That used to be a pejorative jab.
If someone said you threw like a girl, ran like a girl, or did anything like a girl, that person had just hit you with a major insult. Now, thirteen-year-old Mo’ne Davis has taken that insult and wrapped it around herself in triumph.
Mo’ne indeed throws like a girl. A girl who fires a 70-mile-an-hour fastball, strikes out batters, a
nd pitches the first-ever shutout by a girl in Little League World Series history. I watched in amazement along with many others as Mo’ne Davis and the Taney Dragons of Philadelphia marched through the summer of 2014 straight into the Little League World Series. Like a true leader, she deflected much of the praise directed her way back toward her teammates. Yet she knows that girls and boys of all ages look up to her, and she embraces that role.
The first Little Leaguer ever featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, Mo’ne also threw the ceremonial first pitch (a strike, natch) before Game 4 of the MLB World Series, marched in New York City’s Thanksgiving Day parade, and was named SportsKid of the Year by Sports Illustrated Kids. Director Spike Lee created a commercial and documentary film about her. Albert Chen, who wrote the Sports Illustrated cover story said, “She’s a lot of things to a lot of different people, all of them good things: a totem for inner-city baseball, a role model for your 10-year-old niece, a role model for your 10-year-old nephew.”
Adults and teens alike can all learn invaluable lessons from Mo’ne.
Be Fearless.
Mo’ne started playing baseball, soccer, and basketball when she was seven years old. Steve Bandura, the local youth league coach, saw her tossing a football with some older boys and invited her to practice with the boys’ basketball team. After watching the seven-year-old master drills she had never before attempted, he knew she had the potential to be a special athlete. Later he invited her to join the Anderson Monarchs baseball team. Although she had never practiced basketball drills or worn a baseball glove, Mo’ne accepted Bandura’s challenges.
Work Hard.
Mo’ne won a scholarship to Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, where today she is on the honor roll. She commutes more than an hour each way to get to school, takes classes, and participates in three sports. Then, after arriving at home as late as 7 p.m., you know she must put in major study time to keep up her grades. Obviously, Mo’ne is gifted. But she doesn’t take those gifts for granted. She works hard to get better and better each day.
Set Your Sights High.
As talented as she is in baseball and soccer, Mo’ne says her best sport is basketball. As she proclaimed to the world d
uring one of the many interviews she granted during the LLWS, Mo’ne would like to play basketball at the University of Connecticut—a women’s basketball powerhouse. Eventually, she would like to play in the WNBA, the women’s professional basketball league. For now, this remarkable eighth grader is playing varsity for the Springside girls’ high school basketball team.
And, oh yeah, she’s sinking three pointers like a girl.
Do you have a dream that you’ve been afraid to pursue?
It’s not too late. Go for it!