Philadelphia’s Little League superstar Mo’ne Davis isn’t old enough to drive but she is already pitching for a major American car maker.
The Taney Dragons star stars in a new Chevrolet ad that debuted during a commercial break of Game 1 of the World Series Tuesday night.
“Dear United States of America, I’m 13 years old and this summer was the best summer of my whole life,” starts the ad directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Spike Lee.
The commercial, filmed in various spots in Philadelphia’s Graduate Hospital neighborhood including Lazarro’s Pizza on South Street and the Marian Anderson Recreation Center at 17th and Bainbridge streets, then continues with Mo’ne talking about her passion for sports.
Instead of wearing the Taney Dragons uniform she wore during her team’s run to the Little League World Series -- the uniform she wore while becoming the first Little Leaguer to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated -- Mo'ne wears an Anderson Monarchs uniform in the Chevy ad.
“The best part was having my family behind me supporting me through everything I did,” Mo’ne says before draining a half-court basketball shot.
“I have a passion for sports. Every day of the week I’m playing soccer, basketball or baseball.”
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Besides the 60-second ad, a more than 16-minute mini-movie by Lee titled “Throw Like a Girl” appeared on Chevy’s website.
“I stand for girls who want to play sports with the boys and to be a role model for people young and old,” Mo’ne says. “I throw 70 mph and that’s ‘throwing like a girl!’”
The ad ends with Mo’ne signing off, “sincerely, your daughter, Mo’ne Davis.”
Before Chevy’s iconic logo appears on the white screen, the words “Chevrolet celebrates Mo’ne Davis and those who remind us that anything is possible.”
The ad was met with criticism because Mo’ne’s heroics didn’t lift her Taney Dragons to Little League World Series glory and there are boys her same age who also throw 70 mph or harder.
Congrats @Monedavis11 you throw 70mph from 46 lets put you at where most 11-12 year old throw from and see how good you do @coachofthewest1 — frankie panza (@fpanza31) October 22, 2014
But plenty of others -- including actress Holly Robinson Peete, the wife of former Philadelphia Eagles quaterback Rodney Peete -- showed support for Mo’ne.
@hollyrpeete @Monedavis11 Glad you like it! Watch the whole inspiring video here: http://t.co/gucWiJl2Yf — Chevrolet (@chevrolet) October 22, 2014
Any concerns of Mo’Ne’s role as spokesperson costing her a shot at her dream of playing NCAA basketball were squashed Wednesday.
“Mo’Ne Davis may be paid for appearing in the Chevy commercial without impacting her NCAA eligibility,” NCAA spokeswoman Emily James told ESPN W.
