General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMo'ne Davis - asks that Bloomsburg University reinstate the player that shamed her
Talk about class. Mo'ne Davis, the girl that last year at age 13 took the country by storm when she pitched a shut-out at the little league world series (a game for boys), was recently called a very derogatory word by a college baseball player from Bloomsburg University through Twitter. Bloomsburg University quickly reacted by suspending the player in question from the team.
Today Mo'ne showed more class at her young age of 13 than this college age adult from Bloomsburg has ever known - she asked that Bloomsburg reverse their decision and let the player continue to play. She forgave him.
I hope the player from Bloomsburg learns and others like him learn something from this. If you think you need to be calling women you don't even know words like 'slut' and 'whore' and other derogatory words through apps like twitter - maybe you need to rethink how you use those apps and deactivate your accounts. There's been alot of talk in the media about this most recently from Ashley Judd and Curt Schilling (Judd and Schilling's daughter both where hounded by twitter idiots calling them similiar outrageous names. It's time we women fight back.
Bloomsburg baseball player booted for offensive Mo'ne Davis tweet; Mo'ne asks for him to be reinstated
A former Methacton High School star was booted from his college baseball team over an offensive tweet he sent about Little League World Series star Mo'ne Davis
UPDATE: Mo'ne Davis and her coach Alex Rice (who was just named the Inquirer's "Citizen of the Year" contacted Bloomsburg University President David L. Soltz to ask the school to reconsider Casselberrys dismissal.
According to the report, Bloomsburg praised 13-year-old Davis's maturity over this situation, but for now aren't planning on reinstating Casselberry, saying, "Right now we're standing firm."
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)I suspect the Coach has/had other issues with Casselberry and the name calling was merely the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)Bloomsburg University is only about 30-45 minutes from Williamsport PA, the home of the Little League World Series so I'm sure the people of Bloomsburg are very aware of who Mo'ne Davis is and her accomplishments. I have family up in that area and use to spend long stretchs of time during the summer up there and everyone would follow the LLWS when it was happening and always cheered on the USA teams. So I think this took on a bigger deal then say if the player was from a school half way around the country.
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)LynneSin
(95,337 posts)Seems he was upset to find out that Disney wanted to make a movie about Mo'ne Davis.
I thought it was a neat idea about the movie idea. Mo'ne is great role model to girls especially after that 'Run like a Girl' ad that was played during the Super Bowl. Clearly there are guys out there that would wish they could 'Throw like a Girl' especially if the girl in question had a 70mph fastball like Mo'ne Davis.
Ironically even though Castleberry is going to a school in a more rural part of Pennsylvania he is actually from the suburbs of Philadelphia.
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)If someone thinks it's a stupid idea, call it a stupid idea...I actually think it could be a good movie. But how the hell does someone think it's ok to call a thirteen-year-old girl that? Mind-boggling.
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)or even just the general concept.
It's a serious problem with twitter. I love the article that Ashley Judd wrote recently in light of some of the twitter storm against her after she made a tweet about an official making a dirty call during a UKentucky basketball game. She talked about how she was 'slut-shamed' through twitter for the comment yet her uncle made the same 'dirty call' tweet and no one did that to him.
Curt Schilling also when on the offensive when people used twitter to do the same thing to his daughter.
big_dog
(4,144 posts)she will do great things at uconn or usc!
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)for these types of behaviors. forgiven or not. as a society we have to say, enough.
LittleBlue
(10,362 posts)She's supposed to be better at basketball than baseball. Connecticut is already recruiting her.
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)I keep thinking that Mo'ne Davis might have the ability to pitch in MLB if she keeps developing her fastball and add in a few other pitches to her inventory. I would have no doubts that she could also field MLB baseball - that's easy stuff.
But hitting MLB is another story because that would require some strength that she might not ever be able to develop and running speed that let's face it, in the end women still cannot run faster then men.
But then again Jim Abbott was able to make MLB as a decent pitcher even with being born without a right hand (seems he never needed it for pitching). He played most of his career in the American League where the DH was used for the pitcher but when Interleague came around he did manage to score a few hits.
Even still I think she could do it!
malthaussen
(17,219 posts)I don't know if women can throw 95 mph heat, though. It would be interesting to find out. She prefers hoops, though, so it's probably a moot question right now.
-- Mal
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)just saying
malthaussen
(17,219 posts)I think pitcher is the most likely position for a female to break into MLB. I had hopes for Eri Yoshida, but she wasn't quite good enough.
-- Mal
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)I can't remember her name but she got an invite to an AL team back in the 70s.
LittleBlue
(10,362 posts)A pitching arm is like a whip. Even men who are 6'1" are on the short side of pitchers these days. The height makes your arm into a more effective whip. The shorter pitchers have to generate tremendous strength from their legs to create sufficient velocity and break.
