Mo’ne Davis hits home run with Chevrolet ad: ‘Throw Like a Girl’
Who can forget Pennyslvania teenager Mo'ne Davis, who threw the first shut out by a girl in the history of the 75-year-old Little League World Series in August?
Davis returned to the spotlight Tuesday during the World Series with a 60-second Chevrolet commercial directed by filmmaker Spike Lee.
The ad shows her doing many things: running onto a baseball diamond, eating pizza, laughing with her family, hitting a half-court basketball shot, throwing a fastball. They are things a million kids have done a million times. But not quite like this.
In a voice-over, she shares how her summer was a mix of everyday and extraordinary moments: "Dear United States of America: I am 13 years old. This summer was the best summer of my young life. Out of this whole journey the best part was having my family behind me supporting me through every thing I did. I have a passion for sports. Every day of the week I'm playing soccer, basketball or baseball. I stand for girls who want to play sports with the boys and to be a role model for people young and old. I throw 70 miles per hour. That's throwing like a girl. Sincerely, your daughter, Mo'ne Davis."
Words then appear on the screen saying, "Chevrolet celebrates Mo'ne Davis and those who remind us that anything is possible."
Here's a sample of the reaction on the company's YouTube page.
Andrew Darling: This is why young girls need to play sports! The life skills and the opportunities that will be presented are incredible for these girls. Of course sports aren't the only way but they are a great way to help socialize and develop our young girls!
Jonathan Smith: Transcends what sports is all about. Living for a purpose/believe in yourself as well as others.
ESPN's Darren Rovell explained that even though Davis is getting paid for the commercial, her college sports eligibility wouldn't be affected. Davis has said she'd prefer to play basketball over softball or baseball.
An NCAA statement given to ESPN read: "The NCAA staff's decision was made within this process and based on a combination of considerations. This waiver narrowly extends the rules -- which allow Davis to accept the payment and still be eligible in any other sport -- to include baseball. The NCAA staff also considered the historically limited opportunities for women to participate in professional baseball. In addition, Davis is much younger than when the vast majority of the prospect rules apply. While this situation is unusual, the flexible approach utilized in this decision is not."
Keep running up that hill, Mo'ne. Keep running up any hill.
