Her sudden sprint to celebrity started on a small mound of dirt in South Williamsport, Pa., 46 feet from home plate, winging 71 mile-per-hour fastballs and sweeping curveballs, braids bouncing behind her as she went.
Nine years later, Mo’ne Davis is walking up Broadway, near 116th Street, just about that distance from the main gate of Columbia University. She is wearing gray sweats and a dark pullover and the braids are still behind her, though not bouncing at the moment.
This week, Davis began her pursuit of a master’s degree in the Ivy League’s only graduate sports management program, where she is undoubtedly the only student who has appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, won an ESPY, written a book, starred in a commercial directed by Spike Lee and met Barack and Michelle Obama in the White House.