I don't think she's going to make it into the MLB. Unless she became a knuckleball pitcher, where speed is less relevant. That's a very exotic pitch. Or maybe if she used an unconventional style like Tim Lincecum
On the bright side for her, the AL has the DH, so she wouldn't hit.
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)Not as often as a National League pitcher. But in the end even Jim Abbott has had a few career at-bats in Major League Baseball. Interleague Baseball came about 2 years before he retired. And since he was a starter pitcher and not a relief pitcher he did need to hit.
Rumor has it the guy did have the ability to hit and at batting practice could hit a few over the fence.
malthaussen
(17,219 posts)If she could hit, that would be a plus. But no one is going to hire a pitcher because he can hit. They'll make him an outfielder like Babe Ruth.
-- Mal
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)LittleBlue
(10,362 posts)Forgot about IL play. She could probably do as well right now as any of the AL pitcher, who look relieved just to make an out to get away of the batter's box.
Yeah I always admired Abbott for playing with what is normally a disqualifying attribute.
I'd love to see Mo'ne get drafted into the MLB. That would be a huge accomplishment. It would really help a sport that is losing a lot of young people these days to football, basketball and soccer.
Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)She should commit to U. of Florida (No. 1 last year)!
I agree. Women should fight back, early and often.
Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)This young lady's parents should be proud of her. I bet Casselberry is feeling pretty small right about now.
Omaha Steve
(99,816 posts)Original LBN story about the dismissal: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141045673
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Mones Coach: I Have the Greatest Job in the World: http://www.afscme.org/news/publications/newsletters/works/works-fall-2014/philadelphia-pennsylvania-mones-coach-i-have-the-greatest-job-in-the-world
Coach Bandura, his son Scott, and Mone Davis.
The world was watching Aug. 22 when Mone Davis, a pitcher for the Taney Dragons, became the first girl to pitch a shutout in the 67-year history of the Little League World Series. Although the team would eventually fall short of its ultimate goal of winning the LLWS title, Mone won the hearts of America and became a role model for countless young girls around the world.
The man behind the superstar is her coach Steve Bandura, a Philadelphia city worker and member of Local 2187, who works at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center in South Philly. Bandura began as a volunteer at the local recreation center in 1989, later to leave a marketing job to pursue a career with the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department, where he established a baseball, basketball and soccer league for inner-city Philadelphia kids.
I took a pay cut, but I have the greatest job in the world, said Bandura. I am passionate about this and when you follow your passion, you can make a difference in the lives of others.
Throughout Philadelphia, members of Local 2187 work with children to develop skills in sports and life. They provide a safe haven to children who might not otherwise have a place to go after school or during the summer. Bandura even put his baseball team on the road to give them more experience.
When we give kids opportunity they excel, continued Bandura. Tax dollars are well spent on recreation centers. Its a worthwhile investment, resulting in quality kids with outstanding character.
Bandura discovered Mones athletic abilities in 2008 when he saw her playing football at the recreation center. Mone and her teammates play sports year-round, including soccer and basketball. She and her teammates have competed together for years.
malthaussen
(17,219 posts)If this were only a question of Miss Davis's personal honor, then nothing more would need to be said, and insofar as this does touch Miss Davis's honor, the college should not suspend the young man on her behalf. But does the question extend farther than Miss Davis's honor?
A young man who will stoop so low as to use such an epithet to describe any woman, let alone a 13-year-old minor, clearly demonstrates a mind-set we should not wish to encourage in our citizens, and in fact we should wish to punish. It is not a question of "mistake," or even poor judgement, but one (IMO) of ill-will. Even if Mr Casselberry were to make one of those no-apology "apologies" that are so popular these days ("I'm sorry if anyone was offended" , I would be skeptical that the young man is sincere, or even in fact thought he had done anything wrong. Using such language is hardly accidental, after all. If, then, the University wishes to punish him for conduct unbecoming in a member of their team (let alone their institution), that is a question that does not touch the honor of Miss Davis, and one in which her wishes should not be consulted.
-- Mal
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)Maybe she was just doing what Jesus would do which is 'turned the other cheek'.
Maybe she was showing that she had the maturity to step above this.
Maybe she knows that there millions of others like you and I that will do the hard fight to get the Castleberry's of the world to think twice before sending sexist/racist/homophobic tweets.
But I think what she did shows class that a Joey Castleberry and a million like him will never ever even begin to understand.
malthaussen
(17,219 posts)There are two questions here, Miss Davis's honor and the public good. Miss Davis is the best judge of her own honor, and I think she shows well in forgiving Mr Casselberry. But as for the question of the public good, Mr Casselberry should be made to answer for his conduct.
-- Mal