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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

she will do great things at uconn or usc!

for these types of behaviors. forgiven or not. as a society we have to say, enough.

She's supposed to be better at basketball than baseball. Connecticut is already recruiting her.

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!

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

just saying

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/06/chelsea-baker-tampa-bay-rays-knuckleball

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

I can't remember her name but she got an invite to an AL team back in the 70s.

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.

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.

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

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.

She should commit to U. of Florida (No. 1 last year)!

I agree. Women should fight back, early and often.

This young lady's parents should be proud of her. I bet Casselberry is feeling pretty small right about now.

Original LBN story about the dismissal: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141045673

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Mo’ne’s 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 Mo’ne Davis.

The world was watching Aug. 22 when Mo’ne 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, Mo’ne 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. It’s a worthwhile investment, resulting in quality kids with outstanding character.”

Bandura discovered Mo’ne’s athletic abilities in 2008 when he saw her playing football at the recreation center. Mo’ne and her teammates play sports year-round, including soccer and basketball. She and her teammates have competed together for years.

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&quot , 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

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.

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

https://twitter.com/Monedavis11