesy of FOX Sports.
Davis’ most recent accomplishment is as the focus of Disney Channel’s upcoming movie Throw Like Mo, a well-earned success for the young star. But Joey Casselberry disagrees, according to the former Bloomsburg University Huskies baseball player’s now deleted tweet in which he spurned Disney’s choice of to make the film and called Davis a “slut.”
Within a day, Bloomsburg University released a statement on Twitter, saying that they were “deeply saddened” by the way that Casselberry represented their school, and that he would be dismissed from the school’s baseball team.
There are all kinds of questions buzzing around in my head about this foolishness, like ‘A grown man who thinks he can call a 13-year-old a slut?’ and ‘Did he ask his parents’ permission before making a Twitter account?.’
But the biggest one is: ‘Why is this man pouting about what airs on a network targeting an audience between the ages of 6-14?’
Shouldn’t he leave that to, say, a 13-year-old girl like Mo’ne? Of course not! She’s way too busy.
As if this guy didn’t already look like a fool for making fun of a child online, the world got to see just how immature he was being when Davis responded to his release by emailing BU President David L. Soltz and asking that Casselberry be reinstated.
“I am sure Joey Casselberry has worked very hard to get where he is and dreams of playing in the major leagues,” Davis said in her email to Soltz. “For this reason, I’m asking you to please allow him back on the team so that he can continue to chase his dream.”
Davis’ altruistic attitude towards the situation is incredibly admirable, but it’s her patience surrounding this ugliness that I really find inspiring. I was the only girl on my Little League baseball team too.
I knew sexism was an obstacle I’d have to face when involving myself in anything not specifically “for girls.” I knew there would be boys who’d see me as less capable than them. I felt the need to “prove them all wrong.”
These are thoughts that hurt to have, and thoughts I’m sure Davis has had before. Nobody needs to reinforce that toxic mindset for a little girl, let alone debase her with sexual slurs.
The good thing is Casselberry’s behavior did not just slide the way that sexism often does.
I don’t think he’ll mind being off the field that much, though, considering that he’s going to have much more free time now to do what he really loves: watching children’s daytime TV.
